Fiesta NavideñaFRIDAY DECEMBER 19 If you are new the organization or a longtime member you probably know that PODER doesn't throw elaborate or expensive annual events that cost your everyday Maria and Jose a whole weeks salary. Instead we get down in the barrio and hold a holiday pachanga for the entire community. Join us in celebrating another year of fortifying community, deepening friendships, supporting leaders and doing our best towards creating a better world. Delicious food, caroling, dance contests, IPOD raffle & much more. And just added.. a special surprise visit from Panchito Claus! Spread the cheer... bring your favorite dessert to share! http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq303/podersf/navidena_fiesta_biling.jpg
check out the latest...Wachale!
Community Action Bulletin
November/December '08
(Wachale = something important that needs attention drawn to it)
UPDATES & NEWS We focused our attention on the local Proposition B, the affordable housing fund, and the statewide Proposition 6, which would've directed billions of dollars to prisons and police. We were happy that Proposition 6 lost because it would've have spent billions of dollars on criminalizing youth like us. We were sad that Proposition B lost; this will make it harder for working families like mine to have a safe and affordable home to live in. At the beginning of the project we were very nervous because it was our first time talking to voters and trying to convince them to support us. But with practice and support we conquered our fears and we were able to raise our voices. As an organization we focused on educating voters to vote Yes on B and No on 6. We supported Proposition B because our families in San Francisco need affordable housing. We all know it is so expensive to live here, many people in our community have had to move outside the City. We were opposed to Proposition 6 because we do not support racial profiling of youth by the police and we don't think that youth should be put in adult prisons for non-violent crimes. We also don't believe that the government should use our tax dollars to build more prisons instead of schools, parks and housing. We are proud to be a part of PODER and we are happy to have participated in this election campaign because through it we are able to make our community stronger. MTA to Plan For Our Health, Not For More Pollution! This last Monday, November 17 we saw the fruits of our work. We were humbled by the testimony of Victoria Sanchez, an elder in our community, who has lived on the 100 block of Cayuga for more than 20 years, and experiences daily a steady stream of trucks and moving traffic on her block. Due to her and the efforts of PODER and CPA leaders, the Board of Supervisors took its first step to pass a resolution that would make our MTA plan for health and environmental justice and reduce diesel truck pollution where our community lives, learns, and plays. Community United For Health & Justice: District 11 Candidates Forum Neighborhood leaders stepped up one by one to turn the table on our candidates. We framed the issues facing our community and proposed solutions to build a healthy and just District 11. Community members then graded the candidates on our community's top priorities: youth empowerment, immigrants' rights, and affordable housing. The voters must have been watching the forum because District 11 elected John Avalos, who came away from the event with the highest marks. We look forward to giving our new Supervisor a hearty community welcome and to organize a community tour filled with our hopes, dreams, and solutions to build a healthy and just District 11. Look out for more great collaborating and solid community organizing to create real opportunities for the young people and families of our District.
Planting Seeds of Love & Justice: Dia De Los Muertos @ the Secret Garden Fresh off the heels of one of the most historical elections of our lifetime, one hundred plus neighbors, friends and familia came out on a gorgeous night to celebrate the 9th Year of Dia De Los Muertos at the Secret Garden. This annual Mission District event, near Harrison & 23rd St., was born out of the need for local families to express and celebrate their cultural traditions in a public, reverent and friendly space. This year's celebration took on an especially significant meaning for a couple of reasons- friends and family commemorated a true community leader and longtime PODER member, Carlos Jimenez, who passed away a few months ago. Community revelers also celebrated a years worth of organizing to keep the beloved garden open.
Mercedes Jimenez, wife of Carlos, with the help of her son and daughter in-law assembled an amazing altar depicting over 50 years of triumphs and treasures of her husband. The altar was elaborately decorated with his favorite congas, beads, CD's and dozens of pictures of their five children, grandkids, friends and families.
The event was also a time to appreciate the efforts of a group of neighbors, gardeners, artists and community organizations that worked hard over the past year to keep the garden open and flourishing for the entire community. As many of you may remember reading from past Wachale! bulletins the garden was under attack by the landlord Mission Housing Development Corporation. Through the power of community organizing the green space has been kept open and is currently going through a community visioning process led by 114 year old Good Samaritan Family Resource Center with the help of the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center. Stay tuned for upcoming neighborhood-based workshops that will be engaging local families and youth on how to nurture the space as an environmental justice & ecology community center.
Many great stories, laughs and tears were shared by all who attended this year's celebration. Muchisimo props go out to the organizational allies and wonderful people that made this a very special evening: Leonard Flynn School, The Family School, Robert Marosi, Cynthia Meza, Maria Jimenez & her family, CISPES, St. Peters Housing Committee, El Coro Jornalero, The Friedenbach Family, Carmen Yes, and Danza Xiuhcoatl. Feel the love... Check out the slide show.
UPCOMING ACTIONS & EVENTS
*Fiesta Navidena
If you are new the organization or a longtime member you probably know that PODER doesn't throw elaborate or expensive annual events that cost your average Jose & Maria a weeks paycheck. Instead we get down in the barrio and hold a holiday party for the community. Join us in celebrating another year of fortifying community, deepening friendships, supporting leaders and doing our best towards creating a better world.
Mark your calenders and don't forget to join us for some delicious food, piñata, IPOD raffle, christmas caroling, dance contests & mucho mas. And just added.. a special surprise visit from Panchito Clause who'll be taking pictures with all the nice homeboys and homegirls. Bring your favorite dessert to share! Call Oscar to RSVP.
Friday, December 19 6pm-9pm Parque Niños Unidos
*Contributors for this issue include: Charlie "Carlo" Sciammas, Olga Hernandez, Oscar "Lucha" Grande, Cassandra Garcia & Adriana Ramirez
This Wednesday: District 11 Community Candidates Forum
If you love youth empowerment, immigrants rights, and affordable
** D 11 Community Candidate Forum ** Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 Balboa High School Little Theatre 1000 Cayuga Avenue at Onondaga
Food, Refreshments & Childcare provided
Brought to you by PODER, the Filipino Community Center, Coleman
Fighting For Our Right To The City, "The Rumble For The Mission"On August 7th 2008, the San Francisco Planning Commission voted to approve the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan that will rezone four of San Francisco's most diverse and economically important neighborhoods, East SOMA, the Central Waterfront, Showplace Square, and the Mission District. This process now enters its final stage at the Board of Supervisors, where the Supervisors will make changes based on community input. We need your support... The housing section of the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan will permit the development of 7,500 new housing units, but sadly 66% of that housing will be beyond the financial reach of almost everyone in San Francisco.
Please join us at the Land Use and Economic Development hearing at the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday October 1st. Hearing starts at 1:30pm, public testimony around 2:30pm. City Hall Room 263 In the meantime contact the Supervisors from the Land Use Committee and let them know that you are supporting the community's position on affordable housing for families and protections for community serving businesses in the Mission District. Sophie Maxwell, District 10 Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, District 11 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, District 3 Supervisor
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