A REGIONAL INITIATIVE
SUPPORTING EMPOWERMENT
in the Capital Region of New York State
SUPPORTING EMPOWERMENT
in the Capital Region of New York State
a Gamaliel Foundation affiliate
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A REGIONAL INITIATIVE
SUPPORTING EMPOWERMENT in the Capital Region of New York State a Gamaliel Foundation affiliate |
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ARISE UPDATE
Task Forces and Special Projects Regional Renewal Task Force - Regional Compacts Issue The Regional Compacts bill has been stalled due to intense budget fights still ongoing. While we wait for the chance to move it, the RRTF has assigned Deborah Dewey to line up environmental allies and Jeff Gritsavage is contacting academic experts in regionalism who will help us form with Rusk a kind of "brain trust" for the long push to pass a Regional Compacts bill. ARISE will be meeting with bill author Asmb. Tom DiNapoli in May. Report by Jeff Gritsavage & Andreas Kriefall Regional Renewal Task Force - Community Benefits Agreement Issue The movement to build a coalition to negotiate a community benefits agreement (CBA) for the proposed Albany Convention Center has been quiet for the last several weeks, due in part to budget negotiations around state funding for the center. However, ARISE has been working with Albany not-for-profit housing providers to help them develop a proposal for affordable housing as part of the CBA. The providers have held or been a part of three meetings this month, including a meeting in Albany that was organized by ARISE and its partners to start developing a state-wide affordable housing policy. Report by Tom McPheeters More Youth & Education Task Force The Youth and Ed Task Force is continuing to work on funding for after school programs, sharing best practices and workforce development. To this end, we have collaborated with the Liberty Partnership Program on a concept paper and are working to get it included in next year's NY State Education Department “Blue Book” request, and funded by State government. This is a request for $41 million over five years and will benefit many thousands of children and our State economy. Justice Task Force The Justice Task Force is working on suppression of crime by determining and supporting pathways to improve the quality of life for economically challenged communities. We are supporting Cultural & Economic development that will improve education, employment & small business opportunities for affected communities. The ARISE Justice Task Force, along with our member ally, the NYS Interfaith Alliance, is constantly examining the ongoing issues of the criminal justice system. Examples would be opposing recent cuts in the Legal Aid budget for the poor, and ongoing monitoring of the changes, or lack of changes, in the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Report by Rev. Joyce Hartwell Clergy Caucus & Holy Ground Project The Clergy Caucus continues to zero in on the May 11th meeting of clergy involved in the Holy Ground project. Some 16 Catholic priests will be involved with their people in the project scheduled for June 24th. Some 15 or so new Protestant ministers will also organize people from their congregations to participate in the "door to door " listening campaign, known as Holy Ground. The training for this event will take place on June 10th @ Westminster Presbyterian Church. Report by Fr. Gary Mercure NY State Thruway Alliance Using the Concept Paper created last fall, the Alliance has put together a proposal which includes a budget formula, meetings & trainings for the year and outcomes we wish to achieve, which will be discussed in more detail at the May Alliance meeting. Grants have been submitted for NY State work which have been received very favorably from the Catholic Campaign for Human Developement (onsite visit in March), Mott Foundation, (Onsite visit scheduled for May meeting), Veatch, and others. We continue to build relationships together, and while there are some tensions to overcome, the general feeling of the meetings is one of excitement... at what we might be able to accomplish, how we can help each other, and just the fun of working together. Report by Deb Baumes Gamaliel Presidents Table Organizations across the country are grappling with the decision to work on Voters Rights Issue...what does it mean to their members? New members? New power? New Money? Do African Americans and Hispanics see what they have in common with each other? Can they work together with low income whites? Can people of conscience REALLY hear each other, express & address all their concerns, band & work together to create a new majority in the country? Report by Deb Baumes Corporate Team Rev. Drown, our corporate campaign chair, is convening a meeting next Monday, April 24. The purpose of the meeting is to reschedule the corporate breakfast from April 28 to a later date in May or early June, to go back over our list of corporate appointment targets from February and see who can set up meetings in late April and May, and to discuss how to make the most of the corporate breakfast as a fundraising event. Report by Andreas Kriefall Coming Events Schenectady County ARISE Fellowship Dinner There will be an ARISE pot luck dinner at Emmanuel-Friedens Church (218 Nott Terrace) on Friday, May 5th, at 6:00 PM (please note the date change because of a conflict identified after a previous dinner planning session). All are welcome to attend. Invite a friend. Forward this email to others who might be interested. This is a social occasion! Find out what other churches and organizations are up to. Meet interesting, active people like yourself from other denominations. On an informal basis we hope: (1) to find out what each other's churches and individuals are doing in the way of social action (2) to learn what the concerns are for our city, church neighborhood, and our own neighborhoods (3) to get energized by meeting other good people Please bring a dish to share (purchased, take-out, or homemade) or bring some money that can be pooled to purchase some pizza as your contribution. Eating utensils, dishes, and drinks will be provided. Label the serving dish you bring so you make sure you take the right one home. Call Faye Bailey, 374-2114, for information, directions, etc. It would be helpful if someone from each church could let me know a few days ahead of time as to how many may be coming so we know about how many tables to set up. Please make this announcement in your churches, newsletter, bulletins and please call some people you think may be interested in going (or people you do not know very well). A personal invitation is more effective than any form of advertising! The people who attend do not have to be core team members. This is a fellowship dinner to get to know one another a little better and to perhaps get some good ideas shared. Again: Friday, May 5th - Dinner, conversation, and sharing from 6:00 PM until 7:30 or 8:00 at the latest. A good way to start the weekend! Report by Faye Bailey 374-2114 Albany County Fellowship Dinner Albany’s Potluck Dinner and Ice Cream Social is modeled after Schenectady’s (see above). Goals: have fun and get to know each other better (see (1), (2), & (3) above) Date & Time: Wednesday, May 10, 6-8PM Place: FUUSA @ 405 Washington Avenue (near corner of Robin & across from SUNY Downtown) Ice cream is provided. Please bring a dish to share: hors d’hoevres, main dish, side dish, or salad. Call Dick Dana (446-0382) for information, directions, etc. It would be helpful to let Dick know the day before how many are coming in order to make sure we have enough ice cream! But last minute additions are fine. |
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235 Lark Street, Albany, NY 12210
Andreas Kriefall, Organizer 518-426-1552 Fax 518-426-1578
Deb Baumes Organizer -- 518-210-8254 |
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