November 15, 2008
Heads Up: The Macho Paradox
Update: Due to popular demand, the location for this event has changed. Details below:
Date: Friday November 21st, 9am – 11am
Location: Earth Sciences Centre Auditorium
5 Bancroft Ave., Room 142
(Off Huron Street, between Willcocks and Russel Streets)
University of Toronto [map]
The White Ribbon Campaign, in partnership with YWCA Toronto and University of Toronto is pleased to present a lecture by one of America's leading anti-sexist male activists, Jackson Katz.
Jackson Katz is one of America's leading anti-sexist male activists. An educator, author and filmmaker, he is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in the field of gender violence prevention education with men and boys, particularly in the sports culture and the military. For more information visit www.jacksonkatz.com.
Visit The White Ribbon Campaign to sign-up for this free event.
Posted by Jason at 3:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 15, 2006
Art and Activism: Meet the World Campaign
I found this on Good magazine's website. Brazilian artist, Icaro Doria, creates infographics using flags from various countries. Don't know if the stats are supposed to be accurate but Doria's work definitely makes you think.
FYI: Look out for a review of Good in the next posting.
Posted by Jason at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2005
Bait and Switch: Ralph Goodale's Tax Cuts
Okay, maybe Monday isn't a good day to learn about tax law but this article by my wife's law professor is a real eye-opener. Lisa Philipps, a tax law and policy professor at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School unveils some of the hidden realities behind Ralph Goodale's mini-budget.
Something to think about when you go to the polls.
Posted by Jason at 11:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 28, 2005
Five Minutes With: Jonathan Kozol
A passionate interview with Jonathan Kozol, author of Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America. Kozol talks about the destructive nature of race segregation in the U.S school system and the need for young activists to forego the trappings of corporate America to engage in social justice.
A powerful reminder of why I chose my own profession and of what still needs to be done.
Thanks to CampusProgress.org and Lip Magazine for the heads up.
Posted by Jason at 9:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 21, 2005
Racial Profiling and Canada`s "No-fly List"
Found this article on the Globe and Mail website. The article covers a move by opposition parties to enact legislation that bans racial profiling in Canada. The catalyst that sparked their reaction was a statement made by Transport Minister Jean Lapierre. Minister Lapierre admitted that the government is "developing a special list to keep certain people off flights..."
Okay, I`m all for keeping suspected terrorists off of flights but using racial profiling as a mechanism to do so smacks of human-rights violations. What we need to use to improve security is "criminal profiling" not racial profiling. Let`s not kid ourselves, this IS a slippery slope. Racial profiling is already a problem in Canada`s cities and rural communities. Steps have been and are being taken to eradicate racial profiling. Should the government move ahead with its plans without clarifying its process, they are in essence giving a federal stamp of approval for what is in fact a violation of s. 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
For more information on racial profiling, please visit www.stopracialprofiling.ca Visit the News section of the site to read more about federal discussions on racial profiling.
Posted by Jason at 4:50 PM
March 9, 2005
Starving Artists, Starving Women
A few weeks ago, I read an article on the income disparity between artists who are visible minorities and those who are not. A recent report found Canadian artists earn on average $23,000/yr. Artists who are visible minorities, on the other hand, earn approximately 11% less. I suppose this shouldn't be a surprise and is a topic for another day. Race aside, it would seem the old saying "starving artist" still holds true.
With that being said, I find this next statistic truly troubling: Canadian women (not female artists, mind you) earn on average $20,400/yr!
Now ask yourself, why is this?
Posted by Jason at 9:21 AM
March 6, 2005
Counter-Recruitment Movement in NYC schools
One of the saddest moments for me in the film Fahrenheit 9/11 was the scene in which U.S military recruiters preyed upon young inner city youth at a local mall. Believing their future to be bleak, these kids naively listened as recruiter's made their pitch on the benefits of life in the military. Part of me wished I could grab these kids and tell them that there was in fact a better way; that joining the military wasn't the only option for a "better future".
Enter Youth Activists-Youth Allies (YaYas), a youth-led counter-recruitment group based in New York's public schools. YaYas is made-up of Vietnam vets and teenagers dedicated to empowering youth by informing them of the realities of military service and introducing them to alternative options for funding college.
Don`t get me wrong, I think that serving in the military can be a honourable endeavor. I just take issue when youth are taken advantage of by playing on their lack of knowledge and fear of the future. Big up to YaYas.
Visit the Amsterdam News to read more.
Check out YaYas`s bulletin board to learn about events in the NYC area.
Learn about other counter-recruitment orgs by visiting Youthandthemilitary.org
Posted by Jason at 5:33 PM
February 2, 2005
HeadsUp: TakingITGlobal/CIDA Online Chats
This one is time sensitive, folks:
TakingITGlobal and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) present:
TWO ONLINE CHATS ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RELIEF EFFORTS
To coincide with International Development Week in Canada, TakingITGlobal and CIDA are hosting a week-long online campaign to encourage youth to share their thoughts and questions on International Development and relief efforts from a Canadian perspective.
On February 2 and 3, there will be two live online chats with speakers directly impacted by the tsunami, or involved in international development issues. An hour long chat in French will start at 5:30 p.m. EST, followed by English at 6:30 p.m. EST. Join the chats on these days at:
http://www.takingitglobal.org/tsunamichat/
Wednesday, February 2
Chat with Tanya de Silva, member of York's Sri Lankan Student Alliance and co-coordinator of the Tsunami Relief Effort Coalition, and Nelly Desrosiers, Communications Officer of CARE.
Start: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (French) and 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm (English)
Thursday, February 3
Chat with Jill Mills who will speak on the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Start: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (French) and 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm (English)
If you are interested in receiving a reminder one hour prior to the chat, please subscribe to: tsunamichat-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
Participate in our discussion boards any time of the day. Post your questions and comments at:
http://discuss.takingitglobal.org/afterthetsunami
en francais...
TakingITGlobal et l’Agence Canadienne de Développement International (ACDI) présentent ;
2 DISCUSSIONS EN LIGNE ‘’CHATS’’ SUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT INTERNATIONAL ET LES EFFORTS DE SECOURS
Dans le cadre de la Semaine du Développement International, TakingITGlobal et l’ACDI présentent une campagne virtuelle d’une semaine, afin d’encourager la jeunesse à partager leurs opinions et leurs questions, sur le Développement International et les efforts d’assistance et de secours du point de vue Canadien.
Le Mercredi 2 et le Jeudi 3 Février, deux « chats » en direct (discussions en ligne) auront lieu en présence de personnes directement touchées par le tsunami ou impliqués dans les questions de développement international.
A 17h30 (heure standard de l’Est), un « chat » ( discussion en ligne) débutera en français, suivi par un autre en anglais à 18h30 (heure standard de l’Est). Rejoignez les chats l’un ou l’autre de ces 2 jours à l’adresse suivante :
http://www.takingitglobal.org/tsunamichat/
Mercredi 2 Février 2005
«Chat » avec Tanya de Silva, membre de de l’Alliance des Etudiants Sri Lankais de York et co-coordinatrice de la Coalition Effort Assistance pour le Tsunami et Nelly Desrosiers, Chargée de Communication à CARE-CANADA
De 17 h 30 à 18 h 30 (Français ) et de 18 h 30 à 19 h 30 pm (Anglais )
Jeudi 3 Février
« Chat » avec Jill Mills qui parlera du Développement des Objectifs du Millénaire des Nations Unies (MDG’s)
De 17 h 30 à 18 h 30 (Français ) et de 18 h 30 à 19 h 30 (Anglais )
Si vous souhaitez recevoir un rappel une heure avant le « chat », veuillez souscrire ;
tsunamichat-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
Participez à nos espaces de discussion à n’importe quel moment. Envoyez vos questions et commentaires à l’adresse suivante :
http://discuss.takingitglobal.org/apresletsunami
Posted by Jason at 9:59 AM
December 23, 2004
Opportunity: 2005 DART Organizers Institute
Found this off the INNOVATE listserve:
DART is now accepting applications for the 2005 DART Organizers Institute, the paid, four-month field school for people interested in launching a career in community organizing. Participants will undergo a combined classroom and field training covering such topics as:
* Entering a community
* Identifying and training local leaders * Strategic planning and issue cutting * Relationship and community building * Direct Action on community issues * Fundraising
The DART Center , has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including:
* Education reform in low-performing public schools * Job Training * Drugs and Violence * Affordable Housing * Criminal Recidivism * Living Wage * Neighborhood Revitalization, etc.
The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15 weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training program that includes: a $6,500 living stipend, all transportation costs to the classroom orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the program, DART will work to place graduates into fulltime salaried positions.
Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto accept Executive Director and Associate Community Organizing positions throughout the country. We continue to train the best of those working to build the power of low-moderate income communities to win victories on important issues in their community.
The program starts June 20, 2005 and runs through October 7, 2005 . Host organizations are located in several cities throughout Florida ,Ohio ,Michigan ,Virginia ,Kentucky , and Indiana . Applications are being accepted now.
Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer Trainees
(OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must demonstrate a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term professional career. A master's degree or similar life experience is preferred though unnecessary. Candidates must have a college degree or be graduating prior to June 20, 2005 . Also, candidates must display a workmanlike diligence, be driven to produce sustained results, have proven capacity to build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan, act professionally, feel comfortable working with congregations, be accountable and willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and action, and work in a team setting. OTs must also have access to a car during their training and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in Spanish/English is a plus and people of color are encouraged to apply.
To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to send your resume
to: Ben MacConnell, DART Network, 820 New York Street ,Lawrence ,KS 66044 or by email: institute@thedartcenter.org. If you have any questions, please call:
(785) 841-2680. Also, you can download applications or view profiles from previous OTs at the DART website: www.thedartcenter.org . The 2005 DART Organizers Institute Application Deadline is January 1, 2005 .
Posted by Jason at 6:52 PM
December 21, 2004
A Call for Thinking Activists
Lip Magazine makes an interesting argument for the need to include intellectual discourse in North American activism efforts. In "Activistism" they argue that today's "activists" are actually "activistists" -- individuals compelled to take action without truly understanding what it is they are trying to accomplish or how they can effectively do so.
Posted by Jason at 7:43 PM
December 17, 2004
Inspirational Booster Shot: The Change Masters
For those into social-entrepreneurism, check out FastCompany's "Social Capitalist Awards 2005". The list of organizations making positive change are pretty impressive.
Posted by Jason at 11:48 PM