On Monday, May 20, the Ann Arbor City Council will vote on its 2014 budget. After years of cuts, this budget finally shows some increases. But while the administrator’s proposed budget calls for increases to many areas, it calls for cuts for human service funding.

The proposed cuts by the City are small ($46,8998), they are in a context of incremental erosion of local human service funding and  national-level attacks on our social safety net through sequestration:

• Local erosion of human service funding: Over the past ten years (2003-2013),  overall city General Fund expenditures declined by about 1.25% while human services funding declined by 14.32% over the same period (source).
• Sequestration cuts to human services: According to a report by the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development, ”Sequestration cuts will result in nearly $1,000,000 in reductions to support for unemployed residents, nutrition assistance, affordable housing and utility assistance, and support to youth and seniors this year.”

UPDATE: On their May 20th meeting, City Council passed five budget amendments increasing housing and human service funding by $461,399. Please email the Mayor and Council  to say “thank you” for strengthening our social safety net. 

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The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice is pleased to announce the publication of Closing the Gap-Community Perspectives On Educational Equity in Ann Arbor.

This report is the result of several years of study, collaboration, and consultation ICPJ’s Racial and Economic Justice Task Force to explore:

• What are the points of leverage available to promote educational equity?
• What groups are currently working in these areas?
• What gaps exist that are not being filled?

Our hope is that the findings of the report provide support for exiting AAPS efforts to promote educational equity, insights that might improve these works, and a challenge for the school district to continue to strive to create a learning and teaching environment that serves all students.

Monseñor: The Last Journey of Oscar Romero

The Latin American Task Force and First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti are hosting a screening of this documentary about the events leading to the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Time: 7:00 pm

Where: First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti (209 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti, MI)

(in Spanish with English subtitles)

Following the murder of his good friend Fr. Rutilio Grande, a priest killed for speaking out against injustice and organizing the poor people of El Salvador, Archbishop Oscar Romero asked, “If we do not change now, then when?” For the next three years, Romero tirelessly preached against the oppression and violence perpetrated by the government of El Salvador against its people and worked for a culture of peace in his homeland. He cried out to the soldiers committing these acts of violence:

“I want to make a special request to the men in the armed forces: brothers, we are from the same country, yet you continually kill your peasant brothers. Before any order given by a man, the law of God must prevail: “You shall not kill!”… In the name of God I pray you, I beseech you, I order you! Let this repression cease!”

The day after he spoke these prophetic words, he was assassinated.

Monseñor: the Last Journey of Oscar Romero, a documentary produced in 2010 to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Romero’s death, chronicles the last three years of his life through moving images and the inspiring words of the people of El Salvador whose lives and faith were transformed by his witness.

The Latin American Task Force and First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti will show this powerful film and take up Romero’s charge to work for peace and justice:

“If my death is accepted by God, let it be for the liberation of my people, and as a testimony of hope in the future.” ~March 1980

Download  Monsenor_RomeroFilm_Flyer.

The United States Senate would not but we will!

It was a shameful day when the U.S. Senate refused to act on sensible gun legislation supported by 90% of Americans but we cannot despair. There have been too many lives lost and too much work to do to despair. The lobbyists for the gun industry will not have the last word.

Please join us as we remember those killed by gun violence- 3513 since the tragedy at Newtown, 142 in the state of Michigan.

On Saturday, April 27th 1:00pm-2:00pm, we will gather at 5th Ave. on Community High’s lawn across from the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market to proclaim the names of everyone killed by gun violence in the state of Michigan since Newtown. We commit ourselves to ending this culture of violence and we call on our elected leaders to do their part and pass sensible gun legislation.

 Together, change will come.

Tuesday, April 23

The penal population within the United States has consistently increased every year for nearly the past four decades. Mass incarceration is now more a concern than ever before. With the incarceration rate four times its historic average, we need to address the social, political and economic consequences of a socially unjust criminal justice system.

The free screening of the documentary “Broken On All Sides” addresses the racial inequalities of the criminal justice system within the U.S. and the disastrous social impact mass incarceration brings to individuals and communities as a consequence.

Please come, invite your family and friends, and be a part of this important conversation.

WHEN: 7pm, Tuesday, April 23

WHERE: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, 1679 Broadway, Ann Arbor

SPONSORED: Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice

DETAILS: www.icpj.net, info@icpj.net, 734-663-1870, https://www.facebook.com/events/189777064504029/

Let Your Voice be Heard!–Voices for the Prevention of Gun Violence Petition

In response to the recent gun violence across the nation, Voices for the Prevention of Gun Violence would like to invite you to raise your voice along with your community. Below is the petition calling for sensible gun safety regulations in our country. Please sign on in support of sensible gun safety regulations. For questions or details, please contact Bill Alt at bill@icpj.net or call at 734-663-1870. The petition can also be downloaded here. Gun Petition.