From: Housing, Organizing, & Movement Empowerment Society
Date: October 28, 2024
Subject: HOMES - 10/28 Newsletter


Hi, everyone!


Good morning and happy Monday! We know the semester is really kicking into gear, but we hope you are managing to hang in there. As a reminder, one way you can get involved with HOMES right away 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. 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

Amplify Voices of Resistance at an Acoustic Open Mic Night! Join Berklee SJP at Andala Coffee House (286 Franklin Street, Cambridge) at 8:00 pm TONIGHT!! They will be selling tote bags, patches, and bracelets at the event, and all of the funds will go towards displaced families. Sign-ups begin at 7:30 pm. Bring poems, songs, or anything that expresses your solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon! (Please be mindful of the theme of the fundraiser when making song and poem selections.)

Discuss Palestinian Feminisms Virtually with BU! Join us on Friday, November 1st, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm via Zoom. Pre-registration is required. Per the event description, "as part of the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program Seminar Series & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 'Learn More Series,' the event features Dra. Lila Sharif (Arizona State University) and Dr. Jennifer Mogannam (UC Santa Cruz) in conversation with Dr. Najwa Mayer (BU & Loyola Marymount University). They will discuss the roles and struggles of Palestinian women and the evolution of Palestinian feminism, highlighting its significance in the broader context of decolonization and Indigenous knowledge preservation."

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.

Help Members of the Community Apply for Temporary Protected Status to Stay in the US Without Fear of Deportation! The BU Immigrants Rights Clinic is working to help staff Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Clinics on November 8th and 15th from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Use this link to sign up to volunteer for one of the clinics! They will also be hosting a TPS Clinic Workshop in Room 209 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm to provide more information about TPS and the application process, which is open to all students regardless of whether you can volunteer or not. RSVP here for the workshop and/or clinics! Please reach out to Ivana (wijedasa@bu.edu) or Danna (dplopez@bu.edu) with any questions or concerns.

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


We hope you all have a fantastic week! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to any HOMES board member for help. 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

Have you joined our GroupMe yet? 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.
 

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.
 

Shoutout to everyone who showed up to the Rent Control rally in Dorchester recently! We hope you all continue to support local community organizers and help amplify their voices in whatever capacity you can.