Monday, September 21, 2009

B-PEP Events in Pittsburgh this week

Hello Family,
For those of you in Pittsburgh, here are some additional important events that should not be missed. Please see the details below.
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

DON'T MISS THIS… The Peoples' Summit
Black Political Empowerment Project

--MONDAY September 21 - 7:00 p.m.
"Ending Poverty, Reversing Economic Decline in Our Communities"
NEW HAZLETT THEATER (North Side) 6 Allegheny Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Between Ridge St. and East Ohio St., below Federal St. in East Park

Special Guests: Privilege Haangandu (Jubilee Zambia/Jubilee USA), Tim Stevens (Black Political Empowerment Project), Carl Redwood (One Hill), John Canning (North Side United), Molly Rush (Thomas Merton Center), Maria Somma (United Steel Workers)

--TUESDAY September 22 - 7:00 p.m.
"Another World is Possible"
20th CENTURY CLUB (Oakland) 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15213

1 block from Pitt's Cathedral of Learning (behind Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall)
Special Guests: John Tarka (President, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers), Leo Gerard (President, United Steelworkers), Benedicto Martinez (National Officer, Authentic Workers' Front), Jihan Gearon (Diné (Navajo)/African-American organizer), Jeremy Scahill (award-winning author and investigative journalist), and others.

BE SURE TO ATTEND: The First Annual International Peace, Justice, and Empowerment Summit, September 22nd, 2009, 9am-4pm

Townhall Meeting and Banquet with Dr. Ron Walters, 5-8pm
--September 23rd, 2009, 9am-4pm


Hosanna House, (807 Wallace Avenue), Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Keynote by: Dr. Ron Walters
Video Presentation by: Dr. John a. Powell
Extensive workshops and panel discussions by grassroots organizations and activists from all over the world!

The International Peace, Justice, and Empowerment Summit

The G20 Summit of nations will meet in Pittsburgh, PA on September 24th and 25th following the London Summit of April 1st of this year, when it met in the context of the financial crisis, in an attempt to stabilize global financial markets. These Summits are closed-door meetings organized and attended by financial representatives from 19 of the richest and most influential nations and their decisions affect the economic trajectory of our world for generations to come…

Sadly, nowhere in the final communiqué issue by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the host of the April meeting, were measures proposed to shield disadvantaged communities around the world who were already under stress before the financial crisis provided even steeper challenges of survival. Indeed, the G7, the
antecedent of the G20, had been so criticized for creating structural criteria for the dispensation of funds to poor countries that activists and others from the private sector intervened in its discussions and stated that what was done to alleviate poverty was grossly insufficient and to demand added effort.

Since then, meetings of the G20 have met with enormous protest from progressive forces, calling on participating members to acknowledge the needs of the disadvantaged populations in their respective nations.

Therefore, in the effort to constructively empower and engage our disadvantaged communities, and those who advocate for them:

The Community Empowerment Association along with the National Council of Urban Peace and Justice presents:

The First Annual International Peace, Justice, and Empowerment Summit
September 22nd, 2009
9am-4pm
Townhall Meeting and Banquet with Dr. Ron Walters
5-8pm
September 23rd, 2009
9am-4pm
Hosanna House
(807 Wallace Avenue)
Pittsburgh, PA
Keynote by: Dr. Ron Walters
Video Presentation by: Dr. john a. powell
Extensive workshops and panel discussions by grassroots organizations and activists from all
over the world!

This Summit is a foundation for serious action and interaction, not merely a protest site. Our teachings and workshops will focus on the nature of the crisis faced by disadvantaged populations of color everywhere; from the many blighted communities in Pittsburgh, to the shanty towns of Brazil.

By elevating discussions of the G20 beyond the narrow aspects of the health of financial markets, into addressing problems such as poverty, housing, employment, education, climate change, urban infrastructure, health care, economic development, we seek to remind the world that the issues pertinent to the survival of disadvantaged peoples are also an essential part of the long-term answer to
national and global viability.

We are calling all professors, students, activists, grassroots organizations, business owners, politicians, and concerned citizens to participate in this action oriented Summit of the following goals:

1. To examine the intersectionality of local and global communities of color, addressing issues such as:

a. The effect of the global financial crisis on the poorest countries, most of which are on the African Continent
b. The impact of globalization on urban economic opportunity
c. Urban youth violence, and the prison industrial complex
d. Urban blight and the lack of neighborhood capital and investment
e. The access of disadvantaged peoples to the proposed “green economy”

2. Raise consciousness to the public about the myriad ways that communities of color are exploited locally and globally

3. Take steps to resurrect the important bond that has ceased to exist between the national and international struggles of people of color

4. Compare the "best-in-class models" of grassroots initiatives and pathways out of poverty so that we may replicate and learn from these models

5. Continue to communicate and organize with this newly formed community and network of progressives to further our work in racial and social justice

6. Determine the role of the White House Office on Urban Policy in addressing the urban crisis while developing a list of policy recommendations for the administration.

To register and find out more information about The First Annual Peace, Justice, and Empowerment
Summit please visit www.CEAPittsburgh.blogspot.com, or contact us!


SAVE THIS DATE:
October 3 at 2 PM --The August Wilson Center for African American Culture is featuring the upcoming documentary on Nate Smith, "What Does Trouble Mean? Nate Smith's Revolution." This 56 minute feature documentary follows the journey of a black laborer and his unexpected evolution into a charismatic leader who forced integration of Pittsburgh's construction trade unions in the late 1960's and 1970's. It's a tremendous story, and was produced by the Robert Morris University Center for Documentary Production & Study.
This great documentary that will appeal to people of all ages! We want to get as many people to come as possible.

Nate Smith and his family will be attending the film