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Projects
New InitiativesParent Advocates Coming Together (PACT) is CLSJ’s new Public School Advocacy Project scheduled to kick–off January 14, 2010. This project is designed to assist parents in their advocacy efforts on behalf of their children. Opening Program:Special Guest Presenter – NYS Regent Dr. Lester W. Young Date: January 14, 2010 Location: 1534 Bedford Avenue@ Eastern Parkway, 2nd Floor Time: 6pm. Free Admission, refreshments will be served. Census 2010: CLSJ is leading the campaign to organize NYC’s Black population for Census 2010. CLSJ has attended or coordinated several meetings between The US Census Bureau and NYC voting rights advocates. In addition to the meeting with the NYS Department of State officials, which CLSJ coordinated on behalf of the New York Voting Rights Consortium, CLSJ participated in two meetings with the US Census Bureau officials, including one with the Regional Director of the Census for Region 2; New York City office of the Census 2010. On December 16th, CLSJ’s Executive Director attended the Black Leadership meeting with US Dept. of Commerce Secretary Locke, in Wash. DC to address pending undercount issues facing Black folks in the United States. Community Development: CLSJ will be conducting a new project “Capacity Building for Faith-Based Organizations and Community Based Organizations in Central Brooklyn” through a major grant from Sen. Velmanette Montgomery. CLSJ will be providing one on one assistance and coaching to Central Brooklyn FBOs and CBOs on administrative issues and civic-engagement activities. Legal ProjectsCase: People United for Children v. City of New YorkThis case challenges New York’s city’s child welfare policies and practices on the grounds that they discriminatorily enforced against African Americans. In 2007, the case was settled. Thereafter three of objectors appealed the settlement to the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. The appeal was argued in April 2009; In December the Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s order approving the settlement but remanded the case for the parties to clarify one of the provision of the settlement. Case: Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence In response to repeated complaints by Black parents and students about their treatment in the New York City public schools, in June 2009 CLSJ filed Freedom of Information Law requests on behalf of Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence with the New York City Department of Education and the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District. The requests sought records pertaining to the investigation and disciplining of teachers and students. Though both have acknowledged receipt of the requests, we have not yet obtained the records. Education ProjectsParent Advocates Coming Together (PACT): CLSJ is once again sponsoring a series of free trainings for public school parents to assist them in navigating the NYC public school system and addressing citywide issues in public education facing NYC families. The Project is scheduled to kick–off January 14, 2010.Special Guest Presenter – NYS Regent Dr. Lester W. Young Date: January 14, 2010 Location: 1534 Bedford Avenue@ Eastern Parkway, 2nd Floor Time: 6pm. Free Admission, refreshments will be served. Education Equity Advocacy: Esmeralda Simmons is continuing CLSJ’s advocacy work addressing citywide issues in public education facing NYC families. CLSJ will be partnering with the member organizations of the Coalition for Public Education, a citywide grassroots coalition for educational equity in 6th NYC public school system. Voting RightsDON'T LOSE YOUR VOTE: In response to the massive disenfranchisement of New Yorkers during the 2008 primary and general elections, in January 2009, CLSJ established the Don't Lose Your Vote Project. The Don't Lose Your Vote Project provides residents of Brooklyn with "How To" literature and trainings on registering to vote, conducting voter registration campaigns and protecting your vote on election day. Between January and June, the Don't Lose Your Vote Project staff conducted ten workshops and distributed over a 2,000 pieces at meetings and other events throughout Brooklyn. The Don't Lose Your Vote project is supported by generous grants from the New York Community Trust and Brooklyn's Concord Baptist Church's Christfund.Download Voting Rights Brochure. Redistricting: CLSJ continues its strong advocacy in regard to new redistricting methods and processes being considered for use in New York State. CLSJ attorneys continue to meet with other advocates, such as NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, CSS, AALDEF, LPI, PRLDEF, Demos and the Brennan Center, regarding the protection of the voting rights of NYC's Black voters. Immigration Legal ProjectIMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AT EAST NEW YORK: In January 2007, the Center for Law and Social Justice, with funding provided by City Councilmember Charles Barron, opened an immigration office in East New York. The office provides free legal counseling and representation to immigrants residing with Brooklyn Community District 5. Since opening its doors the office have served over 500 people.Environmental Justice ProjectsGreen Collar Jobs: During 2008 and 2009, Esmeralda Simmons served as a member of the Political Outreach Working Group of the NYC Green Collar Jobs Roundtable. She also served as a member of the Steering Committee. In June 2009, Esmeralda Simmons attended and presented at a full Roundtable meeting on the accomplishments to date in creating a Green Jobs Training Roadmap as a public policy position and aid to local government. The group also worked created a policy statement on green collar jobs and jobs training in NYC.EJ Brain Trust: Esmeralda Simmons is the Chair of the Environmental Justice Brain Trust of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus that is chaired by Hon. Ruth Hassel-Thompson. Brain Trust members, the leading EJ advocates in NYS, advise Caucus members on major environmental policy issues pending in Albany. Cultural Rights ProjectsEsmeralda Simmons, representing CLSJ of Medgar Evers College, is continuing to provide legal work and the human rights advocacy perspective to several African-centered cultural organizations.Publications
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