Sudbury Social Justice News - April 28, 2013

EVENTS & MEETINGS:

1) Tuesday, April 30: SCAP Working Group Meeting on Housing issues
2) Wednesday, May 1: Mayworks Sudbury Presents "Spitting Slag"
3) Saturday, May 4: Myths and Mirrors 12-Hour Dance-A-Thon
4) Sunday, May 5: Meeting of Sudbury Cyclists Union
5) Sunday, May 5: The Missing Women Project - Art Exhibition
6) Monday, May 6: Mayworks Sudbury Presents "Made in Daghenham"
7) Tuesday, May 7: Meeting of Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty
8) Wednesday, May 8: Sudbury Voices Town Hall & Discussion
9) Wednesday, May 8: The Stephen Lewis Foundation Solidarity Tour in Sudbury
10) Thursday, May 9: Art Show and Book Launch for Mental Health Week

NEWS, ANALYSIS & CALLS TO ACTION:

1) "The duty to consult needs support" by Shawn Bell
2) "It's time to end the erosion of public assistance in Ontario" by John Stapleton
3) Petition demanding Ontario political leaders address poverty.

EVENTS & MEETINGS:

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Tuesday, April 30: SCAP Working Group Meeting on Housing issues

Time: 6:30pm
Location: Offices of the Sudbury and District Labour Council (Suite 209, upstairs in 109 Elm Street, which is across the street from the Native Friendship Centre)

This is a working group meeting where members and supporters of the Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty will be getting together to brainstorm around housing questions and struggles in Sudbury. This is a major problem area for many people living in poverty and S-CAP is attempting to address these concerns and to find out more about what we can do.

S-CAP is a direct-action anti-poverty organization based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. We provide direct-action support work assisting individuals in their struggles with welfare and ODSP, housing, employers, and others who deny people what they are entitled to in order to meet their needs. In addition, we mount campaigns against and support educational work about regressive government policies as they effect working people and people living in poverty. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves. We believe in the power of resistance!

La coalition contre la pauvreté de Sudbury (S-CAP) est un organisme d’action directe luttant contre la pauvreté. Elle se trouve à Sudbury en Ontario.

Le travail de la coalition se base dans l’action directe et consiste à apporter de l’aide aux individus dans leurs luttes pour l’assistance sociale, l’invalidité, le logement, l’emploi et à les aider à faire face aux gens qui leur refusent ce à quoi ils ont droit pour rencontrer leurs besoins. De plus, la coalition fait des compagnes de sensibilisation et de dénonciation par rapport aux politiques gouvernementales régressives quant à leurs effets sur les travailleurs et travailleuses et les personnes vivant dans la pauvreté.

La coalition croit au pouvoir des personnes de s’organiser elles-mêmes; elle croit au pouvoir de la résistance!

S-CAP on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/257339454351403/

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Wednesday, May 1: Mayworks Sudbury Presents "Spitting Slag"

Time: 7pm
Location: Moose Lodge 230, Sudbury (212 Frood Road)
Tickets: $10, purchase at the door.

North Road Theatre's platform presentation of "Splitting Slag" by Mansel Robinson - a story about a crippled miner who is trying to come to terms with the accident that disabled him, and left him totally abandoned in his hour of need.

Followed by...Mayworks Sudbury celebration of May Day Wine and Cheese.

$10 per ticket
Tickets at the door

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/595364273816755/

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Saturday, May 4: Myths and Mirrors 12-Hour Dance-A-Thon

Time: 8pm on the 4th until 8am on the 5th
Location: Fromagerie Elgin (5 Cedar Street, entry from Elgin)

12 hours of non-stop dancing curated by Christian Pelletier and guest DJs!

Myths and Mirrors' 12-Hour Dance-A-Thon Fundraiser starts at 8pm on May 4th and doesn't end until 8am on May 5th.

Register here: http://raiseathon.ca/mythsdance

We are hoping to raise $5,000 for two summer projects:

• the Donovan/Elm West mural
• the Kazzzam Performers Project

We're hoping each dance team (4 people) will raise at least $200 so please give what you can to help us reach our goal.

FAQs:

Do I really have to dance all night?
A: There is no Dance-A-Thon Police. If you don't think you can dance all night, tell the people who are sponsoring you. I'm sure they will understand.

Do I have to be part of a team?
A: No, but it will be more fun and only one of you needs to register (when you go to register, give your team name instead of a first name and last name). Also - as a team it will be easier to win the prize for the most donations raised, which is a weekend for 4 at Auberge Inn on Manitoulin Island. Get on it!

Thank you to our sponsors: Fromagerie Elgin, Auberge Inn, and Frenchy's Pizza!!

This event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/events/345270775575150/

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Sunday, May 5: Meeting of Sudbury Cyclists Union

Time: 1pm to 3pm
Location: The Laughing Buddha (194 Elgin Street, Sudbury)

Agenda TBA

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/165543900262797/

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Sunday, May 5: The Missing Women Project - Art Exhibition

Time: 1pm
Location: Art Gallery at 276 Cedar Street, Sudbury

Ilene Sova's The Missing Women Project is a series of 18 paintings of missing and murdered women from Ontario. In her research on this topic, Sova discovered a hierarchy in Canada in which from the perspective of the media and the police, one type of person has more value. Women who go missing or who are murdered and who are mentally ill, sex trade workers or runaways have no currency in the media.

For private viewings call 705.674.5166

Sunday, May 5th, 1 pm
Meet the artist and listen to her presentation
Art Gallery
276 Cedar Street

Exhibit can be seen on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for the weeks of May 5, 12, and 19. Hours 12 - 4 pm.

This is a FREE event.

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/315443358584667/

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Monday, May 6: Mayworks Sudbury Presents "Made in Daghenham"

Time: 7pm
Location: Rainbow Cinema in the Rainbow Centre Mall, downtown Sudbury

A dramatization of the 1968 strike at the Ford Dagenham car plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination. This is a presentation of Mayworks Sudbury 2013 and the Education Committee of the Sudbury and District Labour Council.

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Tuesday, May 7: Meeting of Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty

Time: 6:30pm
Location: Offices of the Sudbury and District Labour Council (Suite 209 upstairs in 109 Elm Street, which is across the street from the Native Friendship Centre)

Matters to be discussed include the provincial budget and out response to it; housing issues; our ongoing direct action support work; setting up an S-CAP drop in space and much more. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Children are welcome to attend, or childcare support is available upon request.

S-CAP is a direct-action anti-poverty organization based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. We provide direct-action support work assisting individuals in their struggles with welfare and ODSP, housing, employers, and others who deny people what they are entitled to in order to meet their needs. In addition, we mount campaigns against and support educational work about regressive government policies as they effect working people and people living in poverty. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves. We believe in the power of resistance!

La coalition contre la pauvreté de Sudbury (S-CAP) est un organisme d’action directe luttant contre la pauvreté. Elle se trouve à Sudbury en Ontario.

Le travail de la coalition se base dans l’action directe et consiste à apporter de l’aide aux individus dans leurs luttes pour l’assistance sociale, l’invalidité, le logement, l’emploi et à les aider à faire face aux gens qui leur refusent ce à quoi ils ont droit pour rencontrer leurs besoins. De plus, la coalition fait des compagnes de sensibilisation et de dénonciation par rapport aux politiques gouvernementales régressives quant à leurs effets sur les travailleurs et travailleuses et les personnes vivant dans la pauvreté.

La coalition croit au pouvoir des personnes de s’organiser elles-mêmes; elle croit au pouvoir de la résistance!

S-CAP on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/257339454351403/

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Wednesday, May 8: Sudbury Voices Town Hall & Discussion

Time: 5pm to 9pm
Location: Parkside Centre, Kinsman Room A, 140 Durham Street

A DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY VALUES AND THE LAUNCH OF A NEW COMMUNITY VOICE

A panel of six citizens who are deeply engaged with questions of what our community is and what it might become will kick off the evening, leading into a larger conversation about what we want and how to get there.

The panel will feature Laurie McGauley, Linda Heron, Bruce McComber, Christy Knockleby, Isabelle Legault, and a local member of the Ontario Common Front. They bring diverse perspectives and experiences, with involvements ranging from social justice to Idle No More to subsistence living to environmental protection to labour, and much more.

Then we want to hear from you!

What values do you think should guide us a community? What’s important to you to feel at home and live a good life in Greater Sudbury? Do the priorities of decision makers reflect your own? Who and what gets left out when important decisions are made that shape our lives? If changes are needed, how can we make them?

Join the discussion, and share your thoughts and experiences. Make your voice heard.

This lively community discussion will also launch our membership drive, supporting more local grassroots voices in being heard year-round. Annual memberships can be purchased at the event (suggested amount $15 or $25). Our goal is $2000 to be able to pay local writers for grassroots journalism and help build capacity in the community for marginalized voices and grassroots efforts to be heard.
 
All are welcome at the event. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Refreshments will be available.

You can contact us at grassrootssudburymedia@gmail.com. Our website can be found at http://sudbury.mediacoop.ca/.

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/363488603757539/

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Wednesday, May 8: The Stephen Lewis Foundation Solidarity Tour in Sudbury

Time: 7pm
Location: OPSEU Meeting Room, 866 Newgate Avenue, Sudbury

Supported by the Canadian Labour Congress and the Sudbury and District Labour Council, The Stephen Lewis Foundation presents their Solidarity Tour featuring three AIDS and community activists from Africa.

This will provide a forum for these activists to tell their stories, share their expertise and talk about their challenges and triumphs in dealing with the ravages of AIDS at the grassroots level.

Wednesday, May 8th, 7 pm
OPSEU Meeting Room
Newgate Plaza

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/483043981777163

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Thursday, May 9: Art Show and Book Launch for Mental Health Week

Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Bertolos (270 Elgin Street, Sudbury)

NISA's Annual Art show, in support of Mental Health Week is once again coming up! The show, called "Awakenings" will feature art from NISA's fine artists, photographers and quilters.

In addition, we will also be launching two new books published by NISA writers and Open Minds Quarterly contributors.

"In New Light: The many paths of identity, struggle & mental illness" and Allan Jones’ memoir "The Book of Al: The Story of a Psychiatric Survivor, Me"

Join us for an evening of readings and beautiful art work, and support the creative engagements of those living with mental illness.

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/174349226050066/

NEWS, ANALYSIS & CALLS TO ACTION:

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The duty to consult needs support
by Shawn Bell, April 25, 2013.
(Originally published at Wawatay News Online: http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2013/4/25/duty-consult-needs-suppo...)

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It's time to end the erosion of public assistance in Ontario"
by John Stapleton
(Originally published in the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/04/26/its_time_to_end_the...)

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Petition demanding Ontario political leaders address poverty.
http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1734&ea.campaign.id=...

Now is the time to tackle Poverty in Ontario
In 2009, all three Ontario political parties voted for legislation to reduce poverty... but things are getting worse.

The minimum wage, social assistance rates, and other measures intended to lift Ontarians out of poverty have all fallen farther and farther behind. Despite growing wealth in our Province, it is harder for the poorest residents of our province to pay the rent, keep food on the table, and afford even the most basic necessities.

Right now, there is a window of opportunity to turn that around. At Queen’s Park, all three parties are negotiating what should be in the 2013 Ontario budget – expected in April. This is our chance to tell Premier Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, and Andrea Horwath to live up to tackle poverty in Ontario by taking decisive action now.

Groups like POVERTY FREE ONTARIO are calling on the Ontario government to seize this historic opportunity – add your voice to the campaign by telling your MPP that acting to reduce poverty is good for the economy, good for children, families, and communities – is good for Ontario.

To send a letter to your MPP and the party leaders, go to http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1734&ea.campaign.id=...

[Please note that the template provided makes quite modest demands. Feel free to write in a demand that social assistance rates be increased by 56%, to effectively restore them to their 1993 levels. -- SN]