Make a Difference this Week: September 9-16, 2014
Living sustainably includes taking action! I'm starting this new series to get the word out on political and social actions happening during the week. If you have anything to add, please sent it my way at elizabeth[at]thenotepasser.com.
New York Primary Elections | September 9
In case you didn't know, today is the primary election for the November races. Primaries have notoriously low turn outs, so get out and make you choices known. Find out what you are voting for:
Look up your nine digit zip code here.
Look up your nine digit zip code on Vote Smart.
On the results page, click "See Upcoming Information Only".
Click through to find out more about each race and candidate.
Get out and vote!
View Cafeteria Man: Fighting for Healthier School Food | September 9
"Cafeteria Man" is proof that it takes a collective effort to change a dysfunctional school food program from parents, teachers, administrators, to farmers, chefs and the students themselves. Meet Tony Geraci, then food-service director for Baltimore city public schools. A charismatic chef from New Orleans, Geraci leads the charge to replace pre-plated, processed foods with locally-grown, freshly-prepared meals. His vision includes school vegetable gardens, student-designed meals, and nutrition education in the classroom. Watch empowered students get involved with planting and harvesting their own vegetables at Baltimore school system's 33-acre teaching farm, now a national model. See high school seniors develop practical job skills through a new citywide culinary vocational training program.
Documentary screening will be followed by an all-star panel discussion with: Richard Chisolm, award-winning filmmaker, director of Cafeteria Man; Bill Telepan, Snail of Approval Restaurateur and Executive Chef Wellness in the Schools (WITS); Richard O'Brien, Director of Food and Menu Management at SchoolFood, NYC Department of Education; Kathy Lawrence, Director of Strategic Development, SchoolFoodFOCUS.
September 9 at 7pm | The Whythe Hotel, Brooklyn
Get tickets here.
New York Cares
New York Cares can always use volunteers and they have a wide range of opportunities available for whatever you skills or interests are. Normally, you must attend volunteer orientation before volunteering, but New York Cares Day Fall is coming up on October 18th and anyone aged 12 and up can participate. You can register now as an individual, a team, or to generate sponsorship. Read the FAQs here.
Take part in New York City's largest hands-on volunteer day by joining more than 4,000 volunteers to paint a brighter future for our city's public school students. This year, volunteers will create murals, paint classrooms, plant school gardens, and engage school staff, students and families in service. By the end of the day on October 18th, 70 public schools in all five boroughs will be transformed.
New York Cares Day Fall is also a fundraiser for New York Cares. With your help, we hope to raise funds to support our year-round volunteer programs which provide services for 400,000 New Yorkers in need.
Brooklyn Free Store
The Brooklyn Free Store is a project of In Our Hearts, a New York City based Anarchist network made up of autonomous collectives, projects, and individuals. It operates in Herbert Von King Park in Bed Stuy on Fridays (weather permitting):
All are welcome to come and share what they have or just take what they’d like. There is no obligation to share or anything. These items and others are being shared in the spirit of community and mutual aid, please participate with that in mind and respect others.
"Light Up the Future" Bike Ride and People's Climate March Bike Bloc | September 13
Bike Bloc is an open group dedicated to creating a massive bicycle presence at the People's Climate March and in the streets during the weeks of action. We acknowledge that changing one's personal carbon footprint isn't enough to achieve climate health, so our cycling is a physical demonstration of our commitment to reject the fossil fuel industry and to demand clean renewable energy. We aim to engage the larger cycling community and city planning in a conversation about climate justice and to invest in bicycling to fight the global crisis with positive people power.
When: Saturday, September 13th, 5-10pm Where: Corner of York Street and Jay Street in Bridge Park, DUMBO, Brooklyn
Get involved: http://peoplesclimate.org/bikebloc/ https://www.facebook.com/Bikeblocpeoplesclimate @bikeblocNYC
