Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice

Monday, October 16th, 6pm
Gabriel Richard Park | 7130 E Jefferson Ave. | Detroit, MI 48207

ICPJ is a member of the Drive Forward Coalition ~ Let’s Show Up to Support!!

Step #1: Sign up to caravan with & coordinate rides from Washtenaw County
Step #2: Register for the rally here: https://www.mobilize.us/mipeoplecampaign/event/585196/

Let’s WIN BACK driver’s licenses for all THIS year!

Join the Drive Michigan Forward coalition this on October 16 to demand that House Speaker Joe Tate call for a hearing on the Drive SAFE bills now.

This popular legislation would restore Michigan’s former 2008 policy, which provided driver’s licenses to all residents of Michigan, regardless of their background, so long as the technical requirements were met.

The bills enjoy widespread support from various segments of society, including:

• Law enforcement agencies,
• Labor unions, business & faith leaders,
• and multiple municipal governments that have passed resolutions in support of this legislation.

Register Here ~ All Are Welcome!

During the Harvest Dinner, we will honor community leaders who live the values of ICPJ and work toward our collective vision. Please join us to honor Alex Thomas, Fed Up Ministries, Anna Lemler, Ann Arbor for Public Power, and the Graduate Employees’ Organization.

Together – with a clear vision toward racial and economic justice, working across generations, on a variety of issues, with multi-dimensional approaches – we are a strong collective voice for the just transformation that our communities and planet urgently need.

Our gracious emcee for the evening will be Pastor Jeffery Harrold from New Beginnings Community Church

We will share a delicious meal provided by Shrimp Flavours Indian Cuisine

As we settle in, we have two amazing artists to share with us…

Poetry offered by ICPJ Board Member Leslie McGraw

Musical Artist Baddie Brooks
Baddie Brooks Facebook

During the Harvest Dinner, we will honor community leaders who live the values of ICPJ and work toward our collective vision. Please join us to honor Alex Thomas, Fed Up Ministries, Anna Lemler, Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2), and the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO).

2023 Peace & Justice Honoree
Alex Thomas

Alex Thomas grew up in West Willow, Ypsilanti Township. As a Community Advocate, Alex supports residents struggling with housing, mental health, and substance use disorder. He also provides thought-provoking leadership and advocacy on critical local policy discussions.

Peace & Justice Network Organization of the Year
Fed Up Ministries

FedUp Ministries serves good, healthy, food truck style food with dignity to communities that are food insecure and economically exploited by unjust racial and economic systems in the United States. Founded by an ELCA pastor, FedUp seeks to blur the lines between faith and food justice.

Anti-Racist Advocate Award
Anna Lemler

In addition to years of community organizing, Anna Lemler served the facilitator and a co-founder for an abolitionist alternative to police program, the first of its kind in Michigan, called Care-Based Safety (CBS). This work included year-long meetings with a group of community leaders, 18 community co-creation sessions with 100 participants, and hiring two co-directors. Anna serves the community as a somatic coach and facilitation consultant.

Emergent Leader Award
Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2) 

Ann Arbor for Public Power is a grassroots coalition advocating for Renewable, Reliable, and Affordable Electricity in Ann Arbor.

Network Weaver Award
Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO)

GEO is the union of graduate instructors and staff assistants at the University of Michigan, AFT-3550.

Most of the University community doesn’t know that GSIs are paid only $24,053 a year. We’re asking you to circulate the letter (https://bit.ly/SupportGEO) among your departments, coworkers, classmates, and unions. ICPJ has signed the letter to support UM Grad Workers, the below is a March 13th update from the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO).

Dear GEO Allies,

In a disappointing about-face, Academic Human Resources took a step backward in negotiations last Friday. After promising discussions on topics including trans healthcare and union rights at our bargaining session on Feb. 24, HR reverted to language GEO members expressed was unacceptable. They also packaged proposals where we were close to an agreement with those where we remain far apart, making the proposals dead on arrival. In an escalatory move, AHR also called for a state mediator to return to negotiations at our next bargaining session.

After months of bargaining, grad workers want to finish our contract – and yet it feels like we’ve never been further apart. How are we supposed to negotiate when the University won’t even consider our proposals? Grads are fed up. On Tuesday, March 7, 100+ grads and supporters picketed President Ono’s inauguration to draw attention to the University’s rejection of our proposals.

Next up: the possibility of a strike. To date, organizers have collected close to 1,500 strike pledges. GEO members will meet next week to decide on a strike authorization vote. Should a strike authorization vote pass, GEO leadership will be empowered to call a strike if the University fails to meet grad workers’ needs – most importantly, a living wage for all grad workers. 

Here’s what we need allies to do: 

Instructors/Staff: In the event of a strike, we ask that you do not pick up GSI/GSSA instruction, office hours, mentoring, committee work, or grading. All faculty, staff, GSRAs, grads on fellowship, and IAs are asked to sign: https://bit.ly/GEOHoldTheLine

Undergraduates: Attend the upcoming Undergrad Labor Solidarity meeting, Thursday, March 16 at 6 PM, 1511 East Quad (701 E. University Ave): http://bit.ly/undergrad_solidarity

Everyone! Sign and share our open letter: https://bit.ly/SupportGEO. To date, over 700 individual supporters have signed and more than a dozen organizations have endorsed. Add your name and share widely! 

Mark your calendars! Important Solidarity Events

March 20: GEO Solidarity Meeting, 6 PM, meeting at the School of Social Work. Our next allies meeting will take place in person. We will be planning solidarity pickets, strike fundraising, and more. Message spacchair@geo3550.org if you can attend!    

March 21: Attend the U-M Community Strike Town Hall, 12-1, Zoom to hear about campaign developments, next steps, and solidarity asks: https://bit.ly/UMStrikeTownHall

March 23: Living Wage Now! Pack the Regents Meeting, 4-6 PM, Ruthven. GEO and allies will attend the Regents Meeting to #ShowUp for a living wage. RSVP at https://bit.ly/RegentsMeeting. All out! Wear purple! 

Followed by the Undergrad Labor Solidarity meeting at 6 PM at 1511 East Quad (701 E. University Ave).

March 24: Show Up for Open Bargaining, 9 AM – 5 PM, at Palmer Commons/Zoom. All friends of GEO are invited to observe open bargaining between Human Resources and GEO Bargaining Team. This could be the last session before a possible strike, so it promises to be spicy! https://bi.tly/bargsesh_allies

Wear purple!

This series is hosted by the ICPJ Latin America Caucus and the Huron Valley Democratic Socialists of America, and U-M Latin American & Caribbean Studies (LACS).

Registration is free and open to all, donations welcome.
More information and links to register can be found here:

https://www.icpj.org/2023-icpj-latin-america-caucus-speaker-series/