Sabrina On Board; Advocates for Justice Need Your Help

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Sabrina Charles-Pierre On Board!
2. Urgent Appeal for Civil Rights Lawsuit

1) Sabrina Charles-Pierre On Board!

Sabrina Charles-Pierre, who ran for school board in May, has been appointed to fill the seat of Juan Pablo Ramirez, who resigned after attending just one meeting in July. Sabrina will be the only woman on the board. We hope to add to that next May.

2. Urgent Appeal for Civil Rights Lawsuit

East Ramapo students’ constitutional rights are being violated. Advocates for Justice has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Our Goal is to raise $25,000 by November 30

Our lawsuit seeks to return misused public funds to the district, remove the school board members, and ensure proper school board decisions and fiscal management for East Ramapo.

Our Goal is Justice for the Children

A4J lawyers represent us for free, but there are court, deposition and discovery expenses. Please donate so we can continue this fight. Donations are tax deductible.

Please Make Your Tax Deductible Donation Today

Destruction of Education Can Lead to Tyranny and Death. Anyone Surprised?

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. NAACP Dinner Friday October 16
2. Youth Film Festival October 17
3. Inter-faith Prayer Service October 22
4. Fire Captain: Many Schools Unsafe!
5. Tyranny of the Majority

1) NAACP Dinner Friday October 16

Our Own Luis Nivelo, Andrew Mandel and Rev. McWilliams IV Will Receive Awards from NAACP!

Friday, October 16, from 6:30 to midnight
The Colonial Inn in Norwood, New Jersey.
Tickets include a one-year membership in the NAACP. $85 in advance, $90 at the door. Under 21 $45.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Spring Valley NAACP at 845-362-6227.

The Journal News: Spring Valley NAACP honors 8 for community activism

2) Youth Film Festival October 17

October 17th at the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center in Spring Valley, NY at 7:00 PM

The Rockland Youth Film Festival is an international movie festival that celebrates the work of youth from all over the world. RYFF was created for the youth, by the youth of the organization EELEF (Excellence in Education and Living Environments for Families) which is based in Spring Valley. The 2nd annual film festival will be held on October 17th at the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center in Spring Valley, NY at 7pm! Admission is completely free and the show is open to all age groups. Visit our website at Ryff.org and contact Daphnee atdaphnee@ryff.org for tickets.

3) Inter-faith Prayer Service October 22

The Rockland Clergy for Social Justice (RC4SJ) Inter-faith Prayer Service welcoming East Ramapo students and families to the 2015-16 school year will be held on Thursday, October 22 7 -8 p.m. in the Ramapo High School Auditorium, 400 Viola Road, Spring Valley.

This demonstration of Christian, Jewish and Muslim unity reflects the comprehensive religious commitment to East Ramapo students and families in the struggle for equitable educational opportunities.

Please spread the word: the October 22 Interfaith Prayer Service is open to all: students, family members, staff, friends, community organizations and congregations.

Oscar Cohen

4) Fire Captain: Many Schools Unsafe!

LuckyLou Production (YouTube Video): Spring Valley Fire Captain Justin Schwartz calls for fire safety in schools

The Journal News:  Fire captain: Ramapo’s religious schools have unsafe conditions

The Journal News: State called on to act on fire safety issues at Rockland yeshivas (Includes list of schools)

5)  Tyranny of the Majority

The President of the Spring Valley Branch of the NAACP has written a community view to the Journal News:

The NAACP continues to be troubled over the irreparable harm East Ramapo public school students have been experiencing for years resulting from a school board that lacks an understanding of, interest in and commitment to the values and purposes of American public schools. East Ramapo is a district where the majority of public school students are children of color and the majority of the board is largely invested in the interests of children attending religious schools composed mostly of Caucasian children.

Read the whole thing: View: ‘Tyranny of the majority’ in East Ramapo

Time to Celebrate? We Can Change the World!

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Klein Resigns!
2. Public to Monitors: Focus on Justice
3. Board Meeting And Protest Rally October 13
4. Youth Film Festival October 17
5. He Named Me Malala Now at Palisades Mall

1) Klein Resigns!

In June, the state education department rated East Ramapo leadership as ineffective on every measure. Chancellor Tisch called for Superintendent Klein to step down.

On October 7, the school board held an emergency meeting at which they announced Klein would be gone by the end of the month.

The new interim superintendent will be Deborah Wortham.

This change represents just one of the many achievements of the East Ramapo public school activists. This year we have seen:

  • The departure of D’Agostino, the foul mouthed lawyer
  • Interpreters at every board meeting
  • Bilingual classes
  • Return of full day kindergarten for some (a sore point – it should be for all!)

2) Public to Monitors: Focus on Justice

Despite all of the advances, the public has made clear that a school board which has to have these things forced on them is a dysfunctional board. The public is clear that the board itself is the source of the problems and they are demanding a change in the way district leadership is chosen.

The Journal News: 6 takeaways: East Ramapo monitors’ first public forum

3) Board Meeting And Protest Rally October 13

Tuesday October 13 at 105 S. Madison Ave, Spring Valley at 7:00 PM

The next school board meeting will be at the central administration building. We don’t need to bring our “Klein Must Resign” posters anymore, we won that fight! But our students are still lacking many programs, and our school board is only making incremental change under intense pressure. Now is the time to show our persistence. Please make every effort to attend!

4) Youth Film Festival October 17

October 17th at the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center in Spring Valley, NY at 7:00 PM

The Rockland Youth Film Festival is an international movie festival that celebrates the work of youth from all over the world. RYFF was created for the youth, by the youth of the organization EELEF (Excellence in Education and Living Environments for Families) which is based in Spring Valley. The 2nd annual film festival will be held on October 17th at the Ramapo Cultural Arts Center in Spring Valley, NY at 7pm! Admission is completely free and the show is open to all age groups. Visit our website at Ryff.org and contact Daphnee at daphnee@ryff.org for tickets.

5)  He Named Me Malala

He Named Me Malala is now playing at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack. 

Sixteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban for being outspoken about her country’s education system. When the Taliban first came to her town, they focused on banning texts and videos they considered to be profane. This seemed right to many people. Then they started banning TV, the internet, and any other media source they did not control. Ultimately, they started killing those who questioned them and banned girls from attending school.

Malala survived and is now the youngest person to ever be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism for female education. This movie is the story of Malala’s fight for a right to education for children everywhere. 

“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”
– Malala

 

Forum Tonight; Summit Saturday; Two New Films!

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Monitor’s Forum Tonight
2. Education Summit Saturday
3. Feature Film Being Made in East Ramapo
4. He Named Me Malala Opens October 9

1) Monitor’s Forum Tonight

Monitors Dennis Walcott, Monica George-Fields and John Sipple will be hosting a community forum, so please come with your questions and comments about the East Ramapo crisis.

Thursday Oct 1 at 7:00 PM

Town of Ramapo Cultural Arts Center

64 North Main Street, Spring Valley

2) Education Summit Saturday

“EDUCATING YOUNG MEN OF COLOR FOR SUCCESS”

THIS SAT! OCT. 3RD at Rockland Community College

TO REGISTER CLICK ON LINK: http://cejjeseducationsummit2015rcc.eventbrite.com/

DYNAMIC YOUTH PERFORMERS!!

3) Feature Film Being Made in East Ramapo

THE HUDSON TRIBES: Inspired By Actual Events 

A socio-political crime thriller fueled by racial divides; set in the picturesque Hudson Valley, NY.

Director John Marco Lopez of LPZ Media aims to capture the harsh socio-political divide that exists at the center of the controversial school district in a small Hudson Valley town just north of Manhattan. 

More info: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-hudson-tribes-inspired-by-actual-events#/

4) He Named Me Malala

An intimate portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai and her fight for education for all girls worldwide.

http://www.henamedmemalalamovie.com/

Opens in Theaters October 9. Let’s see it together! send an email to steve@poweroften.us if you would like to catch the Saturday Matinee with me at the Palisades AMC!