Annual Fundraiser; ‘Protect the Results’ rally

We want to mention that we are still having some issues with our website, and have a wonderful team working to resolve this as soon as possible. We ask that you please note the upcoming event times listed below are correct, but are not currently accurate on our website calendar. If you have any questions about what you are seeing anywhere on our site, please reach out by emailing assistant@wnypeace.org.

Of course we’ll start by mentioning the election; while results are not yet finalized, we are glad to see the count continues moving along and that things are generally calm and peaceful. Please join us tomorrow for the Protect the Results Rally, 12-1:30pm at Niagara Square with masks and physical distancing. We have seen historic voter turnout, with millions of people voting by mail due to the pandemic. Every eligible vote counts!

The WNY Peace Center’s 53^rd Annual Fundraiser: An Evening with Dr. Cornel West is now just three days away! If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, there is still time – visit bit.ly/wnypeace_cornelwest for all of the details! If you are unable to attend, please spread the word, share this email, and/or sponsor a ticket for someone! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this exciting post-election event will be held entirely on Zoom along with a week-long online auction to benefit the WNYPC. Please see our program below:

• Gnonyoh by Jill Clause, Tuscarora
• Introduction to student groups
• Awards, including Alt-imate Activist to Jillian Hanesworth; Emerging Leaders Award to Jalonda Hill; Lifetime Achievement Awards to Roger Cook and June Licence; and two surprise awards!
• Jillian’s performance of her poem, ‘The Revolution Will Rhyme’
• Keynote by Dr. Cornel West
• Q&A
• Gnonyoh by Jill Clause, Tuscarora

We are so excited for the guidance and wisdom Dr. West will surely bring to us at this critical time. We are ready for whatever comes next and know that we have plenty of work ahead of us!

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)!

Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!

Thanks; Early Voting; Annual Event; Colored Girls Bike Too (Black only)

Saturday, October 24^th, 2020

This is a critical time, and we know this especially because our website is regularly being hacked. Someone doesn’t want us to do what we need to do, so we want to alert you all since it has affected our posts, including our event calendar. Please note that the upcoming event times listed below are correct, but are not currently accurate on our website calendar. If you have any questions about what you are seeing on our site, feel free to email assistant@wnypeace.org.

We would also like to take this as another opportunity to thank all of you, our members and supporters, for participating in the Women’s March last weekend as well as recognizing the WNYPC as People’s Choice for the Buffalo Spree’s Best Activist Group. We know that this has been a difficult year for so many, and through all of that, we recognize the peoples’ part in this important work and are so grateful for your support.

TODAY IS THE DAY! Early voting begins in New York, so if you haven’t already, now is the time to make your voting plan! All active registered voters are eligible to cast an early voting ballot at any of the thirty-seven (37) designated early voting locations in Erie County or two (2) locations in Niagara County. Election Inspectors now use Electronic Poll Books and Ballot-on-Demand systems to facilitate early voting, so it is as easy as walking right in with your ID! For a full list of locations, dates, hours, and more details about early voting in WNY, visit bit.ly/wnypeace-gotv2020.

If you are voting today, you can join the Souls to the Polls CommUNITY Early Voting March hosted by a variety of groups including 1199SEIU, Open Buffalo, Coalition for Economic Justice, Voice Buffalo, etc. The rally kicks off at 12:30PM at Community Access Services, 3297 Bailey Ave., Buffalo 14215. We will then march to cast our ballots at the Gloria J. Parks Community Center, 3424 Main St.

On Sunday, Colored Girls Bike Too presents their Halloween Family Bike Ride. Please note that all CGBT events are intended for Black women (cis, trans) and/or Black gender nonconforming individuals to create safe-er spaces. If you received an invite are not a Black woman or GNC Black person, please extend this invite to support the cause and invite someone who is! Please see below for more details.

Lastly, the WNY Peace Center’s 53^rd Annual Fundraiser: An Evening with Dr. Cornel West is now just about two weeks away! Visit bit.ly/wnypeace_cornelwest for all of the details and to purchase your tickets! Due to circumstances related to the public health crisis, we are no longer offering the theater broadcast option, so please join us on Zoom! (For those of you who purchased theater tickets, we will be contacting you via email shortly regarding conversion or refund options.) As with our previous annual events, we will offer a basket raffle, auction, and program book – only this year we are going virtual! We are in need of submissions for the auction items and baskets as well as program ads, so please contact assistant@wnypeace.org if you would like to donate! If you would like to submit an ad, visit the event page above.

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)!

Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

R&R; Collective Nonviolent Direct Action; Fr. Bissonette matched grant

(Thumbnail image credit: Kim Saira)

This week we would like to emphasize the importance of rest; of taking some time for a break to refresh. This is especially important in in the midst of the ongoing public health crisis, and also because there is a lot to prepare for in the upcoming months. This is a critically important time of overwhelming change, and the election is now less than 75 days away. Tactically speaking, the WNYPC will be focusing on fewer, larger events rather than many small events. Consequently, we are highlighting only a few items this week, all of which could be done from home.

This Sunday from 3:00 – 4:30 pm, the WNY Liberation Collective and WNYPC are offering another session of First Steps! Collective Nonviolent Direct Action. This will be a hybrid event, taking place in person at Niagara/Liberation Square with masks and physical distancing, and also streamed live on Facebook.
– Collective Nonviolent Direct action will be key to keeping and improving our democracy. These first steps are part of a series for shared learning as we plan and prepare.
– We will cover the principles and the spirit (including music, a great tool for such actions), Know Your Rights with Daire Brian Irwin, Esq., and safety info regarding protective gear from Nick of Buffalo Action Medics.
– Prepapatory videos and the full planned agenda can be found on our website. Please watch the videos so we can spend more time in discussion!

We also want to remind you that we are coming to the end (!) of the very generous matched grant from the Fr. Joe Bissonnette Fund for the WNYPC. This fund sustains our on-going work and helps prepare for strong social justice activism coming out of quarantine.
– Father Joe Bissonette (1932-1987) was known throughout WNY for his ministry in Buffalo and his advocacy for the poor and disadvantaged. Recognizing the many challenges AND opportunities of the present moment, the Fr. Joe Bissonette Fund has committed to match any donation of $100 or more made between July and August, up to $5000.
– These contributions also qualify for your choice of one of Amanda Besl’s beautiful limited-edition pieces (while supplies last) and an individual or organizational WNYPC membership with your choice of the #RESIST or #LoveIsLove lawn sign. If you would like to make a donation, please see our fundraiser page. You can purchase Amanda’s powerful art here.

As you have time, there are other vital campaigns and an employment opportunity (see below) that you can put some energy into as you can and will. Please remember to pace yourselves, as no one person can do it all. We are at a fork in the road of the future of this country, and we recognize the importance of collaborating, strategizing, and also resting when needed.

Please see details and much more below, including other special events this week, regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!