Arise_Store

ARISE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE is a low-income led, anti-oppression organization in Springfield. We make sure that low-income people have a voice in decisions made about us. We have: organized a tent city with homeless people that pushed the city to develop a comprehensive homeless plan; led a successful campaign to change from an all at-large form of government to elections by ward; ran an underground needle exchange program to meet people’s needs while we worked for statewide enabling legislation, among many other accomplishments. Some of our current work includes… Economic Justice: We work on issues of economic justice for poor people. No One Leaves Coalition: We work with the coalition to prevent foreclosures and evictions, to challenge predatory lending and to change unjust laws We’re surveying people around Springfield to find out what their real housing needs are Land Trust: We’re working to develop a housing model where people, not profits, make the decisions Homelessness rights: We monitor the Homeless Unit at the local DTA office and inform homeless families of their right to shelter “Taking It to the Streets:” We publish and distribute a street newspaper. Advocacy: We point people in the right direction when they have urgent needs; we teach advocacy skills to people dealing with housing, homelessness, hunger and other issues. Criminal Justice: We fight for police accountability and an end to police brutality in Springfield and the War on Drugs in Massachusetts. Court solidarity: We go to court and organize for people who are victims of police brutality and unjust laws. CORI Reform: we help people file the paperwork to request and seal their CORIs Documentation: We assist people in filing complaints against the police to the Civilian Police Review Board. Petition: We’re collecting signatures to demand that all patrol cars and all police have cameras Organize: We do stand-outs, rallies and conferences to help our community stand up for our rights. Organize: We work to end the War on Drugs that is destroying our community. Environmental Justice: We spread the word about threats to our community’s health and organize to stop them. Organize: We’re fighting to stop any threats to our air quality and to clean up existing threats Climate Change: We’re organizing to get a climate change plan for Springfield Educate: We do workshops and produce literature to educate our community that “All environmental issues are public health issues.” Solidarity: We promote community gardens in Springfield and support other organizations working for the environment. Electoral: We work to involve low-income people in the electoral process. Organize: We organize voter registration campaigns and teach people about the electoral process. Educate & Turn Out: We help spread the word about the new system of electing city councilors and school committee members in Springfield, and work to turn out the community at election time. Ballot questions: We make sure the community knows about the important questions that we can vote on and that affect our lives. Peace and Justice: We work to organize opposition to war and to redirect funding to jobs and other low –income needs. Organize: In coalition, we march, demonstrate, organize workshops and conferences and do counter-recruitment in local high schools. Bear Witness: Since the war began, we have held a vigil for peace every Monday at noon. Stop Hate, Homophobia and Racism: We work to end discrimination against members and groups in the community Organize: We vigil, flyer, hold events and challenge homophobia wherever we find it. Organize and Advocate: We help people find a way to challenge the discrimination they face and work to change the systems that oppress them.