SAFIRE represents at the USSF in Detroit pt. 1

Sandra and Mimi from ACRJ's SAFIRE youth program, and Amanda, Youth Organizer, arrived in Detroit Monday afternoon to attend the United States Social Forum (USSF) in Detroit, Michigan.

Our first night we got to watch a fireworks show across the street from our hotel.

This is how excited Sandra was about being in Detroit!












Vincent Chin
Tuesday was the first day of the forum and we started it off by learning some history of Asian/ Pacific Islander Americans in Detroit at a workshop held by the Detroit Asian Youth Project. The workshop was on the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man who was beaten to death by Ronald Ebens, an out-of-work, White, Chrysler (US auto company) employee. He was quoted saying, "It's because of you motherfuckers that we are out of work," referring to Japanese Auto companies taking away US business, even though Vincent was Chinese American.

"The Vincent Chin movie was epic. I was like WHAT THE HELL!!! the whole time... Like just because it was an “ACCIDENT” doesn’t mean killing someone is okay. He got away with manslaughter with NO time in jail , a 3000 dollar fine, and a measly probation for 3 years. SH*T lemmie do that and say it was an “accident” and see if I get away with it!!"
- Sandra's thoughts after watching the film "Who Killed Vincent Chin"

USSF Opening March

Over 10,000 people from across the country and the globe to start the USSF off with a bang in the opening march. 

"The march was really interesting to me. It’s by far the biggest march I’ve ever been in. That experience was really crazy. Also very hot!"
- Mimi on the USSF's opening march

SURPRISE!

We ran into NAMDOL! Our Youth Organizing Intern last summer who does Mountain Justice work in Boston. We love and miss her so much!

Summer is BLOOMING and so is SAFIRE!

Join our SUMMER SAFIRE PROGRAM for Asian high school girls in Oakland!


Download the application now!

Contact Amanda Wake, Youth Organizer for more information at 510-663-8300, ext. 302, amanda@reproductivejustice.org.

SUMMER PROGRAM is 3 days a week in the afternoons from July 12th to August 26th. You will be paid a small stipend for your participation. You will be working on projects, doing activities to connect you to your core power, building new relationships, participating in a weekly physical activity (soccer or yoga/ dance), working towards making change in your community all while having FUN! This summer we will be focusing on our family's stories.

Come to the orientation:
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
3-5pm
@ the ACRJ office
1440 Broadway (x 14th St.), Suite 301, Oakland

Learn more about SAFIRE.

An intern perspective on EMERJ's Forward Stance Leadership Initiative

By Xuanzi Jia (ACRJ EMERJ Intern)

I am a student at Smith College and am spending part of my summer as an intern at ACRJ.   My days have been filled with a variety of tasks and I’ve only been in Oakland for less than three weeks. However, I was honored to have been  given the opportunity to participate in the Forward Stance Leadership Initiative and EMERJ convening that ACRJ hosted from June 8th to the 11th. I was able to take in many of the lessons that were taught about the connection between the mind and body and how our physical stance can  increase our awareness and ability to act strategically.  The two sets of two-day meetings were rather intense, but quite fulfilling in a spiritual and personal way. I had initially promised myself that I would be sponge-like and soak in all of the experiences and information that were being shared, which ended up being the case for the past week.

Many of the personal and organizational stories during the meetings and convening colored the way (in a positive way) in which I was seeing the Reproductive Justice Movement on a national scale. All in all, it gave me new perspectives about the RJ movement and the fact that it is necessary to garner a variety of resources to further the cause and mission. Witnessing the amount of energy, dedication, and personal efforts that activists were putting into the movement only reassured my  own personal beliefs in the non-profit world. The entire four day journey was, for me, rather personal and emotional. Needless to say, I  was pleased to have been able to be a part of something that brought  together so many leaders in the local, state, and national RJ movement. What a week it’s been!

Surina Khan on Advancing Safe and Healthy Families

Check out Surina Khan's (Women's Foundation of California) insightful lecture touching on our own Eveline Shen's ideas about reproductive justice and strong families.

Hear ACRJ's Amanda Wake discuss permaculture on KPFA 94.1 FM

ACRJ's Youth Organizer, Amanda Wake, was just interviewed on Pacifica Radio's KPFA in Berkeley about her experiences with permaculture and urban gardening, and how it has inspired her as an activist in the Bay Area. Check it out!

APEX Express - June 3, 2010 at 7:00pm

Click to listen (or download)