Racial & Economic Justice

This group works to actively challenge racism and economic injustice locally and nationally.

The Racial and Economic Justice Task Force is involved in many current issues.

Addresses key ballot initiatives over the past years (including Proposal 2 which sought to ban affirmative action and more recently the Health Care for MI Campaign to make health care affordable and accessible for every resident of MI.)
Offers Anti-Racist Cookbook dialogue events
Hosts ongoing small group discussions on race/racism using books such as Privilege Revealed by Stephanie Wildman and The Debt by Randall Robinson
Shows films that deal with current racial and economic justice issues such as “Mirrors of Privilege,” “Crash,” and “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?”
Partners with RAAH (Religious Action for Affordable Housing) to mobilize human and financial resources for affordable housing in Washtenaw County
Organizes regular Welfare Simulation workshops for congregations, university departments, community agencies, and other organizations to raise awareness about the realities of living in poverty in MI
Promotes access to affordable, practical public transit for our communities; advocates for better county-wide public transit in collaboration with other local groups including Partners for Transit
Offers informational resources on healthcare policies and plans; engages community in discussions about the implications of racial and economic injustice on our health
Explores the achievement gap in the local school system and how our communities can respond to this inequality

Project/Campaign Updates:

Help ICPJ Promote Better Public Transit!

We want to hear from you about the importance of a better public transit system in Washtenaw County! (Read more about “Why Public Transit?”)

ICPJ’s Racial and Economic Justice Task Force, in collaboration with Partners for Transit and other local groups, is currently working to promote public transit in Washtenaw County that is sufficient and available for all who need it. Our first step is to collect Transit Testimonials from community members. We want to hear from Washtenaw County residents what you want in a public transit system.

Take the 2-minute survey to share your Transit Testimonial and help us make better public transit a reality! (You can also download a copy of the survey to print or share with others.) Check back for updates on this campaign!

UPDATES ON TRANSIT ISSUES:

Wed., June 17th 2009 — Arborland shopping center terminates AATA contract effective July 1st! CALL TO ACTION – As advocates for a greener and more transit accessible Ann Arbor, we need to tell Arborland owners that this is a step in the wrong direction. Contact Arborland’s owners today to voice your concerns !
Background: AATA and Arborland have been attempting to resolve conflicts over commuters’ parking for a while; now, Arborland has decided to cut the contract. AATA is looking to establish a new stop nearby, but this issue raises a bigger question: How can we work together with the local business community to make Ann Arbor a more pedestrian and transit freindly city where people of all ages, abilities, and incomes can get where they need to go? Read more about this issue at The getDowntown Blog, Arbor Update, and the Ann Arbor News.
Wed., May 20th 2009 — AATA service to Ypsilanti in jeopardy
CALL TO ACTION – Attend AATA board meetings and Ypsilanti City Council Meetings to stay informed and make your voice heard (we’ll provide email updates as more information emerges)
Background: AATA’s current contract with Ypsilanti expires on September 30th. Community voices are important to ensure that full service to Ypsilanti continues. Read current articles on this issue here:
http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-32/1241246416320010.xml&coll=2
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/05/ypsilanti_city_council_opts_no.html.

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Film Screenings

Host your own community film screening and discussion of this powerful and startling film. Find out how it can lead to change in our own communities! Find out how you can host an Unnatural Causes House Party today!

The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice is honored to promote the powerful PBS documentary Unnatural Causes. This film explores how population health is shaped by the social and economic conditions in which we are born, live and work. Through portraits of individuals and families across the United States, the series reveals the root causes and extent of our alarming health inequities and searches for solutions. Along the way it confronts the inadequacy of conventional explanations like genetics, individual behaviors or even access to quality health care.

Our Goal: to expose individuals and community groups within Washtenaw County and throughout Southeast Michigan to this film to empower them to take meaningful action for justice on health issues within their communities

Hosting an Unnatural Causes Showing

Host a showing of the film for your organization, workplace, club, class, or other group.

ICPJ provides:

· Film and screening equipment

· Facilitation of post-film discussion/debrief (if desired)

· Assistance with the development of meaningful action suggestions for justice on this issue (a suggested action sheet is provided to participants – these suggestions can be tailored to fit the needs of your community)

Host is responsible for:

· Venue (requirements: adequate space for participant seating, electrical outlets, accessible for people with disabilities; preferred: parking available)

· Event promotion

· Participation of host’s group

Visit www.unnaturalcauses.org for more information on the film series.

If you’re interested in hosting a showing of Unnatural Causes for your own community group, congregation, organization, or club, please contact us at gracek@icpj.net or (734) 663-1870.

Related: Update on the Health Care for MI Ballot Initiative

Welfare Simulations

A Welfare Simulation is an experiential workshop that exposes participants to the realities of living on public assistance. View our Welfare Simulation Informational Flyer (welfare-sim-one-pager) to learn more, and sign your group up for a Welfare Simulation today! For more information, read what the Lansing City Pulse and the Chelsea Standard have to say about the Welfare Simulation program. If you’re interested in learning more or hosting a Welfare Simulation for your own group, please contact Grace Kotre at gracek@icpj.net or by calling (734) 663-1870.

**Update: The University of Michigan School of Public Health FIndings Publication recently included an article written by the publication’s editor who attended a Welfare Simulation this summer. Leslie Stainton’s article can be found by visiting http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/findings/fall08/news/index.htm#note (the Editor’s Note is on the right side of the page).

Welfare "recipients" use food stamps to make purchases at the Simulation's Food Pantry.

Welfare "recipients" use food stamps at the Simulation's Food Pantry

ICPJ has provided Welfare Simulations recently to the following groups:
• U-M School of Public Health – (Summer Enrichment Program students, faculty, and staff)
• U-M Hillel (students and community members)
• U-M Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning “Learning from the Community” Program (students and community members)
• Faith in Action & Mission Marketplace in Chelsea, MI (families, community members from Chelsea, MI)
Sign your group up today!