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Walking By Faith... Leading By Example...
Working Together To Bring About Change In Our Communities. |
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MOSES in 2012: A NEW BEGINNING
Greetings,
I wish you a prosperous and Happy New Year. I pray that you enjoy 2012 and all your prayers are answered according to the will of God. Find good in everything and everyone and you will reap the benefits. As 2011 comes to a close, I am thankful for good health and being a part of an organization that gives voice to the people. I am thankful for the continued support of congregations and individuals who give their time to make the difference needed to better our communities.
The New Year brings new beginnings. With the start of 2012, we will reflect and learn from 2011 and set in motion goals for 2012. We will build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Metro Detroit faces an uphill battle to improve the quality life for many residents. But there is nothing too hard for God. Our faith is the driving force that keeps us working for justice, peace and equity. I invite you to walk with MOSES in 2012 to transform ourselves and our communities in Southeast Michigan. I invite you to attend the MOSES Annual Retreat January 20th -21st at the Michigan State University Detroit Center. Start the New Year with MOSES, because the best is yet to come.
I am excited to introduce to you our quarterly newsletter “The Metro Organizer”. We commit to communicate to you our members, friends and allies MOSES' work in Metro Detroit, news and action bulletins, activity updates, congregational testimonies and leadership stories. The “Metro Organizer” newsletter will be shaped by the talent, and creativity of MOSES’ leaders and allies.
In keeping with the theme of new beginnings, strengthening and building relationships, I invite you to attend the monthly MOSES Leadership Assembly where we engage our general membership through relationship building, training, and sharing congregational best practices, organizational planning, development and collaboration. These assemblies will be designed by MOSES members for MOSES members. Our goal is that congregations benefit through the development of individual congregation members who build power that can drive change in their communities. Our goal is to have every congregation represented at these meetings, leading and taking ownership for their role in the organization.
Does your congregation want to be the catalyst for creating community and improving the quality of life for its members and residents in the neighborhood? If yes, stay tuned to our calendar for meeting dates and times.
Bring your energy, passion and ideas to transform our communities together!
~ Ponsella Hardaway, Executive Director
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MOSES: COLLABORATING FOR SUCCESS
Darcy Dodd, Jamie Perryman, Michael Rubyan
Through our community organizing course at the University of Michigan School of Public Health this semester, we had the opportunity to partner with MOSES and learn about the action they are taking to reduce disparities in health and well-being. Together with MOSES, we worked to develop a video on Detroit residents’ experiences with the public transit system. Transit activists Bryon Maxey and Cynthia Brown accompanied us to the Rosa Parks Transit Center where bus riders readily shared accounts of long wait times, poorly lit bus stops, and malfunctioning buses. We also went on to interview Reverend Charles Williams and Cassandra Emmerson, who offered valuable insights into the bus crisis and its impact on the many Detroit residents who rely on public transportation. Through our conversations with the interviewees for the video, the urgent need for action for reliable and safe public transportation was clear.
At the MOSES Equity Summit, where we presented the video, we were privileged to join the diverse groups of activists who came together to demand change and rally support around issues of transportation, access to food, and immigration. We directly experienced the value of collaboration among people committed to change and the passion that drives MOSES activists. We also witnessed the complexity of the problems facing Detroit residents, as activists called for action around underlying forces of racial segregation and lack of job opportunities. Through our participation in the Equity Summit and video project, we saw first hand how the work of advocates for social justice is never finished and must be carried out with innovation, flexibility, and lasting commitment. We are grateful to MOSES for showing us the tremendous value of collaborating with coalitions of partners committed to the goals of social justice. |
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HE DATE FOR THE MOSES 15TH ANNUAL BANQUET!!!
Guest Speaker: Dr. Gail Christopher is vice president for programs at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. She is a nationally recognized leader in health policy, with particular expertise and experience in the issues related to social determinants of
health, health disparities and public policy issues of concern to African Americans
and other minority populations.
Tickets: $40 Members $55 Non-Members (non-refundable)
RSVP Here
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| Here's What We've Been Up To... |
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| Meet the staff... |
| In case you haven't noticed, 2011 has been a year of great changes with MOSES staff. In order to provide you with the best service that we can offer it was necessary to make some changes. We are proud to introduce you to the NEW dynamic "TEAM MOSES". |
Ponsella Hardaway (Executive Director) is a native Detroiter. Since 1996, she has been an organizer with MOSES. She is also a National Trainer with the Gamaliel Foundation. She has trained congregation members in South Africa, Swaziland and in the United Kingdom. Ms Hardaway has traveled to Brazil and Mali to study NGO’s work on political and social issues.
Juan Escareño returns as the Director of Organizing to assist in the development of the organizing staff and issue campaigns. Juan was the director of the Gamaliel Project in Indiana for the past 3 years. In Indiana Juan was instrumental in saving a library branch that served the poorest neighborhoods in South Bend, stopping racial profiling initiatives that would have given the police power to ask for documentation solely based on appearance and organizing parents in public schools to advocate for a better education.
Juan was the Lead Organizer in MOSES for 5 years before leaving to Indiana in 2009. In Juan’s first stint in MOSES, he organized a campaign to win two anti-profiling ordinances, and one of the largest marches in the City of Detroit since the Civil Rights movement.
 Michael Tasse, Organizer, grew up in Metro Detroit where he attended The University of Detroit Jesuit High School. He graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Social Relations and Policy after studying at the James Madison College. He also studied Economics while minoring in the Political Economy. Michael is also a part of the Christ the King Service Corp where he lives in Northwest Detroit and is a bilingual Spanish speaker who is proficient in American Sign Language.
Andrew James Zaituna, Organizer Intern, comes to MOSES from the Christ the King Service Corp. He is a first generation Chaldean who grew up in metro Detroit. Andrew went to Xavier University where he studied chemistry and mathematics. He plans on applying to medical school but before then wishes to become more involved with issues facing health care in the Detroit area.
 Charlotte Maier, Organizer Intern, better known as Carly, is a new Detroit resident, originally hailing from Shelton, Connecticut. She recently graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts with a degree in Sociology, and will be community organizing with MOSES as a member of the Christ the King Service Corps. For fun, Carly enjoys music and  theater, and especially looks forward to exploring in her new hometown!
Eufayba Touray, Virtual Assistant/Web Master, who has been working from home, will be returning to work in office in a few months. She is the former Communications Administrator for MOSES. Her position was transformed after her husband joined the U.S. Army and her family needed to relocate. Based in Ft. Stewart, Georgia, she has been working from home providing administrative services, Web Design/Managements services and much more.
 Bryon Maxey serves as the Michigan Community/Labor Organizer for the Transportation Equity Network. The Transportation Equity Network (TEN) is a grassroots network working to create an equity-based national transportation system. Bryon has experience in the areas of: education, campus and community organizing, and racial and economic justice advocacy. Bryon is also a devoted student of the history of Africa and its Diaspora. more
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ISSUE UPDATES
Transportation
2011 has been a frustrating year for transit in the Motor City. The lack of adequate transportation had taken its toll on the citizens of Detroit. After suffering from days of SLOW to NO bus service, and after delivering letters over the summer to the Mayor with no response. WE TOOK ACTION!
On October 31, 2011 MOSES Transit Advocates in partnership with TEN (Transportation Equity Network), rallied downtown at the Rosa Parks Transit Center calling on Mayor Bing to improve DDOT services.
On November 15, 2011, a day before Mayor Bing was expected to make a major announcement regarding the fiscal and public services crisis in Detroit, MOSES marched in office to demand answers about the troubled bus system and would not leave without a commitment to meet with the Mayor's office.
On December 13, 2011, the MOSES Transportation Task Force Met with the Mayor's Office at the Butzel Family Center on Kercheval and urged the administration to commit to transit dependent rides on the transportation advisory committee, the Mayor to be a champion of convening Detroit legislators around the regional transportation authority legislation and Mayor Dave Bing himself to attend a MOSES public meeting and layout his vision for regional transit - all of which were committed to!
Way to go MOSES Transportation Task Force!
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Food Justice
We end 2011 with positive discussions and partnerships in the quest for access to quality food in the city of Detroit. On November 15th, MOSES staff and members of the Food Justice Taskforce met with President Auday Arabo and his staff of the Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers. They identified several potential uniting issues in local and state politics that would directly affect our members as well as ways of building true and lasting community relationships, partnering on healthy eating campaigns and the potential for entrepreneurship trainings.
On November 17th, the MOSES Food Justice Taskforce met to discuss the growing alliances with the American Food and Petroleum Dealers and the Detroit Economic Growth Council, as well as connecting with entrepreneurial training programs in order to increase access to jobs and capital for the citizens of Detroit. Rev. David Bullock led the meeting for the almost 25 people in attendance including from the Nation of Islam, a Homeowners Council, Pastors of Detroit churches, and other community partners.
On November 18th, the MOSES staff and members of the Food Justice Taskforce met with Amanda Musilli, the Detroit Community Liaison for Whole Foods. We are excited at the prospect to partner together around our shared values for food justice, and fostering economic opportunities for the citizens of Detroit.
Way to go Food Justice Task Force!!!
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Safe Neighborhoods
On the morning of Saturday, August 6th, 2011 over 50 east side residents took time from enjoying their weekend to attend an important meeting on safety with in their communities. The safety meeting, held at the Church of the Messiah, was born out of a community concern over the recent spike in the already high violent crime rate. MOSES member congregations, east side residents, and several community organizations stood together to demand better relations with local law enforcement. Commander Debra Fairs and Officer Norma Black of the Northeastern District Police; as well as Chief of Operations Dennis Richardson of the Wayne County Sheriffs Department were preset and responded to these community concerns.
At the meeting, residents gave personal testimonies and warned police that if they did not strengthen their relationship and presence with in the community, the crime rate would continue to rise. Residents and community members also filled out hot spot cards with suspected illegal activities happening their area and turned in it to the Church of the Messiah.
As a result of the meeting, Commander Fairs made a public statement to attend quarterly meetings with the CUFS (Citizens United for Safety), a community patrol group based out of the Messiah, to ensure a conscious effort in bettering the relationship between the city’s law enforcement and its citizens.
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HOLIDAY
GREETINGS |
As the year ends, we think about all we are grateful for.
Our relationship with you is one of the things that we treasure the most.Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
We wish you Happy Holidays and much success in the new year.
~ MOSES Staff |
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IS CHANGING THE WORLD
WORTH A CUP OF COFFEE
A DAY?
For less than a restaurant cup of coffee a day, you can play a powerful role in building a world of economic and social justice by becoming an MOSES Sustainer.
Our ability to transform the world is directly linked to our financial resources. Help us all reach our potential.
Become a MOSES Sustainer...
Put your money to work for you and your dreams for our region...
MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY!
Click Here to learn about the MOSES Sustainer Program. |
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"We are grateful to MOSES for showing us the tremendous value of collaborating with coalitions of partners committed to the goals of social justice."
~ Darcy Dodd, Jamie Perryman, Michael Rubyan (UofM Students) |
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2012 Civic Engagement Academy with MOSES (in Detroit):
The 2012 Civic Engagement Academy provides 50 hours of training over 5 months, as well as Peer Coaching, Networking, and Community Engagement Projects, you will build a foundation of essential organizing and leadership skills.
Through training, coaching and mentoring, the program gives up-and-coming leaders the skills and networks they need to advance progressive political change in their communities. Sessions include; Values Leadership, Public Speaking & Telling Your Story, Government 101, Making Laws and Citizen Advocacy, Campaigns and Organizing. To register click here
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Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength
220 Bagley Ste. 212
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 962-5290 phone www.mosesmi.org |
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