From: Housing, Organizing, & Movement Empowerment Society
Date: December 9, 2024
Subject: HOMES - 12/09 Newsletter


Hi, everyone!


Good morning, and happy Monday! 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. If you'd like to attend a meeting with members of HOMES this week, please fill out the Google form below! Some of our e-board will still be attending meetings over break to ensure continuity for the Notice to Quit trainings, so feel free to reach out if you wanna tag along at any point.

Weekly Sign Up for City Life/Vida Urbana Meetings

Emergency Rally!
"From the Palestinian struggle to Prahlad's expulsion, join us to call on City of Cambridge councilors to intervene on MIT's complicity in genocide and repression of the pro-Palestinian movement." The rally will take place today at 5:30 pm at Cambridge City Hall. Find out more here.

Block the MIT Ban!
"We scholars, journalists, and people of conscience stand in full solidarity with Written Revolution chief editor Prahlad Lyengar and Linguistics Professor Michel DeGraff as they face targeted attacks, bans, and unjust punitive action from MIT. Please sign our petition at blocktheban.org. If you are a journalist interested in connecting with us please email eyesonmit@gmail.com." "MIT is effectively expelling PhD student Prahlad Iyengar for pro-Palestinian activism on campus. An appeal to the Chancellor on Wednesday is his last chance for justice. We call on all organizations and institutions of conscience to sign on and stand up to MIT’s repression at bit.ly/BAN_MIT." Find out more here and here.

Socialism 101 Reading Group!
"New to socialism? Curious about DSA [Democratic Socialists of America]? Then you’re invited to join our three-part reading series, Socialism 101. Join us on 12/9 [today!] and 12/16 at 7pm on Zoom. Register at the link in our bio or at bdsa.us/december-101." Find out more here!

Spend Your Free Time Giving Back!
"Our friends at Mathewson Street who help unhoused people and community members in need could use volunteers and donations this season. If you can please donate your time or resources! It will help them immensely even if all you can do is share this!" Find out more here.

Not One More - Rally For Our Communities!
Join the Asian American Resource Workshop, Justice As Healing, Homes for All Mass, and more for an action to defend our communities from deportation and criminalization on Friday, December 13th at 3:30 pm. The rally will take place at JFK Federal Building, 15 Sudbury Street, Boston – next to Government Plaza and Bowdoin T stations. "We we are coming together for an important action to unify our movement, mobilize our communities, and demand protection for refugees and immigrants at all levels of government. We need you there!"

"In the wake of Trump’s election, we’re facing a critical moment where deportation and criminalization policies will ramp up, putting our community at risk. Though we need to prepare for Trump’s term, there is so much that current political leaders can be doing. This is our moment to push for policies that go beyond fear and punishment and offer real, tangible support for immigrants and refugees. This action is a direct call to MA Governor Healey and President Biden before January – we need their action NOW!" Find out more here.

Speak Up for Change!
Join the Boston Liberation Center and the Boston Party for Socialism & Liberation for their December Liberation Open Mic featuring Brandie Blaze! The event will take place on Friday, December 13th from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm at 194 Blue Hill Ave, Roxbury. Find out more here!

"Brandie Blaze is a multi-talented rapper, actress, and composer from Boston, Massachusetts. A three-time Boston Music Award nominee, she has made a significant mark on both the music and theater scenes. In 2023, Brandie was part of the prestigious Boston Calling lineup and performed during the Boston Celtics’ halftime show in 2024. As an actress, she starred in the plays *Hoops* and *Come To Pass*. Known for her electrifying performances, she has opened for major artists like Rowdy Rebel, Trina, and GZA of Wu-Tang Clan. Brandie Blaze continues to break boundaries with her powerful artistry."

Solve the Housing Crisis by Abolishing Rent!
"Join authors Tracy Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis on December 15th at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern for an online book event celebrating Abolish Rent, hosted by ATUN. Register at bit.ly/ATUN-abolish-rent." Find out more here.

"How do we solve the housing crisis? Two of LATU’s co-founders wrote a book to answer that question, grounded in the expertise of LATU members who are organizing to take back control over their housing, their neighborhoods, and their lives. It’s the first book-length engagement with the resurgent tenant movement, and hopes to offer unions across the country a springboard to deepen our commitment to transforming our housing system and to reflect on tactics that will bring us closer to that goal. As we face new challenges in rising real estate consolidation under rising fascism, this event will be an opportunity for ATUN members to think deeply together about overcoming our fear, growing tenant power, organizing buildings, and claiming the territory of our cities."

LCP New Member Training!
Join the Lucy Parsons Center on Sunday, December 15th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at 358A Centre St, Jamaica Plain."We’ll be orienting new folks on the basics of the LPC, going over our history as the country’s longest running infoshop, and getting to know one another. Anyone interested can come by and get familiar with our space and our organization!" Find out more here!

Boston: We Fight Back!
On Inauguration Day, January 20th, join the Boston Party for Socialism and Liberation at 1:00 pm in Boston Common (Parkman Bandstand) to "demand a future that centers the needs of the people over the interests of the wealthy elite! Raise your voice for workers’ rights, immigrant rights, and environmental justice. We demand an end to the genocide in Gaza, the U.S. war machine, and the rule of billionaires!" More information can be found here.

Here are some more upcoming events that might be of interest to you all:

We hope you all have an amazing winter break! Our emails will take a short break, but we will keep you updated on everything y'all need to know. Stay strong, and keep up the good fight!

In solidarity,

BU HOMES
Boston University School of Law
Greg Bowe, Co-President
Danna Lopez-Flores, Co-President
Angel Yi, Treasurer
Chloe Buck, Secretary
Zoie Valencia, Community Liaison
Thomas Hontz, Education & Training Lead
Will Kleisner, Substantive Law Specialist
Eliza Thorpe, Outreach Chair
Looking for the Progressive Equivalent of FedSoc?
BU Law has its very own chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG). "The National Lawyers Guild is a progressive public interest association of lawyers, law students, paralegals, jailhouse lawyers, law collective members, and other activist legal workers, in the United States." In particular, the "Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild works to change the structure of our political and economic system. We seek to unite the legal community with organizers and activists in the service of the people, to the end that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests." To get involved with the BU chapter, click here or reach out to Eliza Thorpe.

Greater Boston Tenants Union Is Collecting Items for Its Library of Tenant Things! 
GBTU North local is asking for donations to the Library of Tenant Things, which will be an inventory of tools to lend to tenants as we fight for long-term solutions. They are primarily looking for space heaters, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and air conditioners. Email gbtunorth@gmail.com if you have any of these items or would like to help out!

Do you know who your landlord is?
If not, click here for more information on how to find out.

Want to check your landlord's housing code compliance?
Or do you just have some free time on your hands? Check out the following Housing Code Checklist. If you notice any issues, remember you have a right to unionize.

For more information on unionizing (either joining a pre-existing tenants union or building one with your neighbors), check out the Greater Boston Tenants Union here.

Have you joined our GroupMe?
If not, click here to stay updated on important events and communications.


Sign up for City Life/Vida Urbana’s Action Alert emails!
Stay up-to-date with City Life’s organizing by joining their mailing list here. City Life sends out emails in both English and Spanish with time-critical event information.

Show Solidarity with Palestine Through Fundraising Outside the GSU Every Friday From 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm! They will be selling keffiyehs for $25 and stickers for $3 (or 3 for $8)! 12:10 pm - 2:00 pm every Friday, there will also be a lovely henna artist who has volunteered her services in exchange for donations! Come support and bring your friends!! All the proceeds are donated to mutual aid in Gaza. More information can be found here.