For January's JUFJ Fair Purple Line Working Group meeting we're taking a spin on things and taking a tour in Langley Park and then eating lunch at a local Indian vegetarian restaurant.  The tour will include a visit to La Union Mall, walk through the apartments of Langley Park that will be greatly affected due to the development around the Purple Line and TLC Sector Plan, seeing the Multicultural Center that is being built in the heart of Langley Park, and (depending on time) visiting some local residents.  After the tour we will go get some lunch and celebrate the work we've accomplished in our first year of the Fair Purple Line campaign.

We will be meeting at the Takoma Metro at 10:30am on Sunday, January 17th to carpool into Langley Park together.

Please RSVP to Lindsay at linz.morris@gmail.com.

Who Inspires You?  The 2nd annual Inside the Activists' Studio event will feature an impressive roster of local Jewish activists, networking opportunities, and skills-share workshops.  Join us on Sunday, January 17, from 2:30-7:00 pm to learn from and be energized by local Jewish change-makers, and to celebrate the ways we are all working to create a more just and equitable world.  

Free registration and more info at whoinspiresyoudc.eventbrite.com.  

Hosted by the AJWS-AVODAH Partnership, Jews United for Justice, HIAS Young Leaders, Moishe House, and Sixth & I, and co-sponsored by Hazon, Jewschool.com, and Zeek.

Dear friends,

We are now approaching the first anniversary of the Obama Inauguration, yet in communities across the United States, millions of people still live in fear everyday. These workers, sisters, fathers, children are under constant threat that any interaction with police-however minor-could lead to detention and even deportation.  We have watched incredulously as authorities have actually increased the number of workplace raids on immigrant workers, creating an atmosphere of terror throughout our communities.

We must act now-boldly-to put an end to these injustices.

Join us in action and prayer on Tuesday, January 26^th, in Washington, DC for a rally and demonstration in front of the Department of Homeland Security.  There you will be in unity with immigrant workers, faith leaders, labor activists and community leaders who will be calling on President Obama and his administration to simply do what is right, and:

1.       Immediately put an end to the deportation of persons with family in the US

Learn concrete tools for raising money from your base! Part of the Gerry Brittain Education Project, is an initiative of DC Jobs with Justice designed to strengthen local organizing and build power among working people in the District of Columbia. Pre-register online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=bdAvdFc2_2bP7TBKN2m08OLA_3d_3d
A donation of $10 is requested, but no-one is turned away.

6:45 pm services; 8:15 pm veggie potluck
Directions here

dvar tikkun Natalie Nanasi, Jeanne Smoot, Tahirih Justice Center:Protecting Immigrant Women and Girls Fleeing Violence

Join Chairman Vincent Gray and Councilmember-At-Large Michael A. Brown with other DC elected officials and US Department of Commerce Officials for the DC Council kickoff rally and press conference for the District's 2010 US Census Campaign.

Census Facts:

• The census is a count that is conducted every ten years of everyone living in the U.S.
• The next census is on April 1, 2010
• The form takes less than 10 minutes to complete
• It is safe and confidential.  Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census
• It is important.  The data is used to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.

Questions?  Contact Carlton Terry, 2010 DC Council Census coordinator at cterry@ dccouncil.us

Please join the D.C. Fair Budget Coalition for a series of interactive Breakfast Briefings on upcoming Fridays from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.  

In the District, high unemployment and underemployment, lack of affordable housing, and increased food insecurity - combined with a terrible recession - are impacting all the residents of our city. And our most vulnerable residents are teetering on the brink of disaster.  Fortunately, there are solutions at hand.

Come learn from the experts at the Breakfast Briefings about current issues in:

•  
  • Workforce Development and Income Support - February 5
  • Youth and Families - February 12
  • Housing - February 19
  • Health - February 29

Briefings will be held in Rooms 103 or 104.  A light breakfast will be served.

We look forward to discussing with you opportunities to support the city's low-income residents, draw federal dollars into the District, and invest in our city's future.

Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh and Chairman Vince Gray have introduced the Healthy Schools Act of 2009.  This is a terrific bill that tackles obesity in DC school kids by raising nutritional standards, introducing locally-grown food to school meals, and expanding physical education.  It also expands gardening, recycling, composting, and other environmental programs in DC schools.  

Come share your views about this bill and how to make it better  next Wednesday, Feb 10 at 10AM at the DC Council hearing room (Room 412 of the John Wilson building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave).  Learn more about it here.  

Our City Film Festival screens films that are about or take place in Washington, DC in order to bring communities together and promote pride in "our city".  This year's films range in topics from a man's love affair with the Anacostia River, to a biography on the famous DC chef, Nora Pouillon, to a feature documentary about the history of Go-Go music, to a short documentary about the history of Jewish Washingtonians.  There is something for everyone!  Check out a full listing here.