Chapter News
NAN Across America (12/21/11)
—Greater Baltimore Chapter
Members of the Greater Baltimore Chapter report the following events:
12/9/11; Jobs & Justice Rally with AFT 7 AFSCME. Over 100 people attended event with 12 local union participating. Our pictures and video were seen all over the country thanks Rev. Al Sharpton, Jr. and our tremendous photographer Mr. Bill Hughes. We sent copies of our pictures and video.
12/10/11; attended the Occupy Debate hosted by young adult group called Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle.
12/12/11; attended and participated in AFL-CIO Community Forum dealing with Jobs & Justice held at the Baltimore City Community College;
12/13/11; served as Master of Ceremony for AFSCME Retirees at their annual luncheon where they name Labor Leader of the Year Mr. Glen Middleton head of AFSCME 67. Intl. Secretary Treasurer of AFSCME was speaker;
12/13/11; hosted the monthly general membership meeting at the New Shiloh Baptist Church and reports that their membership has increased.
12/14/11; hosted Larry Young Morning Show on WOLB 1010am and attended the Democratic State Central Committee for Baltimore City.
12/15/11; attended a meeting called by League of Women Voters where a number of organizations are coming together to introduce legislation to change the election cycle of our Mayoral Election. This past September Mayoral Primary Election and November Mayoral Election only produced 23% & 14% voter turnout, respectively.
12/16/11; delivered toys for the 10th annual WOLB 1010am radio show toys for Mrs. Afro Santa.
12/16/11; attended Baltimore City Public School Indoor Track Meet at 5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore City.
12/20/11; attended and spoke at Rally hosted by American Postal Workers Union and Occupy Baltimore voicing opposition to the closing of 8 USPS offices here in Baltimore City.
12/20/11; attended meeting of African American organizational President in Baltimore City to get us working more together as organizations.
Minister Dr. Paris J. Evans is the membership and religious affairs chair of the National Action Network in Baltimore. She is also the CEO/ Founder of H.G. Ministries, International Funeral Planners LLC. Minister Evans is in process of having an event called, “Women’s Empowered Voices Project” where she is the president. The event will be an empowering movement that will add volume to the voices of the capable and virtuous woman. The purpose of this program will be to create various resources for women of all cultures and set in place a path for our young women, teens and girls to start them on the right path to being a Virtuous woman. This event will take place in the near future and Minister Paris would like all chapters to participate. She can be contacted at 443-379-0405 / 443-435-1815
Morehouse Parish, LA Chapter
The Morehouse Parish Chapter of NAN along with Mr. George Fisher and Mr. Clifton Lemell are working with the local community to remove Mr. Tom Thrower, superintendent of the Morehouse Parish School System from office. NAN was requested by Mr. Fenceroy, a School Board Member and a NAN member, to address the board concerning poor academic performance, under representation in leadership roles on the school board, and racial remarks made at the State of Louisiana BESSIE Board Meeting.
The Superintendent who is from Jena, LA made the following statement “Do not worry about educating the children in Morehouse Parish because they are nothing but thugs and criminals.” We have seven board members on our local school board (three blacks in color and four white). One of the black school board members is working against the other two black school board members and the community who are trying to make education better in Louisiana for our children. With this type of voting representation, we cannot and never will make a change that affect students at a prominently black school. Our children are suffering on a daily basis because we fail to make a stand against a system that is working on putting us back into slavery.
Phoenix, AZ Chapter
The Phoenix Chapter has the following events to report:
(1) About 50 Occupy Phoenix protesters descended on the Fourth Avenue Jail in downtown Phoenix on Sunday to support 45 fellow protesters arrested in the predawn hours for refusing to leave Margaret Hance Park.
(2) Roosevelt William double homicide in Tucson Arizona. His mother said that he is innocent and have a mental disability.
(3) DUI Suspect Charles Ray Dansby (Black Male 51 year old, father of three with a lengthy criminal criminals records including convictions for child abuse, possession of drug paraphernalia, and shoplifting). Mr. Dansby was shot and killed on I-17 freeway in Phoenix Arizona Saturday night about 9:00 P.M. while being hand cuffed.
(4) The chapters membership has increased and they will continue working on membership enrollment.
Staten Island Chapter
The Staten Island Chapter of NAN held their first Annual Christmas Toys Giveaway December 20, 2011. We gave out over 400 Christmas toys to community children. We took pictures at the event. On Saturday, December 24, 2011 we will hold a Voter’s Registration Drive at the community Christmas dinner and toy giveaway event of the Mount Sinai Center for Community Enrichment, 283 Jersey Street. Staten Island, New York 10301. 718-720-5212.