Season of Thanks; Post-Event Offerings
Sunday, November 22, 2020
We are still so grateful for this year’s spectacular annual event with Dr. Cornel West! With Thanksgiving approaching and in this spirit of thanks, we want to offer access to the event materials to all – even if you weren’t able to attend live with us this year – because they are just too good to keep under wraps!
- Program book – view the slideshow with music (‘A Love Supreme’ by John Coltrane) or download the PDF to review at your leisure
- Recording – full video of the event, including the presentation of awards to amazing local activists; keynote speech by Dr. West; and live Q&A!
- Virtual marketplace – Our fundraiser isn’t over yet! We had many lovely donations from our generous supporters, so please visit our virtual marketplace (Bidding Owl account required) which will be open through December 6th – just in time for holiday shopping!
You can find these materials and more on our website here. Please take some time to listen to Dr. West’s inspiring words and insights over the holidays, at a time when we all need them. We are overwhelmed by his support of and appreciation for the work of the WNY Peace Center, and his generosity of spirit and time. Please do keep in mind that these materials were made available as part of our 53rd annual fundraiser, which funds our work. If you weren’t an attendee and are able, please consider supporting the continuation of this important work by donating here.
We hope and pray that you and your loved ones are feeling the blessings that surround us, despite the very dire circumstances so many of us face right now. We’re all in this together. A blessed Thanksgiving to all – in ….
…. Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!
Please see details and much more below, including special and regularly scheduled events this week, plus campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
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UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Find more details and additional special events on our Event Calendar at
MONDAY, 11/23
1-3 PM – Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center. On WBNY 91.3 FM or streaming on wbny.buffalostate.edu. At the moment, the show is being pre-recorded (so graciously by #ThinkTwice Radio). Hosted by Vicki Ross, WNYPC Executive Director. In the first hour: Judy Einach, community activist, Chautauqua County on What is Peace? Internal and External Balance; West Valley nuclear waste: history, current plan, issues and needs (including containment/enclosed cleanup and lobbying elected officials for the same). Second hour: With Judy; Laura Evans, Esq., Keeping Things Alive podcast and website; Geovaira Hernandez, NY Renews. On interrelated justice issues including economic, environmental, racial; included in the CCPLA, a NYS bill passed last year, and the upcoming community climate investment act; ancient Indigenous wisdom and the need to view ourselves as part of nature; Defend the Sacred, Keep Things Alive; care for one another, people, and the planet.
6 PM – County Budget Hearing (virtual). On Zoom (Meeting ID: 847 7914 7342 and Passcode: 996568). Public hearing on the 2021 Erie County budget. The proposed budget again allocates over $100 million of county tax dollars to fully staff both jails, even though the jail population could be housed in either facility and the other could be completely closed.
7 PM – 38th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service/Celebration. Livestreamed at stgregs.org. The theme for this year is “Giving Thanks in a Strange New Time.” Words on the meaning of thanksgiving will be given by representatives of Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native American and Sikhism. Special music by: Rick Kay, Buffalo Philharmonic, True Bethel Adult Choir, Dr. Irwin Gelman, Cantor and Nancy Erdman, Director of Music, St. Gregory Church. Plans were to receive our regular food donation or cash donations to purchase food. Since this will be virtual event, you are encouraged to donate on-line to the NRC hunger programs: religiousnet.org/donation
TUESDAY, 11/24
~7:20 PM – Special Thanks-giving taping of Talking Peace. On Facebook Live. With special guests Jill Clause and Quinna Hamby, Tuscarora.
8 PM – What Just Happened: Trump, America, the Danger of Fascism. Tune in at @RefuseFascism on Youtube, Facebook, and/or Twitter. Virtual forum co-hosted by RefuseFascism.org and the RNL Show (@therevcoms) – with Andy Zee, cohost of the RNL Show and co-initiator of RefuseFascism.org; Coco Das, Editor of RefuseFascism.org; Jeff Sharlet, writer; and Indi Samarajiva, author of I Lived Through A Stupid Coup; America is Having One Now.
UPCOMING REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS
Find more details and additional weekly/monthly events on our website at
wnypeace.org/wp/regularly-scheduled-events
MONDAYS
1pm – Talking Peace (WNYPC radio show). On WBNY 91.3 FM or streaming online at wbny.buffalostate.edu. Insights on peace and justice with the WNYPC. At the moment, the show is being pre-recorded by Think Twice Radio: The Home of the Future!
WEDNESDAYS
3pm – Weekly Vigil and March Against the Death Penalty. From the Robert L. Jackson Courthouse to the ECHC.
4pm – Prisoners’ Rights weekly vigil: No More ECHC Deaths! at the Erie County Holding Center.
THURSDAYS
5pm – Immigrant & Refugee Justice (IRJ) weekly vigil: End Ice Terror! Outside the Delaware North Building.
FRIDAYS
2pm – Environmental Justice weekly vigil: No Nuclear Waste over the Peace Bridge! At Front Park.
SATURDAYS
12 pm – Women in Black weekly vigil. At Elmwood & Bidwell.
UPDATED: CAMPAIGNS BY ISSUE AREA
Find more details and additional campaigns and fundraisers at
wnypeace.org/wp/current-campaign
wnypeace.org/wp/organizing-in-wny
Criminal Justice and Policing
– Please support the Cariol Horne Whistleblower Fund!
– Contact ECDA John Flynn’s office urging him to drop all charges against Willie Henley!
By phone: 716-858-2424 and by web: https://www2.erie.gov/da/. If you are able, please also contribute to Willie’s lawyer fee funds at gofundme.com/f/willie-henley-lawyer-fee
– Buffalo needs LEAD now!We recently saw a clear example of how the current way police respond to community members with mental health issues fails our community. This entire situation could have been avoided with Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), a program that offers an alternative to arrest or hospitalization: diverting individuals into intensive management so their underlying needs are addressed. Learn more about LEAD here and SHARE WIDELY!
– Support the demand that the police budget is defunded to invest in traffic calming infrastructure and take BPD out of traffic enforcement all together. Please fill out the questionnaire shared by Fair Fines + Fees to participate in a budgetary process that aims to make positive changes to the City’s budget. NEW! You can also share your ideas and priorities for changing the Buffalo Police Department through this survey by Free the People WNY.
– If you are a social worker or mental health professional, please sign the WNY Agents of Change open letter to Mayor Brown re: working with the BPD
#UNITEtheStruggles | #OneLove | #WeShallOvercome | #SiSePuede