SURJ Boston

We hope you, your loved ones, and your beloved communities are staying well and finding ways to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. In these times, it is more important than ever to support each other. We know that this acute crisis--like the many ongoing and interrelated crises in our economic, healthcare, and other systems--stands to disproportionately impact communities of color, immigrant communities, incarcerated communities, and low-income communities. Please check out the below resources that grassroots groups have created to provide aid across Greater Boston. As the crisis unfolds, we encourage you to ask for what you need, give what you can, and take precautions while taking care of those around you. Together, we can get through this.

Donate to the SURJB Emergency Fund

💵 SURJ Boston members and supporters are pooling resources to increase impact during the coronavirus crisis. Our main goal in pooling our resources is to ensure that we are shifting resources to Roxbury, Dorchester, and working class communities of color in Boston who will face much higher unemployment and financial hardship + increased risk of being effected by COVID19. The SURJB Fundraising COVID19 Team will be responsible for distributing funds to partner organizations throughout the crisis, with input from SURJB members and working groups. We have already raised over $5,000! Donate here!

SURJB COVID19 Action Hours

✊ The novel coronavirus/COVID19 pandemic continues to reveal the layers of suffering endemic to capitalism and white supremacy in the US. Many of the white people in SURJB's networks are both awash and overwhelmed by the multitude of asks and newly transitioned to working digitally. We invite you two action hours where we will take 1 hour to sign petitions, contact elected officials, volunteer our time, donate/publicize fundraisers, and connect with each other

LUNCH: Wednesday, 3/25, 12-1 pm
Please register for Wednesday here

EVENING: Thursday, 3/26, 5-6 pm
Please register for Thursday evening here

Meal and Supply Relief

✊ 💵 Violence in Boston Inc and Food for the Soul Grove Hall are providing lunch and dinner for Boston Public Schools students (lunch 12-2pm, dinner 5-8pm). They are also accepting donations of funds and needed items (toiletries, paper towels, tissues, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper). For more information, call 617-652-0151.

• Sign up to volunteer with the meal relief program.
• Drop off needed items at 651 Warren Street, Boston, 02121.
• Donate funds at https://www.paypal.me/violenceinboston

Free Groceries for All!

💵 Free groceries will be provided Mondays at 5:30 pm at Make Shift Boston (549 Columbus Avenue, Boston, 02118) for the duration of the crisis. Donate through the Lucy Parsons Center.

Neighborhood Mutual Aid Networks

✊ Neighborhoods are starting their own mutual aid systems where people can offer resources and request support. There are opportunities to volunteer, donate, and offer/request support at the links below.

• Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville

• Mutual Aid Jamaica Plain & Roxbury
  

• Mutual Aid Cambridge

• Mutual Aid Dorchester

• Mutual Aid Brookline
  

• Mutual Aid East Boston

• How to start a network in your neighborhood!

Resources
Both the Asian American Resource Workshop and Massachusetts Jobs with Justice have compiled Boston and MA specific resources in response to COVID-19. This includes everything from grassroots demands around COVID-19, how to teach an accessible online class, and local resources for supplies and support. Many thanks to these organizations for compiling information, resources, and links about local mutual aid networks, community care, remote work plans, workers rights, etc.

Public Education

☎️ ✊ 📋 support Boston teachers, families and students

The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) is asking that folks sign a petition supporting teachers, families, and students due to a new partnership with the state which feels like a form of receivership. Learn more and sign the petition here: https://btu.org/ourcityourschools/. Other ways to get involved:

• Call/Email/Tweet the list of folks included in the document attached. Sample scripts can be found here for your convenience.
• Share information with other parents, students, and educators and let them know what is going on and how they can take action.
• BPS’ budget will be reviewed and voted on by School Committee on Wed. March 25 at 5 pm virtually here. As students will be missing 6 weeks of schools, if not more, we need additional emergency funds more than ever. We are asking for no school budget cuts this year. You can provide testimony virtually via written or video formats at budget@bostonpublicschools.org or on at Twitter (@bostonschools)

Boston Teachers Union Updates

The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) is giving regular updates related to how COVID-19 is impacting Boston Public Schools (BPS). For updates and to learn about their Volunteer Corps, go to https://btu.org/coronavirus/

📋 SIGN AND SHARE THE BOSTON EDUCATION JUSTICE ALLIANCE PLEDGE

Please sign and share the Boston Education Justice Alliance (BEJA) pledge demanding that all Boston Public Schools have a baseline budget to assure funding for essentials such as clean water, libraries, teachers, counselors, nurses, etc. if you haven’t yet.

Housing Justice

☎️ Save the date: Phone bank for rent control and the Tenant Protection Act!

Friday, 3/27, 12 PM
Join Housing Justice Action Partnership and the Allston/Brighton Base Group (remotely) for an afternoon of political education, virtual community building, and phone banking for a final push before the 3/31 committee vote! If interested, please RSVP. More details to come!

VICTORY UPDATE: MOST EVICTION HEARINGS POSTPONED!

The Chief Justice of Housing Court in Massachusetts just ordered the postponement of most eviction hearings to 4/21. Thanks for signing our petition w/ nearly 6k signatures! Next step: @CharlieBakerMA, pass the FULL MORATORIUM, HB. 4935!" Please continue to sign the petition to let MA hear the resounding call to put a moratorium on evictions in MA during COVID-19 and to receive updates from CLVU.

Prison Abolition

☎️ Protect Our Incarcerated Community from COVID-19

Please join the Building Up People Not Prisons coalition, led by Families for Justice as Healing, for a Week of Action. Every day this week we will be asking folks to call, email and Tweet at different decision makers DEMANDING RELEASE for people incarcerated in Mass. https://tinyurl.com/maweekofaction

✊ Black & Pink Penpal Matching Webinar

Monday, March 23 7:30-9PM EST⠀
Zoom call at https://buff.ly/3aeMqBY⠀

During this time of social distancing and health risks, it's more important than ever to connect with our fam behind bars. Learn about penpaling as abolitionist praxis, get practical guidance on how to be good penpals, have your questions answered, and be matched with an inside member to start writing with. No registration necessary. All are welcome, regardless of location or experience. The prison-industrial complex IS the public health crisis.

☎️ Support Emergency Decarceration Legislation

Reach out to your State Rep and State Senator and ask them to co-sponsor this critical Emergency Decarceration Legislation that would allow people to be released: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/HD4963

📋 FREE RAYMOND GAINES

Sign this petition to demand a retrial for Raymond Gaines who was wrongfully convicted of 1st degree murder and armed robbery in 1975. He has been wrongfully imprisoned for 44 years, stolen from his family, loved ones, and community.

💵 Donate Retired Cellphones!

Our friend Jude Glaubman is collecting retired cell phones for women leaving incarceration. If you have phones in usable condition to donate, get in touch with Jude at jglaubman@thecouncil.us.

✊ BLACK & PINK VOLUNTEER DROP IN

Black and Pink’s mission is to abolish the criminal punishment system and to liberate LGBTQ+/HIV+ people through advocacy, support, and organizing.

These drop ins welcome any kind of abolitionist energy, whether reading and entering mail into the database, writing letters, playing cards, or chatting. Formerly incarcerated and court involved people especially encouraged to attend. Cis, straight and/or free world allies are welcome!

• 1st/3rd Wednesdays in JP: 7-9pm at First Baptist Church, 633 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA.  Contact Annie at annieatwater@gmail.com; wheelchair accessible.
• Sundays in Cambridge: 3-6pm at Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St in Cambridge; partially wheelchair accessible, no accessible bathroom.

Immigration Justice

✊ #FreeThemAll Virtual Vigil — Solidarity with Immigrants Detained at Bristol County Jail

UPLOAD A PHOTO to join the virtual candlelight vigil in solidarity with those detained in Bristol County and all people in immigration detention! On March 18, 51 immigrants detained by ICE inside Unit B of the Bristol County Jail sent a public letter calling for the immediate release of all detainees with serious medical conditions, detainees considered low-risk (to the public), bond hearings for all detainees whose court date was rescheduled, and the quick departure of detainees already ordered deported. Find out how to show solidarity here.

☎️ Take (Remote) Action to Demand ICE Release All People from Detention!

In response to COVID-19, the Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network calls for the following demands. Please amplify, share, and make calls to your elected officials as possible! #ReleaseThemAll

💵 WELCOME THY HOME!

With support from his family and community, Thy Chea returned home on 2/26 after an 18-month fight against the Department of Homeland Security for a wrongful deportation. Support AARW in raising money for his resettlement back to the US! Learn more about his story and contribute here.

💵 SIM DACA Renewal Fund
The SIM DACA fund is being created to provide economic support to DACA recipients in MA. Applicants have to pay $495 in fees for their renewal application. Many members of our community, including DACA folks, live paycheck to paycheck and often are not able to pay for the application fees. We are asking our community to help the DACA recipients here in MA who are part of our community with any monetary support for their DACA renewal application.

Childcare

✊ Volunteer with the Greater Boston Childcare Collective

GBCC supports local racial justice and intersectional organizing by providing free childcare during meetings, events, and actions so that caregivers and children can fully participate. We provide care for groups being led by folks most impacted by oppression and who are on the front lines of their movements. Find out more information about GBCC here and on Facebook.

The GBCC Planning Team is looking for people who want to volunteer as a carer and for those interested in volunteering as a member of the GBCC Planning Team. The Planning Team does all the behind-the-scenes work of partner relationship building, care coordinating, and future planning. As we enter our fourth year of existence, we want to grow our network, Planning Team, and sustainability. Join us if you are invested in racial justice and enjoy caring for kids!

Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form if you'd like to become a volunteer carer.

Contact Morgan at morganch93@gmail.com if you'd like to learn more about joining the GBCC Planning Team or with any questions.