Criminal Injustice:

The High Cost of 3-Strikes Laws in Massachusetts

Friday, January 27^th, 7-9 PM

First Church of Jamaica Plain

6 Eliot St, Boston, MA

In November, despite protests from community activists and legal experts, both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate passed “3-Strikes” bills that could have disastrous consequences for our communities.  As this legislation speeds toward a final vote, it is essential that we educate ourselves about the rampant injustice of our criminal justice system and how 3-Strikes provisions perpetuate and magnify that injustice.

Join us in a panel discussion on the potential repercussions of the 3-Strike law for MA featuring key players in the debate:

*      Representative Liz Malia, one of four white representatives to join the Black and Latino Caucus in opposing 3-Strikes for MA

*      Jamahrl Crawford, of Occupy the Hood, long-time activist and editor of The Blackstonian

*      Harvard Law Professor and former US District court Justice Nancy Gertner

Ben Thompson, Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, will moderate.

Come to listen, ask questions, and learn how we can take action to stop injustice in our community!

RSVP & Invite your friends on Facebook!

This event is co-sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Forum and The Union of Minority Neighborhoods.

Friday, February 3 7-9 PM

First Church in Jamaica Plain

6 Eliot St., Boston, MA

Every year, thousands of modern-day pilgrims walk a centuries-old trail leading to the tomb of St. James in Santiago, Spain.
What is the Camino de Santiago, and why are so many drawn to make this arduous journey today?

Hear about the history, culture, and legacy of this ancient pilgrimage from local veterans of the Camino:

• Rev. Terry Burke
• Jen Roy
• Nancy Hani?n

Find out why they walked the Camino de Santiago and how you too could make the journey!

Get a taste of the sights of the Camino here.

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First Church History & Potluck

First Church in Jamaica Plain

6 Eliot St.

January 29, 2012

5-8 PM

Jamaica and West Roxbury were synonymous until the creation of a new parish church on the “Pond Plain in Jamaica” within the colonial town of Roxbury.  Over the course of its history, Jamaica Plain was the Third Parish of Roxbury, then the downtown area of the Town of West Roxbury, and is now a neighborhood of the City of Boston and a postal district.  For seventy years, First Church was the only church in Jamaica Plain.

Find out more about the how Jamaica Plain and the First Church developed together this Sunday, when Jamaica Plain Forum hosts an evening of local history, great conversation, and tasty soup!

First Church historian George Wardle will present artifacts from the church’s archives and answer all your questions.

Following the talk, simple bread and soup potluck will be shared.  Please bring two cans of vegetables or non-dairy vegetable soup to be mixed in the soup pot or breads, crackers, cheese, or fruits to accompany the soup. Coffee and water will be provided.  (Any extra cans of vegetables will go to the Church Food Pantry which provides for those in need.)

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English High School
144 McBride Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Just like the President offers a State of the Union, and the Mayor offers a State of the City, JP NET is proud to present…

The 2nd Annual State of our Neighborhood forum

JP City Councilor – Matt O’Malley
At-Large City Councilor – Felix Arroyo
Sate Represenatives – Liz Malia and Jeffrey Sanchez
State Senator – Sonia Chang-Diaz

Moderator – Dave Baron, Chair of the Zoning Committee, JPNC

Q&A will be followed by breakout groups led by neighbors on topics of interest.

Bring your friends, bring your neighbors. Refreshments, coffee, provided. Simultaneous Spanish translation thanks to JPNDC.

Co-sponsors will have tables with materials and announcements.

What future do we want for JP? What do we want our neighborhood to be like in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years? How do we create community resilience in the face of deepening ecological and economic disruption?

SNOW DATE is Thursday February 16th

Hosted By: School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs – Northeastern University

Where: Northeastern University Blackman Auditorium, 342 Huntington Avenue in Ell Hall, Boston, MA 02115

Click Here to RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook.

The purpose of the Teach In is to educate and enlighten about the state of the economy, its impact on individuals and households, the reasons for the long duration of the current Great Recession, and to provide ideas about what can be done to speed economic recovery and enhance economic and social justice.

The Teach In is intended for community members of all ages and walks of life.

The Teach In is being planned by a growing group — initially made up of Northeastern faculty and students — along with partners from the community and other campuses. Faculty and student speakers are being invited from a number of universities and colleges around Boston. Speakers will also include political, civic, community, business and labor leaders.

We invite you to come for the entire day or for portions of it if you cannot stay for the entire day. In addition, we will be live streaming the event.

Schedule:
9:00 – The economy: where are we now?
10:45 – Who’s the system failing? Who’s it working for?
12:30 – Politics and economics: what went wrong?
2:15 – What can be done? Reclaiming our economy and our democracy.
3:45 – Wrap Up

Moderated by Professors Barry Bluestone and Michael Dukakis

For more information, check out our website:
http://www.northeastern.edu/teachin.

Saul Landau

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Internationally renowned filmmaker Saul Landau will present his latest film, “Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up,” which chronicles half a century of hostile US-Cuba relations. Landau will kick of the First Thursday Film series, in conjunction with First Thursdays in Jamaica Plain, which will happen every month of the year.

Saul Landau is an internationally known scholar, author, commentator, and filmmaker on foreign and domestic policy issues. His films include  FIDEL, the first documentary chronicling Fidel Castro after the Cuban Revolution. Other films include “Paul Jacobs and the Nuclear Gang.” He has been a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies since 1972 and at the Transnational Institute since 1974. He has written 13 books, thousands of newspaper and magazine articles and reviews, and made more than 40 films and TV programs on social, political, economic and historical issues.

Saul’s new film tells the story of the case of the Cuban Five, intelligence agents sent to penetrate Cuban exile terrorist groups in Miami and now serving long prison sentences. The film highlights decades of assassinations and sabotage at first backed by Washington and then ignored by the very government that launched a “war against terrorism.” This documentary reveals a story of violence that also echoed on the streets of Washington DC, New York and especially Miami where Cuban American critics of the bombers and shooters wound up dead.

Special Thanks to our Co-Sponsors: Mass Peace Action, Newton Cuba Solidarity, July 26 Coalition

This event has been postponed until the New Year. Stay tuned for details.

Happy Holidays!

About “The Power of Community”…

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba’s economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call “The Special Period.”

The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope.

Free Screening
Tuesday, September 27, Potluck 6pm, Screening 6:30 – 7:30
Roslindale Congregational Church, 25 Cummins Highway
(Across from the Post-Office)

Sponsored by the Roslindale Economic Security Club

The “Great Recession” has reminded us of our vulnerabilities. We’re facing debt, foreclosure, unemployment, and isolation. In response, people are forming small “Economic Security Clubs” to explore a new kind of security – one based in mutual aid and community support.

Get a taste for what this is all about on September 27 – no commitment required!

Jamaica Plain Introduction to Resilience Circles

Join us to learn about Resilience Circles, an approach to strengthening community during tough times.

Resilience Circles are Smalls Group to…

…Get to Know Your Neighbors
…Help Each Other Through “Mutual Aid”
…Work for a fair economy that serves everyone
…Have Fun!

First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain
633 Centre St.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Wednesday October 5
Potluck 6pm, Presentation 7pm

Co-sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Forum

The “Great Recession” has reminded us of our vulnerabilities. We’re facing debt, foreclosure, unemployment, and isolation. In response, people are forming small “Resilience Circles” to explore a new kind of security – one based in mutual aid and community support.

Activists involved with the occupation will explain why they are there, how they coordinate with Occupy Wall Street and other occupations across the country, and what is happening with the movement.

Andrea Gordillo will moderate a diverse panel (panelists TBA – stay tuned!), followed by Q&A.