5 Things Friday
Surfers Needed, An Emergency at Rikers, and the one time its OK to shop Amazon. Here are your antiracism action steps for September 17.
It's Friday, and Gavin Newsom is still California's governor (PHEW!). We just wanted to say thank you to everyone who voted, donated, made calls, and reminded their friends and family to do the same. You did it!
We love a good dose of positive reinforcement—espcially these days. Hopefully it's a reminder that your little actions matter. Speaking of little actions...
Here are your 5 Things!
VOLUNTEER FOR THIS. Are you a surfer or beach volleyball player in the South LA area? Culture Club South Bay, founded by the activists behind the Bruce's Beach movement, are continuing to encourage and embrace diversity and inclusion in Manhattan Beach by launching a FREE pilot youth engagement program, kicking off on Saturday, September 25th, 2021, at Bruce’s Beach, Manhattan Beach. The program will include volleyball, surfing, and a culinary class and take place on four consecutive Saturdays, from September 25th through October 16th, from 8:00am to 1:30pm, with lunch provided. They are looking for volunteers, aged 16 and up for the volleyball and surfing units. Volunteer here!
CELEBRATE THIS. REP CO's own Dr. Akilah Cadet was just named on the Forbes Next 1000 class of 2021 list! This first-of-its-kind initiative celebrates bold and inspiring entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to run a business today. Out of thousands of nominations, she was added to the Fall 2021 class of 250 standouts! We are SO proud of her (and proud to know her!) and suggest celebrating her and thanking her for her important work by scooping up your own "Have You Thanked a Black Woman Today" tee. Thank you for all you do, Dr. Cadet! And congratulations!!
ADVOCATE FOR THIS. Rikers Island prison is one of the most glaring examples of the utter failure of the carceral system, and more urgently, its thousands of inmates are currently living in inhamne, torturous conditions. New York State assemblywoman, Emily Gallagher, attended a tour for elected officials this week and left in shock, calling the facility “a humanitarian crisis” and “a horror house of abuse and neglect.” “There’s garbage everywhere, rotting food with maggots, cockroaches, worms in the showers, human feces and piss,” Ms. Gallagher wrote. “Most of the toilets are broken so men are given plastic bags to relieve themselves in.” “I met multiple men with broken hands and legs that were not being treated,” she continued. So far in 2021, 10 inmates at Rikers have died, at least four by suicide. More than half of the inmates have received mental health services, and as of last year, nearly one in five had been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.Meanwhile, corrections officers are calling in sick en masse — nearly 1,800 on Wednesday alone — leaving their colleagues to work double and triple shifts and effectively ceding control of parts of the complex to gangs. Read this recent op-ed to understand the problem, then donate to the Urban Justice Center to support the movement to Close Rikers Island for good.
BUY THIS. In August alone, Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay has resettled 80 Afghans in our East Bay communities. In a typical year, they might resettle that many people in 6 months. Help ensure these new arrivals have all that they need by purchasing items off of JFCS' Amazon Wish List. "As clients arrive, we are loading them up with all kinds of brand-new household goods. We update this list twice daily with most needed items, so please check back often! We are truly humbled by the generosity of this community."
SUPPORT THIS. With the pending closures of Shelter-In-Place hotels and the eviction moratorium ending, the work being done by organizations like The Coalition on Homelesness is more important than ever. Their annual fundraiser is happening now, and your support helps fund San Francisco initiatives like Our City Our Home, the Compassionate Alternative Response Team, Coffee & Care, as well as weekly outreaches and the printing of the Street Sheet newspaper twice a month. Participate in the annual fundraiser by bidding on art, buying new merchandise, or purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win some fantastic prizes—do so here!