Area Office of the Carolinas 529-D Guilford College Rd

Greensboro, NC 27410

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July 2014 Newsletter Editor: Tim Leisman

Welcoming Greensboro Press Conference, Youth Transforming Media, Freedom Summer, Upcoming Events, More!

Students Attend Human Rights Summit in Washington, DC AFSC hosted its second annual Human Rights Youth Summit during the week of June 23, 2014 in Washington, D.C., organized by AFSC’s D.C. Director of Peace and Economic Justice, Jean-Louis Peta Ikambana, and his intern assistant Kiely Barnard-Webster. The youth came from participating AFSC offices in D.C., West Virginia, New Orleans, and North Carolina. The purpose of the Summit is to engage young people and see how much they know about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and provide them with effective tools that enhance their ability to advocate local and national issues with policy-makers. Many of the young participants had very little or no prior knowledge about the 30 articles in the UDHR, and were excited to learn how they can be influential when used appropriately to analyze selected local problems. Using a workshop analysis framework called Reflecting on Peace Practice (RPP), the students developed Theories Of Change

around human rights issues in their local communities. One important take-away to see from this is that if young people engage with local community issues that greatly affect them, they are eager to also lift up universal issues of justice and human rights.

Through this work, they develop the capacity to mobilize others within and outside of their community. Isn’t this what it’s all about? We’re passing the torch to the next generation of leaders. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/afscnc-hrs to read reflections from the North Carolina delegates. Below are some of their words.

- Toni Etheridge, AFSC NC Staff

“I’m here at the AFSC Human Rights Youth Summit because I know I can make a difference.” - Julia Keehn, Elon/George

Mason University

“I’m here at the AFSC Human Rights Summit because I believe that we are all entitled to our rights!” -Juliet Smith, Guilford College

“I am at the AFSC Human Rights Summit because I want to be an agent of change.” - David Wheaton, Guilford College

AFSC NC Joins ‘UndocuGraduation’ Rally in Raleigh On June 17, 2014, the Adelante Education Coalition held the second annual UndocuGraduation event, which I was honored to attend accompanied by a group of AFSC staff, interns, and friends from the community. Undocumented high school students and those who stand in solidarity with them congregated in Raleigh for both celebration and advocacy of the in-state tuition campaign. Currently, North Carolina denies in-state tuition to undocumented students, even if they meet all academic and residency requirements that other students meet. Consequently, undocumented students must pay out-of-state tuition to attend college, effectively denying most of these students higher education. Around 20 other states have implemented policies to have more inclusive tuition policies, and North Carolina could do the same. AFSC caravanned to Raleigh to stand by these undocumented students in support of education equity. The event began early that morning with a detailed training on how to effectively

The summer of 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Freedom Summer or Mississippi Summer Project. The Fund For Democratic Communities, along with other organizations, sponsored a recent showing of the award-winning documentary Freedom Summer on June 24th at Greensboro’s Civil Rights Center. The documentary provides close insight into the fight against white supremacy in the summer of 1964 that took place in Mississippi, one of the most segregated, racist and violent states, at the time. During that summer, approximately one thousand students, black and white, came together in a three-part effort to increase African American participation at the polls. The effort consisted of going door to door promoting voter registration, creating Freedom Schools to educate youth and adults, and the creation of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.

A great crowd gathered in Greensboro to watch the film on June 24. Roughly ten minutes from the end of the documentary, the power went out in the museum. An interesting discussion proceeded as many people vocalized the coincidence between the absence of power possessed by African Americans in the summer of 1964 and the lack of power in the room. Although there was no light and no power, the audience was eager for the discussion to continue; it was moving to see people shine the light from their cell phones to facilitate the panel discussion.

There was a hearty discussion which included the importance of increasing voter participation today by giving people something to vote for and the continued struggle for civil rights and its evolution in the last 50 years. Topics included promoting government accountability and civil engagement, how to raise awareness of campaign finance issues, early voting issues, and the abuse of power, money and violence within society.

The showing of the documentary and symbolic nature of the power going out created an inspirational experience urging participants to get out and stand up for what you believe in. Panel speaker and Greensboro activist Wesley Morris ended with this statement, “let us not forget hope, because that is what we are here for.”

— Carrie Shropshire, AFSC Intern

speak to representatives. Organizers stressed the importance of sharing personal experiences with our representatives, and stressing that this is an issue that directly impacts the members of our community. Proceeding to the legislative building, we marched and chanted “One State, One Rate!” and “What do we want? In-state tuition! When do we want it? NOW!” Once we were in front of the Legislate Office Building, we held a ceremony in which students lined up to receive a mock diploma. One by one they shared their dreams for their higher education and how the current policies denying undocumented students eligibility for in-state tuition directly impacted their lives and their dreams. After this inspiring ceremony, everyone was divided into groups to begin lobbying. We knocked on our representatives’ doors and shared with them our concerns for this issue in our community, and specifically how we were all personally affected. While some were very supportive, others were less so. As it was my first lobbying experience, I was shocked

at how accessible speaking with legislators is. I am overwhelmed with hope after this event because it represents a powerful step forward for in-state tuition. It also reminds me and others of the importance of being in solidarity with the undocumented students who have made North Carolina their home and need to be heard. For more information, check out a great new resource from the NC Justice Center at http://tinyurl.com/NCJCtuitionreport — Kelly Morales, AFSC Intern

The documentary is now available to watch on PBS online.

Freedom Summer Screening Inspires

Students throwing their caps in the air!

Greensboro youth are taking action in the summer of 2014 through a new AFSC-sponsored project called Youth Transforming Media (YTM). The group meets at Geeksboro, a local cinema/café, to discuss the importance of using and creating media responsibly. The conversations highlight the way women and men are portrayed in mainstream mass media and both the negative and positive effects of these images. Today, more than ever, it is essential our society understands the great impact media has on us, shaping how we identify and relate to one another and to the rest of the world's citizens. The Youth Transforming Media group aims to carry these

media-related messages into different community spaces in order to bring awareness to other young people about the issues and to establish platforms for positive social change. We launched YTM at this time because more and more people are becoming alert to the intense effects of media, advertising, and the repercussions it has on many young girls and boys. The participants have created a

blog in order to have ongoing communication and to share news stories about youth and media. Other activities the group is looking forward to include interviewing successful community leaders and forming a Youtube Channel where participants will upload and also create videos relating to youth and media for the world to watch. As part of AFSC’s digital storytelling program, the passionate group members will create and share their own personal stories with one another. Storytelling is the most ancient art form and this is an instrumental part of the Youth Transforming Media project. We are inundated with stories when we watch TV, when we read posts on Facebook. It is time for young people to tell their own stories! We look forward to a summer of action, movement, and transformation. -Amelya Black, Youth Transforming Media Project Coordinator and AFSC Intern

Did you know? Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detains approximately 34,000 people each day in detention centers across the country, costing taxpayers over $2 billion each year (in 2012 they detained a total of 478,000 people!). Congressional appropriations language states that “funding available…shall maintain a level of not less than 34,000 beds daily”. Because some members of Congress interpret the language to require ICE to maintain and fill 34,000 beds daily, it has become known as the detention bed “mandate” or “quota.” The number itself is completely arbitrary, and the concept of a legislatively mandated detention quota is an aberration among law enforcement agencies. (Information from Immigration Bed Quota 101 factsheet.) From June 9 through July 12, 2014, AFSC partner organization Detention Watch Network is organizing a 34 day campaign to end the 34,000 immigrant detention quota. Visit www.endthequota.org to learn more and find out how to get involved. We are urging supporters to communicate with your members of Congress and ask them to eliminate the quota from the FY 2015 appropriations bill. You can also write a letter to the editor or share information via Facebook and other social media. There are lots of resources at www.endthequota.org.

— Lori Khamala, AFSC NC Staff

Youth Transforming Media Project

Friday, July 4: AFSC Office Closed Monday, July 7—Friday, July 11: Digital

Storytelling Summer Camp at High Point Latino Family Center

Tuesday, July 22: Immigrant Rights

Working Group Meeting Monday, July 28—Friday, August 1: Elimu

Empowerment Services Summer Camp

Upcoming Events

For information about any of the listed events, please call AFSC: 336-854-0633

34 Days to End the 34,000 Bed Mandate

The last Moral Monday of the

summer! Left: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

The Rotunda in the North Carolina Legislative Building was filled with demonstrators.

“Greensboro is my home!” read colorful signs in many languages held by a beautiful group of diverse residents during the Welcoming Greensboro press conference on June 19, 2014. On that day, AFSC and immigrant groups representing many nationalities that make up the Welcoming Greensboro Initiative (WGI) released a new report outlining recommendations for the city. The Greensboro City Council unanimously passed a resolution declaring Greensboro to be a “Welcoming City” in April. Leading up to the City Council resolution, the Welcoming Greensboro Committee conducted community conversations and interviews across the city to listen to what challenges immigrants face in our communities and what suggestions immigrants

have for creating a better Greensboro. Now, the WGI has released a nearly 50-page report detailing those challenges and outlining recommendations for tangible city actions that will move Greensboro toward becoming a more welcoming city. At the June 19 press conference, the Welcoming Greensboro Committee formally presented the report to Dr. Love Crossling, Director of Human Relations for the City of Greensboro. Several media outlets were on hand to witness this event, including the Greensboro News and Record, YES! Weekly, Que Pasa Media, and WXII News-12. Immigrant community leaders spoke with passion about the challenges they’ve experienced, but also the joy of living in a place like Greensboro. Some already felt welcomed by the city and the community they’ve become a part of here, yet there are still many challenges to overcome. Some of their comments are displayed at the bottom of the page.

Some of the recommendations made in the report are very feasible, such as increasing refugee and immigrant representation on City Boards and Commissions. Others, such as expanding public transportation services to immigrant-dense areas, present more challenging and complex problems. It will take time and effort, but this event paves the way for continuing beyond the important but symbolic resolution passed by the City Council to make the Welcoming City vision a reality in our community.

To see the full report, visit http://tinyurl.com/WGIreport.

- Tim Leisman, AFSC Communications Intern

Welcoming Greensboro Initiative Releases Report and Recommendations to City of Greensboro

Welcoming Greensboro Committee

Dr. Love Crossling, Director of Greensboro’s Human Relations

Department.