Beloved Syracuse Beacon
"It's better to light a candle than to curse the dark."
K'naan, Somali Refugee and Hip Hop Artist
ARCHIVE ENTRY: April 10th, 2017
Action Alerts
This week in our work to transform Syracuse, eliminate poverty, and create equality:
Wednesday Public Debate on the Consensus Report: What is the Right Thing to Do?
Maxwell Auditorium in Maxwell Hall, 151-161 College Pl, Syracuse, NY 13210, from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
April 12, 2017
The public debate on a metropolitan form of government for Onondaga County is on Wednesday. ACTS members are encouraged to attend. The “Metropolitan form of government” under debate is a synonym for the recommendations proposed by the “Consensus Report,” which advocates for the consolidation of our county and city governments. This would mean a unified Onondaga County government of one elected official and a 33-person Legislature. The authors behind the report tout consolidation would save Onondaga County 33 million dollars per year. Others, like Mayor Stephanie Miner, warn that Consensus policies could “doom Syracuse to eternal poverty.” Vito Sciscioli, a longtime Syracuse civic leader, urged ACTS at the Leadership Council Meeting in March to prioritize the Consensus Report as a vital social justice topic.
2017 ACTS Spring Banquet Countdown: Q&A with the Banquet Committee
Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
April 25, 2017
We invite you to unite with us at the 2017 ACTS Spring Banquet. Together we will reinvigorate the fight for social justice. In last week’s newsletter issue, we gave an overview of the Banquet. This week, we present to you an in-depth interview with the Spring Banquet Committee to uncover the efforts behind this remarkable evening.
Alternatives to Violence Project Envisions a Non-Violent Syracuse
Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave, Syracuse, NY 13204, at 7:00 p.m.
April 13, 2017
On Thursday the ACTS Community Violence and Youth (CV&Y) Task Force will host a meeting on a project they hope will quell the violence in our community. The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) is now in its planning stage for implementation across Syracuse. AVP is an international movement active in 35 states and 40 nations around the world. AVP’s participants often include inmates, gang members, social workers, and social justice activists. During the April 13th meeting at the Southwest Community Center, Timothy Kirkland is expected to be voted in as the new Co-chair of the CV&Y Task Force. Kirkland is a former inmate, an AVP advocate, and a leader in the Community Empowerment Organization (CEO). All are welcome to attend.
Weekly Member Organization Events
If you are an ACTS Member Organization and have an upcoming social justice event please email Ryan Ivers at rivers2@oswego.edu
Weekly Victories
Together we came closer to our goals. Let's reflect on the vital work we did last week:
ACTS Youth Council Scores Free Tickets to "Samite and the Queen"
Palace Theater, 2384 James St, Syracuse, NY 13206, at 7:00 p.m. ( Article Published April 10th)
April 21, 2017
The ACTS Youth Council will be honored as guests for an evening of “film, music, and stories of hope” at the 2017 Syracuse International Film Festival. The Youth Council, who are mostly Somali refugees or children of refugees, will join up to 150 other refugee students from across the Syracuse area with free admission to the Film Festival’s opening night. The event at 7 o’clock on April 21st, “Samite and the Queen,” is a three-part celebration of hope in the face of unimaginable trials. The event and the ticket opportunity were made possible by generous grants from the Central New York Community Foundation, Allyn Foundation, Reisman Foundation, Rotary Club of Syracuse, and Welch Allyn of Skaneateles.
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