Progressive Democrat Issue 60: BROOKLYN/QUEENS GROUPS AND EVENTS

ALL NYC: (lots going on this week!)

PHONE BANKING AGAINST ALITO:
THIS IS CRUNCH TIME. JUST DO IT!

Location: PFAW-NY Office, 149 5th Avenue at 21st Street, 7th Floor
When: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in January, 10AM to 4PM and every Thursday Evening, 6-9PM

RVSP to Tony Simone at 212-420-0440 x13 or tsimone -at- pfaw.org (replace -at- with @) and let him know you heard it from DFNYC.


Throughout the week (Jan. 15-21), the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service will be projecting historical photos of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on its video walls. This slideshow by Magnum Photos and curated by Spike Lee, documents the context and mood of the civil rights movement and Dr. King’s critical speeches and events. All students with an NYU I.D. are welcome to stop by Wagner and view the exhibit: The Puck Building, 295 Lafayette St., 2nd floor



Celebrating the Dream: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Wednesday, January 18
Kimmel Center, Eisner & Lubin Auditorium
6:00 p.m. (Kick-off reception at 6:00 p.m., program will begin at 7:00 p.m.)
An evening of student performances, award presentations and more. Keynote address by Keith Beauchamp, celebrated documentary filmmaker of The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till; the NYU Gospel Choir and the NYU Step Team will perform; MLK Celebration Week essay winner will read the winning essay; MLK Award will be presented.

# MLK Essay contest

Deadline for submissions: December 14th
For more information, visit essay contest

# MLK Oratorical Contest

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Kimmel Center, Shorin Auditorium, Room 802
A speech contest honoring the dream through student voices.
Sponsored by The Steinhardt School of Education.


MLK day of service Various Service Projects
Saturday, January 21, 9 am – 3 pm
various locations
Participate in a variety of volunteer projects at agencies throughout New York City that address issues including hunger, homelessness, literacy and at-risk youth. Register to volunteer at: MLK Day of Service Volunteers
Sponsored by The Office of Community Service, and Office of Government and Community Affairs


DFNYC Judiciary Issues Committee Meeting Tue, 01/17/2006 - 7:00pm; Starting on Jan 17th, The DFNYC Judiciary Issues Committee will be meeting every month on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at the office of David Kogelman at 305 Broadway (corner of Duane St), 5th Floor, 212-385-0777.


Saving Our Democracy: A Colloquium To Rescue Our Democracy From The Far Right Sat, 01/21/2006 - 9:00am, he Nation, PFAW Foundation, Demos, and the New Democracy Project are co-hosting "Saving our Democracy" on Saturday, January 21. Here's the info:

The Great Hall @ Cooper Union
7 E. 7th St.
(212) 490-0001
Saturday, Jan 21, 9am to 5:30pm
$10

With Bush & Co. exporting democracy abroad while dismantling it here at home, it's time for progressives to stand up and take your democracy back. "Saving Our Democracy" brings together 20 of the nation's leading activists and authors to audit the state of American democracy and to offer real ideas on how to save it. Through the day's eight panels, "Saving Our Democracy" will cover every major domestic democracy issue from voter suppression and religious McCarthyism to government secrecy and the failing media.

Co-hosted by The Nation, PFAW Foundation, Demos, and the New Democracy Project.

The colloquium will help you think--not about left vs. right, but about pro-democracy vs. anti-democracy.

For tickets, speaker schedules, or more info, visit www.newdemocracyproject.org.


DFNYC Monthly Mixer Tue, 01/24/2006 - 7:00pm, Where: Pioneer Bar, 218 Bowery (btwn. Prince & Spring)

Join us at the Democracy for NYC special New Year Party Monthly Mixer.

Admission: $5 per person (with RSVP), $7 without


Research & Advocacy Group Meeting Wed, 01/25/2006 - 7:00pm, Where: Cosi, downstairs, 2160 Broadway at 76th St.

Join us for an exciting new initiative the DFNYC Research & Advocacy group and work on your issue. New participants are always welcome.

The Research & Advocacy group or R&A provides you with an opportunity to on the issue or project you are most passionate about and develop an advocacy plan for other DFNYC members.

Some possible issues and project are: How City Government Works; Potential Reforms to the NY State Legislature; or National Health Insurance. Advocacy plans for these issues could include: a forum or panel discussion; flyering in a representative’s district; writing to our representatives; or joining another organization’s advocacy plan.

Each R&A member will focus on a specific issue and gather the information necessary to form an advocacy plan. All members will help eachother revise their ideas and hone in on an advocacy plan. The R&A group will work to empower the DFNYC membership and make us more informed and effective advocates.


1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East March for Dignity & Justice: Mon, 01/16/2006 - 10:00am, Join Dennis Rivera and 1199 SEIU in a March for Dignity & Justice in support of New York's home health aides, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther Kings, Jr.'s birthday on January 16th.

The march will begin at 10 am on 110th Street and Malcome X Blvd. (Lenox Ave.) and culminate at the New York State Office Building on 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. for a rally.

Please call Laura Santucci at 212-603-37062, or email Laura.Santucci-at-1199.org to confirm your participation (replace -at- with @).


CRITCAL MASS BICYCLE MOVEMENT! Critical Mass is a bicyclist movement (NOT an organized group!) that holds weekly protests all over the world to protest pollution. Rides are the last Friday of every month starting in Union Sq. Park North, 7PM! At a DFNYC meeting attended by Norm Seigel, Norm used Critical Mass as an example of the kind of activism that NYC needs most and the way Bloomberg is trying to squelch our rights and our voices. Critical Mass deserves our help. According to Bloomberg, my inclusion of this in my newsletter is probably illegal. Well, I refuse to let Bloomberg tell me what I can and cannot write in my Newsletter.

http://www.times-up.org/cm.php


And see their NYC calendar for Bike Workshops and other rides (including ones outside Manhattan). http://www.times-up.org/calendar/calendar.php


There is more you can do to support Critical Mass. This comes from a reader in Manhattan:

To help keep people involved in Critical Mass, people who might be sacred off because of renewed aggressiveness by the police, I have started a pledge drive that sponsors arrestees. This is a great way for people to stay involved in Critical Mass, stay on top of the issue, and use the NYPD and Bloomberg's tactics to work for us not against us. I am pledging $2 per arrestee, and the money will go to the Legal Aid Society. Pledges are made on the honor system. The more bicyclists the cops arrest the more money for defending civil rights is raised.


BROOKLYN EVENTS:

Democracy for America Meetings: CLICK HERE!

MARJORIE'S OZZIE’S MEETUP: I also recommend joining Marjorie's meetups and getting Marjorie’s very informative newsletter which you can get by contacting her at: johnkerry57@covad.net

Independent Neighborhood Democrats: Contact me or Devin Cohen: devincohen@msn.com if you are interested. http://www.indbrooklyn.org/

Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) (mostly covers Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Kensington. http://www.cbidems.org/


Lambda Independent Democrats (Brooklyn’s gay and lesbian organization) for meeting info contact LID@LIDBrooklyn.org.

DRINKING LIBERALLY: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Here are our local Brooklyn groups:

Park Slope: First Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward, Commonwealth, 497 5th Ave (at 12th Street). Hosted by Emily Farris and Peter Wohlsen, parkslope (at) drinkingliberally.org

Williamsburg: Every Tuesday, 8:00 pm onward the Levee, 212 Berry St. (corner of N. 3rd). Hosted by Elana Levin and Michael Freedman-Schnapp, williamsburg (at) drinkingliberally.org

To find your nearest Brooklyn Democratic club, please CLICK HERE.

QUEENS:

Democracy for America Meetings: CLICK HERE!

Queens Jefferson Democratic Club: Our meetings are normally held the first Thursday of every month, @ 8:00 p.m. (the doors open @ 7:30 P.M.) except for July, August, and months in which a holiday falls on the First Thursday. Meetings are held at the Auburndale American Legion Hall, 198-09 33rd Ave Flushing, New York 11358 (just off Francis Lewis Blvd. near 33rd Avenue).

Queens County Young Democrats: for information CLICK HERE.

DRINKING LIBERALLY: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Here are our local Queens groups:

ASTORIA: Third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm onward. Cassidy's, 34-16 Broadway (at 35th Street). Hosted by Bob Chamerda, astoria (at) drinkingliberally.org

To find your nearest Queens Democratic club, please CLICK HERE.