Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Video Session with Al Marder

You are Invited to a special video session with

Al Marder
President PERA / New Haven Peoples Center

as he tells the history of the Peoples Center and its
outstanding contributions to labor and people's
achievements for equality and peace in our city and
state from his own experiences

Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

37 Howe Street, New Haven CT 06511
Refreshments will be served

Reply to: 203-624-8664 e-mail: peoplescenter@pobox.com
website: peoplescenter.blogspot.com

Friday, July 29, 2011

Reed Smith, Leader for Social Justice

People's World / July 29, 2011

Reed Smith, vibrant community and faith leader for social justice, died last week at home shortly after his 86th birthday. Before moving to New Haven in 1991, Reed and his family lived in Waterbury, Connecticut and briefly in Chicago, Illinois.

Reed was a staunch supporter of the People's World and the working class movement. Born and raised in Connecticut, he worked as an economist in industry for many years, and then at faith-based community agencies in Waterbury and New Haven.

A life long peace and civil rights activist, he helped form the first integrated housing development in Waterbury in the 1950's. He marched with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. During the Vietnam War he counseled draftees about conscience objection.

Reed helped found a soup kitchen in Waterbury, and continued his crusade against poverty while in New Haven as a candidate for State Representative on the Tax the Rich line. He was a founding member of the Coalition to End Child Poverty in Connecticut, assisting with economic research and advocating for a progressive tax system. As director of Interfaith Cooperative Ministries (ICM), he initiated many programs including an inter-racial dialog and an annual interfaith service on Martin Luther King's birthday.

After helping staff a peace center formed at the time of the 1991 Iraq war, Reed was appointed to the City of New Haven Peace Commission where he served for over a decade. He became a stalwart contributor to the New Haven Peoples Center where he helped organize events for social justice, peace and racial equality, and became a participant with the Alliance for Retired Americans. He was famous for his delicious baked beans and brownies, and for his signature straw hat and knickers.

When she became ill, Reed devoted himself to the well being of wife Marty, whom he married while in the service during WWII. He loved music, sang in choirs and played the piano. He made himself available for countless activities on behalf of workers' rights, human rights, civil rights and peace. He was widely known and loved for his perseverance, optimism, vision and generosity. He will be greatly missed by his large extended family, his comrades in the Alert Seniors Club and everyone whose lives he touched.

A memorial service organized by his family will be held on August 6 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul and St James Church, 67 Olive Street, New Haven.

Monday, April 11, 2011

We are One - Workers Rights are Human Rights

Building on the grass roots "We are One" organizing of labor and community, public and private sector workers, employed and unemployed in solidarity with each other, this years' People's World May Day celebration will honor the public workers in Connecticut, their unions and the services they provide.

The theme, "Workers Rights are Human Rights" highlights the coming together in our state and nation against attacks on public sector workers and all workers in the name of budget deficits. No layoffs of workers or cuts in services would be needed if the super rich were taxed their fair share. Monies used to fund the wars could close all state budget gaps in the country.

Newsmaker awards will be presented on Sunday, May 1 at 4:00 pm at 37 Howe Street, New Haven.to the coalition of state worker unions, SEBAC, for leadership on behalf of the needs of Connecticut's working people; and to Communications Workers CWA Local 1298 for standing up to AT&T in last year's negotiations, and building worker solidarity.

A solidarity recognition will be presented to 1199 health care workers at Spectrum, now on strike for one year.

A panel discussion will address the attempt to turn back all gains, and project how the labor movement and working people can move forward. Videos of the huge rallies in Egypt and Wisconsin for workers rights and in New Haven on March 30 will be shown.

Puerto Rican singer Fernando Ferrer, rap group The UNION, and poet Sabir Abdussabur will perform. A home made buffet will be served. Suggested donation is $5 or what you can afford.

The event caps off a full day of May 1 activities, including an immigrant rights march and May Day program on the Green in New Haven, and a workers' rights rally by the Building Trades in Hartford.

Contributions will be accepted for the 2011 fund drive of the People's World in Connecticut. To receive headlines by e-mail sign up at peoplesworld.org. For event information call 203-624-8664.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A New Generation of Dreamers

People’s World 37th Annual African American History Month Celebration
A New Generation of Dreamers
Freedom Rides Yesterday - Freedom Rides Today

NEW HAVEN Sunday, February 27 at 4:00 PM at 37 Howe St
...
Our 37th Annual African American History Month Celebration takes place 50 years after the Freedom Rides by young people who traveled from the North to desegregate the South. They were beaten and jailed but they did not turn back. Their courage helped win passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. Today we face new challenges of racism and violence and a new movement for equality and social justice is coming forward. "A New Generation of Dreamers. Freedom Rides Yesterday - Freedom Rides Today" is the theme of this year's celebration hosted by the People's World.

A panel discussion will feature Lula White, a retired New Haven teacher, who participated in the Freedom Rides from Chicago while attending college; New Haven high school student Kendra Streater and Hartford high school student Vyctoria Viera, immigrant rights activist and union leader.Ricardo Heriquez and State Representative Gary Holder-Winfield.

Prizes and recognition certificates will be awarded to participants in the high school arts and writing competition, "How can we build on The Dream for ourselves and the next generation?"

Drumming will be performed by Brian Jarawa Gray.

Children's posters drawn on Martin Luther King's birthday at the Peabody Museum will be on exhibit.

The program will conclude with a light buffet.
Tickets are $5 or what you can afford.

This event marks the opening of the 2011 People's World fund drive in Connecticut. Your contribution toward the $2,000 goal for this event and your free subscription to the daily on-line format at peoplesworld.org will be an excellent way to keep up to date with the latest developments and opinions in the struggle for equality,
worker's rights and democratic rights, peace and social change.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Film Showing - Rockwell Kent, American Artist

Why was America's leading illustrator and artist erased from public view?
See the documentary by Frederick Lewis
ROCKWELL KENT, American Artist
Followed by
Recollections of the times, by Al Marder

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2011 -- 2PM-6PM
(Film is 3 hours with intermission, followed by discussion)
NEW HAVEN PEOPLE’S CENTER, 37 HOWE STREET
Light Refreshments
Free

Who was Rockwell Kent?
During the 1930s and ‘40s, Rockwell Kent was one of America’s most famous personalities. The foremost illustrator of his day, Kent was also a prolific oil painter whose work is in the collections of major museums. His haunting landscapes were inspired by his adventurous sojourns to Alaska, Tierra del Fuego, and Greenland. He was also a best-selling author and a social activist. Because of his leadership for peace and civil rights, Kent, like Paul Robeson, was forbidden to travel. Their landmark passport cases against the federal government gave all U.S. citizens the right to travel, but like Robeson, Rockwell Kent was effectively blacklisted and his name largely erased from American culture.