Weekly Newsletter - November 11, 2019

Tuesday, November 12 • 7:00 pm
Noura Erakat Book Talk and Celebration: Justice for Some
Palestinian-American activist, professor, and human rights lawyer Noura Erakat celebrates the release of her new book Justice for Some: Law & the Question of Palestine in conversation with Lara Kiswani of the Arab Resource & Organizing Center. This event is a benefit for the Middle East Children's Alliance. For info call 510-548-0542, or purchase tickets online here (sliding scale $15-$100.)
Location: Berkeley City College Auditorium, 2050 Center Street, Berkeley

Tuesday, November 12 • 3:30 — 6:00 pm
Anti-Bias Curriculum Training Series
The Anti-Bias curriculum training is designed for teachers, administrators and others in the Early Childhood Education field that supports early learning. Creating inclusive classrooms requires that we understand and acknowledge our own biases and recognize verbal and non-verbal messages conveyed by other adults and children. The Anti-Bias Practicum Training is a series of interactive sessions designed to support teachers to integrate the Anti-Bias Goals into their curriculum. Series continues 12/17, 1/28, 2/18, 3/24, 4/14, and 5/19
Location: 1390 Market Street, Room: 1125, San Francisco

Wednesday, November 13 • 6:45 — 9:00 pm
Intro to SURJ Meeting
Want to get involved with SURJ Bay Area? Come learn about our current work and activities. SURJ moves white people to act for justice, with passion and accountability, as part of a multi-racial majority. You will hear about SURJ's pathways for entering the work, including committee work, upcoming workshops, and events. We'll answer your questions and share how you can get involved in the movement for racial justice. Register today!
Location: Movement Strategy Center, 436 14th Street, Suite 500, Oakland

Thursday, November 14 • 10:00 am
Day of Action for Justice
The Ella Baker Center is organizing a day of action aimed at winning an audit of Alameda County Sheriff Ahern, closing youth prisons, and keeping schools open. We have an incredible opportunity to win an audit of the Alameda County Sheriff. Sheriff Greg Ahern’s budget continues to increase as the number of deaths in the jail rise. After much pressure from the community, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will finally discuss an auditduring the next Public Protection Committee on November 14. We need to be at that meeting to ensure that the Supervisors take the next step and move forward with a full and transparent audit of Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Actions begin at 10 am at the Board of Supervisors and continue throughout the afternoon. Sign up to receive more details.
Location: 1221 Oak Street, Oakland

Saturday, November 16 • 1:00 — 5:00 pm
Access-Centered Dance Party Fundraiser
Access-Centered Movement is teaming up with Mask Oakland, Fat Rose, and the Disability Justice Culture Club to offer resources for access-centered emergency planning and supplies. We will have earthquake kits, masks, and resources for how to survive as sick and disabled people during climate change and disaster. Please bring supplies for making earthquake kits if you are able. The event will also feature dance classes, performances, a raffle, food, and nonalcoholic drinks. This is a benefit for India Harville, beloved community member, Access-Centered Movement cofounder, dancer, and Disability Justice activist.  
Location: 1931 87th Ave., Oakland

November 16 — 23
Bay Area Housing Week of Action
The housing crisis has never been this bad — at least in our lifetimes. Low-income communities of color are being hit the hardest. People are literally dying on our streets, because they cannot afford housing. ACCE Action Oakland is calling on everyone who is being impacted in any way by the artificially-created housing scarcity in Oakland, whether you are unhoused, housing-insecure, rent-burdened, or just tired of watching your friends, family, and neighbors being forced to leave, to help us SHUT IT DOWN! During this week we will be highlighting the damage being done by large corporate speculators that have bought up homes in our neighborhoods as an investment strategy for Wall Street bondholders. Find information about different events and calls to action here.

Sunday, November 17 • 2:00 — 6:00 pm
Alternatives to Policing 7: Health Emergencies
Because policing fails to meet people's needs, and puts people in danger of arrest, imprisonment, and/or even death, we must eliminate connections between policing and healthcare. But how? Someone is bleeding or in emotional distress or appears to be unresponsive right in front of you. What can you do? Critical Resistance Oakland and The Oakland Power Projects present the workshop “Know Your Options for Health: Emotional Crisis, Acute Injuries, and Overdose.” This combined, interactive workshop aims to strengthen people’s skills to respond to community health needs in ways that minimize police contact. We will practice skills using real-life scenarios, review resources and work together to create the community care we want to see. More info.
Location: Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland

Saturday, December 7 • 2:00 — 7:00 pm
Abundant Beginnings Fundraiser - Let's Get Free!
Support Abundant Beginnings, a community education and empowerment initiative that is re-imagining how communities can grow learners who think critically, live responsibly , and create meaningful change. This is an all-ages fundraiser Day Party with DJ, dancing, auction, a healing center, and more. Support these Radical, Amazing, Powerful Young Activists and Freedom Fighters! Come Dance With Us!
Location: 7th West, 1255 7th Street, Oakland

A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving for Educators and Families
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and for many among us, this holiday is not a celebration about turkey and the Mayflower. The Center for Racial Justice in Education has compiled a list of resources for educators and families to discuss Thanksgiving by keeping Native narratives central to the discussion, and to help navigate difficult conversations about Thanksgiving. These resources are useful in the classroom and beyond. This resource will be continually updated.

Unhoused Provisions Drive - It's Cold in these Streets!
The nighttime temperatures have dropped significantly, and so many of our unhoused brothers and sisters are not ready for this change. The city of Oakland isn't providing adequate shelter to the hundreds unhoused people, and it's getting cold. Find information about what is needed and how you can help.

Support Asylum Seekers at the Border
Next week seven SURJ-BA members and friends will travel to Tijuana in solidarity with the organization Al Otro Lado and the migrant community in Tijuana. Our delegation will work with Al Otro Lado staff to provide direct services to asylum seekers and support their everyday work. You can help us deliver much needed cash and material aid to Al Otro Lado by donating here. SURJ delegates are self-funded, so 100% of your donation goes directly to Al Otro Lado.

Donate to Support Undocumented Kincade Fire Victims
The UndocuFund for Fire Relief in Sonoma County is currently raising funds to assist the victims of the Kincade Fire, which has grown to more than 25,000 acres. An estimated 38,500 undocumented immigrants live in Sonoma County; unlike other victims, undocumented immigrants do not qualify for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In the wake of the 2017 Tubbs Fires, UndocuFund distributed $6 million to nearly 2,000 families who lost homes, possessions, and earnings in the fires. With the 2019 Kincade fires, UndocuFund calls on you to help again. Donate here.

Demand the University of Alabama Re-Hire Dr. James Riley
The University of Alabama has seemingly pushed for the resignation of its Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President — a Black man who had been in the job just seven months — for past tweets that made honest, straightforward statements about racism in America. The University of Alabama needs to rehire Dr. Riley immediately and make clear it will stand up for the rights of Black students, faculty, and employees. Learn more and sign the Color of Change petition to reinstate Dr. Riley.

Fire LAPD Officers Lee and Robles for the Murder of Grechario Mack
Sign and share the petition to fire the Los Angeles police officers who murdered 30-year-old Grechario Mack, father of two daughters. On April 10, 2018, Mack was in the midst of a mental health challenge inside the the Crenshaw-Baldwin Hills Mall when LAPD Officers Ryan Lee and Martin Robles shot him and then stood over him – he was still alive – and fired two more rounds into his body, killing him. Black Lives Matter Los Angeles is calling on LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore to fire the two police. Learn more about the case and sign the petition here.

SURJ Bay Area Chapter - Join us! Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. Learn more at www.surjbayarea.org. SURJ Bay Area is one of 150 chapters and affiliates nationwide. Learn about SURJ National and our mission, vision, and values HERE.

Want to support our work? You can make a donation for SURJ's organizing and educational efforts with over half of what we raise going to Black and people of color-led partner organizations. Make a one-time donation or become a monthly sustainer HERE. Contributions are tax-deductible.

Follow SURJ Bay Area on Social Media: Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Bay Area c/o PO Box 22748, Oakland CA 94609