Students and alumni will host a panel discussion reflecting on black experiences at Vassar. Come out on February 22nd at 5pm in Rocky 300 for a riveting discussion that promises to be entertaining and educating.
Category Archives: Action Opportunity
Salary Transparency and Antiracism Talk
The Anti-Racism, Equity and Justice (AREJ) Organizing Team invites you to our next event this January 11th at noon via Zoom!
We are honored to have Sharon Parkinson come speak with the group about salary transparency, a topic that is important for all of us whether we work in higher education at Vassar or for non-profit or private businesses in the Hudson Valley. Please see the following readings that can provide you with some background information.
Vu Le is the former Executive Director of Rainier Valley Corps, a non-profit organization in Seattle that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthens organizations led by communities of color, and fosters collaboration between diverse communities.
Blog posts written by Vu Le:
- Not showing the salary range in job postings is archaic and inequitable. So why do we keep doing it?
- When you don’t disclose salary ranges on a job posting, a unicorn loses its wings
Sharon Parkinson will also talk about the new salary disclosure bill that was approved by the New York City Council:
- https://www.hrdive.com/news/nyc-council-approves-pay-transparency-bill/616569/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2022/01/06/in-a-big-win-for-workers-new-york-city-will-make-it-mandatory-for-companies-to-disclose-salaries-on-job-advertisements/?sh=f9ebcb54b387
We look forward to seeing you! If you have any questions about these events and how we run them, please contact vcantiracismequityandjustice@gmail.com.
Action Opportunity – How can we better avoid racial equity detours?
Flipping the narrative: If those who raise concerns about equity in an institution face greater hostility, if they are labeled as militant or angry for telling the racial equity truth, if they are silenced or made to feel less central to this institution, then, we should see these actions as a failure of equity leadership and the signs of a “sick” institution.
Start where we need to be: equity is neither optional nor negotiable. We should be able to say: “This is who we are as [a school] and these are the values to which we will be held accountable.”
Our best resources are equity minded individuals. When we make them the center of our institutions we are primed for equity progress.
Literacy Moment – April 2021
From our Lunchtime Discussions – What are racial equity detours?
- The detours that white people follow to protect their privilege and avoid the messy work of racial justice
- Detours create an illusion of progress toward equity while cementing or even exacerbating inequity
- Detours can be initiatives and strategies that pose little threat to structural racism yet they can consume extensive resources, including those marked for racial equity
- Detours relieve us of the responsibility to name and illuminate the ways that racism operates in our workplaces, schools, institutions and communities
Winter/Spring 2021 Lunchtime Discussion Series – April 7, Meet-Up
April 7th, 12 Noon: Avoiding Equity Detours
Join us for a facilitated discussion of Avoiding Equity Detours guided by work done by Equity Literacy Institute’s Paul Gorski. This discussion will be co-Facilitated by AREJ sponsor, Wendy Maragh Taylor, Associate Dean of the College for Student Growth & Engagement, and AREJ Faculty Anchor, Eva Woods Peiró.
In Our Community – ENJAN
ENJAN (End the New Jim Crow Action Network)
Please join ENJAN at their next meeting on April 14th. The meetings occur every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 6:30pm-8pm. To join the meeting click here and to join the mailing list email rubin@contractor.net.
In Our Community – Poughkeepsie Healthy, Black and LatinX Coalition
Poughkeepsie Healthy Black and LatinX Coalition
If you are interested in the Poughkeepsie Healthy Black and Latinx Coaction they meet every second Thursday from 9:30am-11am. You can register here:
https://ppaf.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMqd-mqpzsrGNJsX02m66fnhJuTuwDWD5aO
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Opportunities for Action – July 2020
NEW PRIORITIES FOR DUTCHESS
Despite financial crisis and looming layoffs, Dutchess County plans to begin construction of a new $200 million jail–one that would hold 328 people, when we currently have 140 in the jail.
The county legislature will vote July 9 at 5:30 pm on whether to move forward with the project. Please join the community in a silent protest outside the County Office Building from 4 to 5:30PM and join 200 participants who will line up (6′ distant) on Market St. holding million-dollar signs, while others will bring signs expressing alternative budget priorities. Please bring a mask and a friend!
Lead organizers of the event are the Democratic Caucus of the Dutchess County Legislature, the Progressive Black and Latino Caucus, and End the New Jim Crow Action Network (ENJAN) of Poughkeepsie. Other co-sponsors are Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson; Race Unity Circle; Stop the Violence; Celebrating the African Spirit; Beacon Prison Action; Justice for Aleesa; Dutchess County Progressive Action
To voice your opinion before the vote:
https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/County-Legislature/Dutchess-County-Legislators.htm
Opportunities for Action – July 2020
RIGHT TO KNOW ACT
ENJAN (End the New Jim Crow Action Network!) has been working with NYCLU to support the passage of the Right to Know Act (RTKA) in the City of Poughkeepsie. This law, which can be adopted by local and municipal governments, would require police officers stopping citizens to identify themselves and explain the reason for the stop. The idea behind the RTKA is that it would promote a conversation between civilians and law enforcement. Requiring officers to identify themselves and explain their actions promotes a more consistent, respectful, and community-minded approach to enforcement activities while also potentially reducing the likelihood that a routine police stop will turn violent.
The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council held a special legislative session on June 29th to advance business and dialogue toward policing reform and racial justice and a Hearing to receive public comment on July 6th.
All recordings of Poughkeepsie City Council, Committee and Special meetings can be found here: https://totalwebcasting.com/view/?id=cop
Background:
To voice your opinion: