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Friends,<br>
<br>
Some of you may have already met Raul Matta, who is AFSC WMA's first
Fellow focused on Counter Recruitment. He and Jackie Johnson are
putting together a monthly newsletter for young people in our area which
focuses on youth trainings, workshops and youth-led
events/activities.<br>
<br>
A portion of the newsletter text follows. I have attached a .pdf of
it, and you can also find it on line at
<a href="http://www.westernmassafsc.org/" eudora="autourl">www.WesternMassAFSC.org</a>.
Raul can be reached at 413.584.8975 or at raul@westernmassafsc.org.<br>
<br>
Peace, Jo<br>
<br>
*****<br>
<b>HIPP stands for the Help Increase the Peace Project<br>
</b>Come meet new young people from across the valley: <br>
The Help increase the Peace Project is having its first <br>
BASIC HIPP training of the year on January 20th-22nd.<br>
<br>
Help Increase the Peace Project began in Syracuse, New York in 1991
through the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), youth employment
project. HIPP was modeled after the Alternatives to violence program
developed by Quakers in 1975. Since then HIPP has expanded throughout the
country and is still growing.<br>
<br>
HIPP is an interactive and engaging program based on active learning.
<br>
Through three-day workshops and follow-up activities, participants are
empowered to reduce youth violence by strengthening cross-racial and
cross-cultural understanding. Participants are encouraged to analyze the
impact of social injustice on their lives and the lives of others, to
become agents for positive personal and social change.<br>
<br>
The three HIPP workshops- Basic, Advanced and Training for Trainers- are
designed to increase levels of skill development. Participants have the
opportunity to complete the training series and become HIPP facilitators
themselves. HIPP workshops were originally designed for middle and high
school participants but they have been successfully adapted for
participants of all ages in various settings<br>
<br>
<b>Valley Free Radio<br>
</b>Valley Free Radio -- The Valley's newest non-commercial radio
station, has its doors open. Consider joining the station. Call in at
585-1033. And tune in to 103.3 FM. Listen in on Wednesday mornings at 7
AM to Diversity in Motion, a show dedicated to the youth work <br>
in the valley, hosted by Raul Matta.<br>
<br>
<b>Books Building Bridges <br>
</b>Books Building Bridges is a community-building project developed in
order to acknowledge and foster a common human desire for learning,
authentic connection and a healthy society while transcending political
divisions in the United States and the geographic and social distance
between the United States and Iraq. The group was inspired by Jeanette
Winter's book, The Librarian of Basra, which chronicles the work of Basra
librarian Alia Muhammed Baker who, with her community, saved 30,000
volumes from being destroyed during the current war with Iraq. <br>
<br>
We are a broad-based coalition of western Massachusetts literacy
educators, booksellers, librarians, schoolteachers, artists and community
organizations. To read more please explore our Web site. You are
encouraged to visit the, Donate/Get Involved, section to find out how you
and/or your organization may help Books Building Bridges! For more
information call AFSC: 413-584-8975 or visit
<a href="http://www.booksbuildingbridges.org/" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF"><u>www.booksbuildingbridges.org<br>
<br>
</a></u></font><b>MLK 2006<br>
</b>Have you wanted to observe Martin Luther King's Birthday as more than
just a bank holiday, but you just don't have time to join another
committee? Here's your chance! <br>
<br>
Between January 13 and 16, 2006, members of our community will celebrate
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with the program "Is There Space for
Spirit Here? Reverend King's vision and the role of community, faith and
action." The focus of this year's event is reflection on what it
means for people of faith / faithful people to carry on the legacy of
Rev. Dr. King. <br>
<br>
This year's unique event consists of Circles - small groups of friends,
faith congregations, or people of shared interests - meeting during the
weekend of January 13-15 to respond to the query: "How do our
spiritual/ethical commitments/beliefs/principles require that we take
sustained, brave action toward justice?" On Monday, January 16th,
these Circles will be recognized during the traditional community-wide
celebration organized by the 2006 AFSC MLK Committee. <br>
<br>
Would you like to attend a Circle? Would you be interested in leading a
Circle? The Circle may be held at a Meeting House, in a coffee house, or
at your house; it can be made up of friends, or people with whom you
share a common interest but haven't yet met. <br>
<br>
The MLK Day Committee will provide you with support, materials to help
you organize and lead a Circle, and even a website to invite like-minded
folks to join you, if you wish. <br>
<br>
If you think you would be interested in leading a circle, visit the
website below. If you know others who might be interested in hosting (or
attending) a Circle, please let them know about this opportunity! The
AFSC website is
<a href="http://www.westernmassafsc.org/" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF"><u>www.westernmassafsc.org</a>.
</u></font>Thanks!<br>
<br>
<b>Do You Want To Know The Truth About Military Recruitment?<br>
</b>Military recruiters are trying to get the youth of America to join
the military. They are targeting people of color and people living in
poverty. They are taking advantage of the part of our population that has
not been afforded equal opportunity, and unfortunately there is such a
lack of opportunity, that we are losing many to the war in Iraq. Counter
Recruitment offers statistics given by the US Department of Defense, to
show the realities of joining the military. Recruiters are salespeople,
they are trying to sell the military to people who are considering
enlistment. They do not tell the complete story. They tell the story that
will sell best. Counter Recruitment shows both sides, it acknowledges
that many people are successful, and also shows how many are not. The
goal of Counter Recruitment is to educate people about the military, so
they can make an informed decision, when they sign over their lives.
AFSC, in partnership with the Military Recruitment Education Network, is
offering Counter Recruitment trainings for anyone interested in learning
more about why the military is not always the best decision for the youth
of our nation. These trainings are free and can be held in any location.
It is important that the people know the truth about military service.
<br>
For more information call Jackie or Raul @, 413-584-8975. Or email us at
Jackie@westernmassafsc.org or raul@westernmassafsc.org.<br>
<br>
<b>Options Booklet <br>
</b>We all have options! <br>
Last year Jackie helped create an an option’s booklet. The option booklet
was a great way to allow other youth to see that they have other options
other than the military. The booklet encompasses ways that young people
can receive transportation, housing, shelter, food, and any other
resources that are available to the community. The options booklet is a
great resource to have in your local schools and places of employment. It
allows for there to be many options and many opportunities for young
people. Option booklets can be done in many ways. If you have any
questions or would like to get started on your own options booklet and
would like some assistance. Please contact me by email at
Jackie@westernmassafsc.org.<br>
<br>
<b>Conscientious Objector Support Circles <br>
</b>You have morals. You morally oppose some actions. If your government
asked you to kill would you do it? What if it tried to force you? Protect
yourself! Conscientious Objectors to war are protected from the draft.
A.F.S.C. is trying to help local men and women under 26 think about where
they stand, and what they should do to protect themselves and their
friends from military conscription. Meet us on the third floor at Thornes
Marketplace on the first Wednesday of each month. We’ll be there from
6:00 to 7:30. Call Jo Comerford or Elías Sánchez-Eppler at the Western
Mass. AFSC Office (413-584-8975).<br>
<br>
In Amherst a similar group meets from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on the first Monday
of each month, (except for holidays). The group meets at the Men’s
Resource Center, 236 N. Pleasant St (about a block from Bruegger’s
Bagels, going toward U Mass). The group is led by two students at Amherst
Regional High School, who have helped lead workshops before about this
subject- <br>
Daniel Stubbs and Owen Hayden. For more information, e-mail Owen at
<br>
owenhayden@earthlink.com<br>
<br>
<b>Resume Writing Workshop<br>
</b>Do you know how to write a resume? <br>
Do you know what a resume is? <br>
Do you know how to fill out a job application? <br>
Do you what information you do and don’t have to give your
employer?<br>
If these are questions you ask yourself every time you apply for a job,
then join us at our resume writing workshop.<br>
When? January 19, 2005 <br>
Where? 140 Pine St. Florence, MA <br>
At the American Friends Service <br>
Committee office, on the third floor. <br>
What Time? 3pm - 5pm<br>
For more information call (413)-584-8975 ext. 203, or email us at
afsc@crocker.com.<br>
<br>
<b>Congradulations to Youth Leadership in the Arts<br>
</b>Congradulations to Youth Leadership in the Arts for leading a very
successful Youth of Color and Allies Event last Thursday night at the
Northampton Center for the Arts. This event was meant to be the first of
many to come. <br>
The next Youth of Color and Allies Event will be held in Springfield
during the month of February. Further details have yet to be announced,
but February’s newsletter will have more information. <br>
You can also call Beth Mattison/ YLA @ 413-320-3243<br>
<br>
Youth Leadership in the Arts <br>
140 Pine Street Rm 5 <br>
Florence, MA 01062 <br>
1.800.850.3880 ext. 303 <br>
beth_yla@hotmail.com<br>
<br>
<br>
Raul Matta or Jacqueline Johnson <br>
140 Pine St. Rm 10 <br>
Florence, MA 01062 <br>
413.584.8975 ext. 203 <br>
Raul@westernmassafsc.org <br>
Jackie@westernmassafsc.org<br>
<br>
Jo Comerford <br>
AFSC <br>
140 Pine Street Rm 10 <br>
Florence, MA 01062 <br>
413.584.8975 <br>
afsc@crocker.com<br>
<br>
END<br>
<font face="Garamond"><b>Jo Comerford<br>
</b>American Friends Service Committee, Western Massachusetts<br>
140 Pine Street, Room 10<br>
Florence, Massachusetts 01062<br>
413.584.8975 (W)<br>
413.584.8987 (F)<br>
413.695.6059 (C)<br>
afsc@crocker.com<br>
<a href="http://www.westernmassafsc.org/" eudora="autourl">www.WesternMassAFSC.org</a><br>
<br>
</font><font face="Arial Narrow, Helvetica">History says, don't hope on
this side of the grave.<br>
But then, once in a lifetime<br>
the longed-for tidal wave<br>
of justice can rise up,<br>
and hope and history rhyme.<br>
<br>
~ Seamus Heaney, <i>The Cure at Troy<br>
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