End the New Jim Crow in Kingston, NY

This will be a reading group to start. The Date is Oct 9th and the group will meet every other Tuesday until the book is completed. Meeting time 6-8 pm at the Everett Hodge Center, 15-21 Franklin Street, Kingston NY 12401. (845) 331-9683

Coming Meeting and Events

Our first meeting of the fall was exciting with a good turnout.  There was lots to report and discuss, much of which is capture in the meeting minutes below (also attached). 

Our next meeting of the full ENJAN is next Wednesday, 26 September.  Before then, however, there are two important dates:

• The committee that will plan our big fall conference/event, to be held on Friday evening/Saturday, November 16-17, will meet on alternative Wednesdays at the Library in the Family Partner Center at 6:30 pm, starting tomorrow, 19 September.  Please bring your ideas!

• Tabling Action:  ENJAN has accepted Dutchess Peace’s offer to share their table at the upcoming Arlington Street Fair this Saturday, 22 September, from noon to 6:00 pm.  As part of the fair, Pete Seeger will be signing copies of his book Pete Seeger in His Own Words.  To read more about the event: http://info.vassar.edu/news/2012-2013/120909-arlington-steet-fair.html The fair offers an opportunity to reach out to young people, including Vassar students, and get them involved in our group.
• We need volunteers to work the table/work the crowds in two-hour shifts. Please let me know if you are willing to be there.

- Jeff

Odell also sent this report with pictures from the panel discussion on Building a Movement to End Mass Incarceration that took place on Friday, 9/14 at 7 pm at the Riverside Church:

> Hello everyone This was one of the best gathering I`ve been to regarding 

> building the movement to end Mass Incarceration. I met with Larry White and 

> Lewis Webb about our organizing in the Mid-Hudson area I also received 50 

> copies of The New JIM Crow. Please pass the word anyone who need a copy can 

> contact me. Here are a few pictures of some of the speakers and crowd shots.

Next ENJAN meeting

Hi, everyone--

Just another reminder about the next ENJAN meeting, which is tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 September, at 6 pm in the Library at the Family Partnership Center.
A number of people have submitted agenda items for the meeting, so I’ve put together a proposed agenda below.  It looks like we have a long list, so we’ll have to work efficiently to get through it all!

See you tomorrow!  --Jeff

Proposed Agenda:

1. Updates: 
   • Tabling action at Picnic Devoted to G-d on 9/1 (Dolores, Earl, Mary Odell, etc.);
   • Action on 9/6 at NYC district attorney’s office sponsored by NYC’s Campaign to End the New Jim Crow (Tim)
   • Meeting with Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council on 8/28 (Dolores, Fred, Jeff, Katia, Mary)
   • Other
2. Discuss and approve ENJAN guest editorial to Poughkeepsie Journal (working group: Mark, Mary, Pam, Tom, etc.) (letter below)
3. ENJAN contingent and carpool to NYC panel discussion on Building a Movement to End Mass Incarceration on Friday, 9/14, at 7 pm at the Riverside Church (see attached flyer) (Odell)
4. Next Action(s):  tabling at the Arlington Street Fair on Saturday, 9/22 (Fred)
5. Big Fall Event(s):
   • Community book read with Occupy in Kingston as well as other possible venues (Odell)
   • “Hip Hop is Bigger than the Occupation” (Odell)
   • Conference on Criminal Justice in the Hudson Valley (Manna Jo, Jeff, others)
6. Cop Watch (Occupiers)
7. Blog & Facebook (Fred, Alexander)
8. Other?

Upcoming Events

• Rally and March in defense of Women’s Rights: Today (Sunday), August 26, at 1 pm in the Peace Park next to Village Hall in New Paltz
• Community Involvement Committee informational meeting and lunch with the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Council on Tuesday, 28 August, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm at the Catharine Street Community Center. The meeting will feature a status report on the Jail and a public forum.  Reserve your seat and lunch by calling Danielle at 473-2272.
• ENJAN Tabling event at the community picnic at Mansion Park on Saturday, 1 September, from 8:00-4:00 pm.  (See below).
• 17th Annual Dutchess County Labor Day Rally for Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street on Monday, 3 September, at 11:00 am in front of the Poughkeepsie Post Office (see attached flyer).
• Upcoming ENJAN Meetings:
  • Wednesday, 12 September
  • Wednesday, 26 September

ENJAN Tabling event at the community picnic at Mansion Park 

At our last meeting we decided to continue our outreach efforts by tabling at the community picnic being organized by John Flowers and local churches being held at Mansion Square Park this coming Saturday, 1 September, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Some of the tasks were assigned at the meeting, but we still need help with others:

• Tables: Who can provide tables?
• Flyers: Jeff, Tom and Eva volunteered to make copies of the ENJAN flyer and Voting Registration to hand out
• “Know Your Rights” booklet:  Mark volunteered to get copies of the booklet from Andrew Satelle
• Sign-up sheet: Jeff will prepare a sign-up sheet for those interested in getting involved with ENJAN, participating in a reading group on The New Jim Crow, etc.
• ENJAN poster: Who has the copy of the ENJAN poster that was put together for the gay rights event in New Paltz?
• Voter Registration: Do we want to include voter registration as part of our outreach?
• Staffing:  Who can staff the table?  It would be great if we could have at least two persons at the table at all times. I propose 4 two-hour blocks: 8-10, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4. Just reply to this e-mail and I will try to organize the tabling staffing.