As always, one great way to get involved and stay connected is by joining City Life/Vida Urbana at their weekly tenant organizing meetings. City Life is a 50+ year-old grassroots organization fighting for racial, social, and economic justice through direct action, coalition building, education, and advocacy. They hold meetings every Tuesday (in English) in Jamaica Plain and every Wednesday (in Spanish) in East Boston to build community and inform people about their housing rights. 

Let us know if you have any transportation concerns, and we can help. The BU Public Interest Law Society pro bono transportation reimbursement form can be found here. If you'd like to attend a meeting with members of HOMES this week, please fill out the Google form below!

Weekly Sign Up for City Life/Vida Urbana Meetings

Teach-in & Know Your Rights Training
Join ILPS, the BU Immigrants’ Rights Clinic (IRC), PILS for a teach-in by Professor Sherman-Stokes to learn more about Trump’s recent executive orders and a Know Your Rights presentation on Thursday February 13th from 5:00pm - 6:30pm in Room 103! This is an important chat to learn what steps we can take to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities in the face of increased immigration enforcement. The event will conclude with a Q&A session, and we encourage attendees to submit their questions here. This event is open to the entire BU community—students, staff, faculty, and workers are all welcome. This event is not open to the public. Please reach out to ilpsbu@gmail.com if you have any questions. (Pizza will be provided!)

Rally to Stop the Sweep!
Join Warm Up Boston on Wednesday, February 5th at 7:00 am to rally against the upcoming sweep of a local encampment. The rally will take place at the intersection of BU Bridge and Comm Ave. "Thanks to the collective efforts of everyone who sent emails, made calls, and the widely shared rally posters, DCR has postponed the sweep by two days. But postponing is NOT enough; we will not stop until they agree to end sweeps permanently. Please share this widely to help spread the word, and stand with us on Wednesday morning! There is strength in numbers, and now more than ever we need as many people as possible to show up in solidarity with the encampment residents against this useless and state-sanctioned act of violence. We will continue to put pressure on the state, using all the tools at our disposal, until they have agreed to end sweeps entirely and provide encampment residents with trash services and permanent supportive housing instead. Wear warm and nondescript layers and face coverings." More information can be found here.

OutLaw x PILS: Bake Off & Bake Sale for GLSEN
We are excited to announce a deliciously fun Bake-Off Fundraiser co-hosted by OutLaw and PILS! Show off your baking skills and indulge in sweet treats while supporting a great cause. Baked goods can be submitted to one of five categories to be judged by our panel of LGBTQ+ (and allied) staff! Bakers will be provided with a limited selection of ingredients at their request! The Bake Off Competition will take place on Thursday, February 6th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm in the Charles River Room (5th Floor). All proceeds from the Bake Sale on Friday, February 7th (10:00 am - 3:00 pm in McCausland Common) will be donated to GLSEN--a grassroots initiative that works locally in our community to ensure safe schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Make sure to register by Tuesday, February 4th through our Google Form to compete: tinyurl.com/outlawbakeoff.

ILPS x PAIR Project Intake Training & Detention Visit 
ILPS is helping organize volunteers for the PAIR detention visits! PAIR, a Boston immigration nonprofit, needs volunteers to help with intakes on their weekly visits to Plymouth County Correctional Facility, the only remaining ICE detention center in Massachusetts. With the new administration and new ICE units opening in Plymouth, PAIR is seeing an increased number of people in ICE detention and needs volunteers to assist with intakes. Volunteers do not need to have immigration or legal experience, but speaking a second language is highly preferred (especially Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Haitian Creole). Unfortunately, due to the nature of doing intakes in detention, there is no access to language lines or interpreters, so volunteers who are proficient in other languages are needed. Helping with intakes can be a great way to learn about immigration law and the immigration enforcement system, and gain experience speaking with clients.

PAIR will use the information you gather on intakes to decide whether they are able to take the case or pass the information on to pro bono attorneys who volunteer with PAIR. PAIR has a prepared intake sheet they use which you will be filling out during intakes. Sign up to volunteer here. Please email Kristen Cain (kmcain@bu.edu) if you have any questions! We will be holding an optional training for volunteers to learn about the intake process on February 11! Note: In order to get clearance to visit the detention center, you will need to provide PAIR with a photo of your government ID and social security number. We will reach out to you before the date to coordinate sending this information. 

MAURA HEALEY: MAKE MASSACHUSETTS A SANCTUARY STATE
"Gov. Maura Healy said in December that Mass. is 'not a sanctuary state.' She doubled down on these comments the week of Donald Trump’s Inauguration after intensified ICE raids had already begun across the country, including in Mass. Healey has done nothing but parrot Trump and his racist anti-immigrant agenda while cutting housing access for all working class families. These are pro-billionaire attacks on the whole working class — and Healey is siding with the billionaires.

It is up to us, as working people of Massachusetts, immigrant and non-immigrant alike, to stand together to demand the governor does everything in her power to protect our communities.
We Demand:
❌ No state or local law enforcement collaboration with ICE!
❌ Stop the racist demonization of immigrants!
❌ No new restrictions on housing assistance!
❌ No ICE in Massachusetts public schools or other public institutions!
Add your name, or endorse as an organization.
SIGN THE PETITION: SanctuaryStateMA.org"

Volunteer With Food Not Bombs Boston!
Food Not Bombs Boston is collecting donations of socks, bar soap, new underwear, hygiene products, and hand warmers. They will hand out donations to community members in need at James P. Cronin Park in Cambridge every Saturday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. To coordinate donations or help out in person email FnbBoston@gmail.com. Find more information here!

Boston Runners for Justice in Palestine
"Ceasefire is the floor, Palestinian Liberation is the ceiling! See you all on Sunday, as the fight for a permanent ceasefire, a complete arms embargo, an end to the occupation and total liberation for all Palestinians CONTINUES: we always meet at the same time & place, every week: 10am at 575 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, by the river. For the health & safety of our community, please take care of yourselves as best you can, stay home if you are not feeling well, and layer up on these chilly mornings w/ your gloves & hats & keffiyehs 🧣🧤🍉" Find more information here.

Palentine’s Day Speed Friending
Join JP 4 Palestine on Saturday, February 8th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, 633 Centre St. "Have you grown apart from friends over the past year bc they weren’t as involved in the liberation struggle as much as you thought they’d be? Want to connect with people committed to liberation in the Boston area? Come join our speed friending event, followed by group trivia! We will have poetry, timed guided conversations and candy! We all need sweeter friends in our lives now more than ever in the fight for liberation in Palestine and beyond! Members and non-members welcome! Register pls so we have an idea of how many people at bit.ly/JP4Ppalentines. Masks required!" More information can be found here.

Neighborhood Book Sale for Gaza
Somerville for Palestine is hosting a neighborhood book sale! "All funds raised will go to @thesameerproject, which has been providing life-sustaining support for displaced families in Gaza. If you any have gently-used (or new) books you would like to donate, please dm me. If you’re in the Boston/Cambridge/Somerville area, you can drop off your books at @narrativebookshop which is helping us collect donations. Book sale will take place on March 1 at Connexion Church, Somerville." Find more information here.