| SCSJ Digest | The Monthly Newsletter of SCSJ's Top News |
| Welcome to the inaugural monthly newsletter of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice! At the beginning of every month, we'll send you a roundup of the top stories from the previous month, along with relevant updates, e.g., key resources, upcoming events, and noteworthy projects. If you have any recommendations on additional topics you want to read about, let us know. We hope you enjoy this newsletter! |
| IN THIS ISSUE
Letter from the Executive Directors
Updates
Events in October
Top Stories in September 2020 |
| Letter from the Executive Directors | From Allison Riggs and Ryan Roberson |
| In these unprecedented times, even the most steadfast and resolute social justice warriors can lose hope. This year has taught us that our nation is feeling more divided than ever, as illustrated by the senseless killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others; subsequent riots and calls for police reform or defunding-the-police movements throughout the country; one of the most contentious and polarized election years in recent memory; the loss of iconic civil rights leaders and activists, including John Lewis, Rev. C.T. Vivian, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; and a global pandemic that has upended our lives and led to the deaths of more than 200,000 Americans. Any one of these events is enough to cause despair; the convergence of them is enough to shatter the spirit.
However, in the bleakest moments and the darkest times, we must remember the reasons why we do the work that we do. We fight for the rights of those who are oppressed, whose political, social, and economic rights are impeded, neglected, or simply denied. And we cannot lose hope. We work hard, both with and for our clients, and both in and out of the courtroom, to activate communities and amplify their voices when injustices occur.
Now is a time for communities to come together and unite in solidarity. Now is the time to strengthen the will and determination to continue advancing toward equality and justice, despite any hurdles we encounter along the way. In the words of the notorious RBG, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” Though the future is uncertain, we will not give up, and we invite you to join us in the fight for a more equal, more just, and fairer society.
In Solidarity,
Allison Riggs and Ryan Roberson
Co-Interim Executive Directors |
| Updates | Key resources, noteworthy projects, etc. |
| Call for Fellows
SCSJ is pleased to partner with the American Council of Learned Societies to be selected as one of 11 nonprofits across the U.S. that will host a paid fellow for one year! The fellowships provide support for placing talented, entrepreneurial recent PhDs in religious studies, theology, ethics, and related fields in organizations around the country, to help communities respond to issues caused by the COVID-19 crisis and advance public understanding of the pandemic. This initiative is made possible through the support of the Henry Luce Foundation.
Learn more about the fellowship and apply. Applications will be accepted until Monday, November 2, 2020, 9 pm EST. |
| #MakeAVotingPlan Digital Hub
SCSJ recently launched a one-stop digital hub to provide North Carolinians with all of the information they'll need to vote, from checking to see if they’re registered to vote to learning about the different ways to vote – especially in the midst of a pandemic. Accompanying the NC state-specific webpage is a separate webpage for national resources, including state election information.
We will be adding more resources to these pages over the coming weeks, so please be sure to bookmark and visit them regularly! Share these resources with your family, friends and networks, and encourage them to #MakeAVotingPlan. |
| | #MyVoteMyVoice
SCSJ also recently launched #MyVoteMyVoice, a campaign to uplift and amplify the voices of voters, especially of young people, in the voting process through short and compelling videos. Sponsored by the Ottinger Foundation and Solidaire Network members – and with support from the Young Black Lawyers’ Organizing Coalition (YBLOC) and the Black Voters Matter Fund (BVMF) – these videos highlight the diverse range of voices from people all over the nation. |
| | | | Events in October | Follow us on social media to stay up to date and register! |
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