SOS Crown Heights leads a 100 Man March, Saturday, July 27, 2013

whynot_31

whynot_31

I'm following this event in part because I am interested in seeing whether it gets any mainstream press.

I'd like for a reporter from a reputable newsource to cover it, and point out how -with some help- even the most affected communities have the energy to work toward reducing violence, and making their communities safer.

Violence isn't something that can (or will) be completely solved by heavy police presence.

While the residents have become scared of both the police and those who are violent, they are not SO scared and damaged they can't play a role in its reduction....

whynot_31

AllenJames wrote: Dear S.O.S. Supporters,

Save Our Streets Crown Heights is organizing a 100-Man+ March Against Gun Violence for Saturday, July 27th; assembling at 1pm at Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue.

This march, with men in the lead, is to deliver the message to the community that there are action roles for everyone in the movement to help stop gun violence; at the dinner table, on the streets, in our schools, at the ballot box and in every dimension of community life.

Before the march steps off at 1:30 there will be a rally with brief remarks by speakers. The march will end at Weeksville School Playground where the Prezidential Ladies Social Club will host a family barbecue party. Please contact me if more information is needed.

The details and march route are attached.

RSVP for yourself and/or your group at https://www.facebook.com/events/240968972694363/?ref=22

Contact me if you need more information.

Allen James

Program Manager, Save Our Streets Crown Heights

Crown Heights Community Mediation Center/Center for Court Innovation

256 Kingston Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11213

Office 718 679-9410

Cell 917 703-4518

www.soscrownheights.org

www.facebook.com/soscrownheights

Additional material provides additional insight about what the goals are:

100-Man March

July 27, 2013

The Save Our Streets team invites you and your organization to join us July 27th for a "100 Man March" and a BBQ party organized by the Prezidential Ladies Social Club.

Men will be leading the march on the 27th to demonstrate that they are at the forefront of the movement to stop gun violence in our neighborhoods.

March with us and spread the message, "Stop Shooting. Start Living."

Marchers will assemble at 1:00pm at Kingston Avenue and Eastern Parkway and step off at 1:45. The march will end at the Weeksville Playground on Bergen Street between Troy and Schenectady Avenues where the festivities will be held.

___________________________

THE CALL TO SUCCESS SOMETIMES DEMANDS THAT WE STEP FORWARD AND ASSUME LEADERSHIP. SOMETIMES IT DEMANDS THAT WE STEP BACK AND ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO LEAD WHILE WE FOLLOW.

This event is a gathering of men and women who are leaders in the movement to change the culture of aggression, meanness and senseless violence in our neighborhoods. This is a call to action by people who promote positive change daily and model alternatives to the lifestyles of street life, gang life and thug life that so much define manhood and womanhood for our young people.

At the end of the march we will break bread with friends and families, refresh ourselves, make new friendships and alliances, plan and build strategies for stopping violence and building community. Join us.

whynot_31

July 24:

Internet access and fluency is something that those who live from paycheck to paycheck struggle to obtain. For those who live from EBT to EBT, it often isn't a struggle: They simply are not online.

The staff and volunteers of SOS have long been aware that they are serving and trying to reach a population that is on "the other side" of the digitial divide. They know that post cards, face to face relationships, bright jackets and tshirts, community events and brick and mortar office are the way to successfully conduct their work.

Needless to say, this breeds uncertainty. While tools like Facebook Events can provide one with an idea of how many people are going to show up, flyers and and postcards do not.

While those WITH digitial access are arguably not the target audience, they are certainly welcome. As of today, 32 people with internet access have stated they are attending:

https://www.facebook.com/events/240968972694363/?ref=22

Further, while media stories about the event may attact people from outside the neighborhood to spend the day in Eastern CH, the primary objective is engage those who live in the immediate area.

We will soon see if the team has designed and is marketing the event in a way that it will attract 200 people.

3 days to go.

pragmaticguy

Many of these people who live from EBT to EBT come into my office and the funny thing is.....they all have smart phones so I suspect internet access is not as tough as you make it out to be. Apathy is the real problem and that is the toughest thing to conquer.

whynot_31

Correct.

That, and a sense of powerlessness.

...large segments of society are not reached via the written word.

I have found that many people have access to the internet, but use it as they did TV. It is more of a question of what sites/programming they access than having access...

homeowner

That's correct. Most of the people you are talking about are using the internet to access Facebook, gossip websites, You Tube, dating sites and (of course) porn. Few are using it to read the local papers, look for a job, engage in distance learning, or find educational opportunities for themselves or their families.

whynot_31

Although less than completely accurate, "lack of internet access" is a far more succinct and less politically fraught way of stating that the written word is not always the way to go.

Hence, I have high hopes that the promise of a BBQ is powerful.

whynot_31

I also like this aspect:

THE CALL TO SUCCESS SOMETIMES DEMANDS THAT WE STEP FORWARD AND ASSUME LEADERSHIP. SOMETIMES IT DEMANDS THAT WE STEP BACK AND ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO LEAD WHILE WE FOLLOW.

Because it appears in a letter to those who are receiving invitation via the "written word", it is directly stating to its audience:

"although you may feel you have earned your place in the front as a result of your past work on this cause, your involvement as a volunteer, or because you feel you have some expertise, you may not get such a position on Saturday.

You should think about why this decision was made.

You should think about why others are being asked to lead, and you are not"

...which is something that every grassroots organization needs to do regularly, if it plans on remaining grassroots.

whynot_31

Reporters from Univision, WCBS 2, Cable 12, and NY1 on site.

Lets see if we are interesting and numerous enough to make the editors' cuts...

whynot_31

My dog is opposed to violence.

whynot_31

The women who threw the BBQ at the end of the march (the Prezidential Ladies Social Club) weren't mentioned in this article, but their group certainly seems similar to those described:

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130729/east-new-york/sisterhood-of-lady-riders-growing-force-citys-motor-clubs

The BBQ was quite good.

Press on the march:

http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/top_stories/186224/brooklyn-residents-rally-against-local-gun-violence

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/07/27/dozens-march-against-gun-violence-in-south-brooklyn/

clayfilms

Thanks for the links Mike. And who knew there was an female collective of motorcycle riding, anti-violence, bbq cooking altruists in Brooklyn? God bless those ladies!!

whynot_31

I certainly didn't.

Because I was curious as well, I spent some time talking with one of the members of the Prezidential Ladies Social Club.

As she explained it, there are a "few dozen" female-only social clubs in Brooklyn, and that they all seem to know each other and some of them help each other throw events.

At this event, I think I saw 4 different clubs represented.

I asked whether one needs to own a SUV or motorcycle to be a member or live in a particular neighborhood, and she stated that membership was not about that.

She went on to state that one club is largely composed of members who work at a specific MTA bus depot. When I saw the above article today, it filled in some of the remaining blanks in my head.