social justice
Homelessness in Chapel Hill is an issue that, unlike what happens in many communities, reaches headlines in our local media and often the agendas of our Town Council. However, as residents of Chapel Hill seek to safeguard business interests downtown, and as the worsening economic climate continues to find more and more in need, the topic has become increasingly contentious. In too many cases, our most needy citizens are seen as eyesores, barriers to business development and told to get out of town.
With local food pantries stretched to their limits and the current downtown shelter falling into decay, the Chapel Hill Town Council, after lengthy hearings and deliberations, approved the Inter-Faith Council (IFC) Men’s Community House Transitional Shelter Special Use Permit (SUP) in 2011 subject to the IFC satisfying several conditions, including the creation of a Good Neighbor Plan (GNP).
I just wanted to extend a quick official welcome to two UNC students that are working with OrangePolitics this semester for the service-learning component of a class they are taking: Sociology 273 - Social and Economic Justice with Professor Neal Caren. Jeff Miles will be covering public participation in the Comprehensive Plan revision process (a.k.a. Chapel Hill 2020), and Burton Peebles will be exploring how social justice issues are (or are not) talked about in local municipal and school board campaigns.
Each will be writing about 10 blog entries between September and December. All of their posts will be tagged SOCI 273. I hope you will all welcome them with some supportive comments and constructive feedback.
Thursday, September 22, 2011, members of the Orange County Democratic Women (OCDW) gathered together, along with the UNC Young Democrats, concern citizens, members of the press and Democratic candidates for both the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Chapel Hill Town Council to have a conversation about their communities. The OCDW forum at the OWASA Meeting Room in Carrboro, co-sponsored by the UNC Young Democrats, gave both the Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities the opportunity to press their respective candidates on the issues they feel matter most during this election cycle including affordable housing and the recnet budget cut-backs.
However, candidates differed in discussing their tangible platform points relating to the topics. Moreover, over the course of the evening, candidates highlighted their various personal strengths and unique perspectives on a wide range social justice issues, ranging from environmental degregation to living-wages for all UNC employees.
The Chapel Hill Town Council last night approved a special use permit (SUP) for the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service’s Community House at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard and Homestead Road in a 6-2 vote after another dramatic public hearing. (The first part of the public hearing was held on March 21). Council members Czajkowski and Easthom voted against the application; council member Pease was absent.
The hearing began with the presentation of a petition from the lawyer for a group of neighbors asking that Mayor Kleinschmidt and council members Rich, Harrison, and Czajkowski recuse themselves from voting on the SUP application because they had ostensibly already made up their minds when they answered a question about the issue on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce candidate questionnaire during the 2009 elections.
Sponsored by: Progressive Democrats of Orange and Chatham Counties and Triangle Women's International League of Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Led by trained facilitators from Uniting NC. We seek to transcend politics and create common ground by sharing our personal experiences, articulating our hopes, voicing our concerns, and building trust in a safe, open and nonjudgmental setting. We would love for you and other members of your organization to take part in this community conversation. Accompanied children are welcome to participate.
Noon: we all enjoy a potluck luncheon and fellowship while watching short films telling the stories of immigrants trying to make a life in the US. Please bring a favorite dish or non-alcoholic beverage to share if you wish, but it is your participation that’s important.
1:00 pm: Kristin Collins (Uniting NC) maps out the process of building a new vision of community through dialogue; then we break out into small facilitated discussion groups of 6-8 for about an hour, after which we’ll share the highlights of our conversations in the larger group.
We have invited a cross-section of our community to this event: elected officials, business people, workers, farmers, artists, musicians, people from the faith community, teachers, students, and, of course, immigrants and family members of immigrants. We are delighted that our NC Senator Ellie Kinnaird as well as Olma Echeverri from Charlotte, the President of the newly formed Hispanic American Democrats of NC, will participate in this event.
It is our strong belief that in order to get grassroots support for sound comprehensive immigration reform, we have to start talking -- and listening -- to one another and create a solid foundation of trust and goodwill. We can reclaim public discourse on immigration from the orchestrated hysteria and divisive rhetoric that has replaced thoughtful debate and counter the message of fear and intolerance with a message of respect and cooperation.
Please RSVP no later than Friday, August 20, by e-mailing PDNC2010@gmail.com or calling/ texting 919-452-9342. If you are planning to contribute to the potluck, please let us know what dish or beverage you will be bringing. Thank you for all you are and all you do.
Directions to Carol Woods:From I- 40 West take Exit #266. At the stoplight at the top of the exit ramp, turn left on highway 86. Turn left at the fourth stoplight onto Weaver Dairy Road. Carol Woods is about one mile on the left. Look for a split-rail fence with pink rose bushes.From I-40 East take Exit #266, labeled highway 86.At the stoplight at the top of the exit ramp, turn right onto highway 86. Turn left at the third stoplight onto Weaver Dairy Road. Carol Woods is about one mile on the left. Look for a split-rail fence with pink rose bushes.From I-85 South take exit #174B to 15-501. This is an exit to the right. Follow 15-501 into Chapel Hill and turn right onto I-40 West. Take exit #266, labeled highway 86. At the top of the exit ramp, turn left onto highway 86. Then turn left at the fourth stoplight. Carol Woods is approximately one mile on the left. Look for a split-rail fence with pink rose bushes. Bus Lines:
Carol Woods is on the T-Line. For a weekend schedule, please visit http://www.townofchapelhill.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=3273
Links:Progressive Democrats of North Carolina: www.progressivedemocratsnc.orgTriangle Women's International League for Peace and Freedom: www.trianglewilpf.orgUniting NC: www.unitingnc.orgChapel Hill Friends Meeting: www.chapelhillfriends.orgEl Centro Hispano: www.elcentronc.org Date:
Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 8:00am to 11:00am
Location:
Carol Woods Assembly Hall, 750 Weaver Dairy Rd. Chapel Hill
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