welcome to our listserv announcement!

March 6, 2008

Dear Friends & Allies,

At a moment when most commentators are looking towards the top of the political pyramid for indications of change, we at NESRI retain our conviction that real change can only come from supporting communities organizing themselves to promote common values.  These values – dignity, freedom and equality for all – are expressed in universal human rights.  While it is indisputable that the actions of political leaders seriously impact the protection of human rights – and we should demand a human rights vision from those leaders – what will positively impact the lives of generations to come is the long term work of strong social movements.  

Whether it’s the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' campaign to create new mechanisms for accountability to human rights within the agricultural industry, the Dignity in Schools Campaign’s effort to re-shape school culture across the nation, or the growing number of state and local activists who are working to restructure health care financing from the ground up, our partners are all working to create deep and sustainable change based on human rights values.   We believe this is the way forward, and that “you must be the change you wish to see in the world.”  (Mohatma Ghandi).  We thank you for accompanying us towards our goals!

SPECIAL REQUEST
SIGN THE PETITION! >>>
Long time NESRI partner and ally organization, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), has launched an extraordinary and important new petition campaign demanding that Burger King end its complicity in modern day slavery.  200 years ago the United States abolished the slave trade, but even today it has not been able to abolish the practice of slavery within its borders.  The U.S. Department of Justice has called Florida “ground zero for modern day slavery” and just this year a new criminal slavery case has been filed.  Please support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ (CIW) struggle against modern day slavery and inhumane work conditions in the agricultural industry in the United States by signing their historic petition >>>, and sharing the petition with your networks. 

For more information see Cathy Albisa’s article on the Drum Major Institute blog about Burger King's Complicity in Modern Day Slavery. 

HUMAN RIGHT TO HEALTH PROGRAM >>>
WILL HEALTH CARE REFORM ENSURE HUMAN RIGHTS?
In January 2008, the Human Right to Health Collaborative – anchored by NESRI and NHeLP – released Pursuing A New Vision for Health Care: A Human Rights Assessment of the Presidential Candidates' Proposals.  >>> The publication looks at popular ideas for health care reform currently discussed in the context of the presidential campaigns and assesses whether they are consistent with basic human rights standards.  See Human Right to Health Director Anja Rudiger’s opinion piece on this issue on the Drum Major Institute’s policy blog.

In February, the Human Right to Health Program launched a new partnership with the Montana Human Rights Network. The program will be working to support state activists seeking to build a human right to health approach to policy reform in Montana, starting with passing a ballot initiative that expands health insurance for children in the state.  In partnership with the Network the Program will also support emerging initiatives for universal health care at a local level, as well as contributing to discussions about how to imbed health care as human right into the state’s legal framework.  See local press coverage on Anja Rudiger’s visit to the state. >>> 

HUMAN RIGHT TO EDUCATION PROGRAM >>>
PROMOTING DIGNITY IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
In February, Liz Sullivan was invited to New Orleans to meet with Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) and to hold a training workshop on Human Rights and the School to Prison Pipeline for local community members.  The National Dignity in Schools Campaign also held a national conference call on "Charter Schools and Push Out: Reflections on the Transformation of Public Education in Post-Katrina New Orleans." The next call in this tele-conference series will be sometime in Spring 2008. Learn more about these efforts and how to get involved!  >>> 

In New York City, the Education Program continues to work with the Student Safety Coalition to increase local government accountability for school safety policies.  In the wake of outrage generated when a 5 year old was handcuffed and taken to a psyche ward for throwing a tantrum at school, NESRI released a statement about the systemic problems regarding public school discipline, wrote a letter to the editor of the Daily News, and authored an article, "The Crackdown on New York City Students," in the Gotham Gazette about positive alternatives to current discipline policies in New York City public schools.

HUMAN RIGHTS OF HURRICANE SURVIVORS PROJECT >>>
DEFENDING THE RIGHT TO HOUSING FOR hurricane survivors
We continue to support our partners in the Gulf Coast who are struggling to return to their homes.  NESRI has facilitated visits to national legislators by public housing residents who are the best equipped to explain why passing the Gulf Coast Recovery Act and halting the demolitions of public housing in New Orleans are human rights imperatives for the United States.  As part of a nationwide coalition in support of public housing residents in New Orleans, NESRI has also been working to create visibility for this issue by asking public officials to speak up, urging the press to report on local events, and reaching out to the international human rights community for support. 

Several government officials have responded to the community of displaced public housing residents: former presidential candidate John Edwards, >>> Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, >>> Senator Barack Obama, >>> and New York City Council Members. >>> Public housing residents and NESRI exchange delegates, Sam Jackson and Endesha Juakali, were quoted in a City Business article, >>> and NESRI was quoted in America, and The National Catholic Weekly >>> on the pending housing demolitions in New Orleans.  Finally, Miloon Kathari and Gay McDougal – U.N. appointed experts on housing and discrimination respectively – issued an official statement of concern and called for a halt to the demolitions of public housing in New Orleans. >>> See NESRI’s statement in response. >>>

LEGAL PROGRAM >>>
BUILDING A LEGAL STRATEGY FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS
NESRI is pleased to announce that on March 17, 2008, in partnership with the Human Rights Institute at Columbia Law School and Northeastern Law School’s Global Rights in the Economy Program, we will be co-hosting our first legal training and strategy meeting on the use of international economic and social rights standards in state law litigation.  Facilitators for this strategy meeting include the Opportunity Agenda and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.  Professor Martha Davis will give the opening presentation, followed by comments by New York based litigators Andrew Scherer, Scott Rosenberg and Mike Hanley.   

NEW PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS >>>

Human Right to Health Care Fact Sheet (February 2008) >>>

Pursuing A New Vision for Health Care: A Human Rights Assessment of the Presidential Candidates' Proposals (January 2008) >>>

Human Right to Health Fact Sheet (January 2008) >>>

"A Human Rights Response to Jena: Bringing Dignity and Reconciliation to Public Schools," Twelve Ten (December 2007) >>>

"Alternative Schools and Pushout: A Research and Advocacy Guide," Collaborative Publication of the Dignity in Schools Campaign (November 2007) >>>

UPCOMING EVENTS >>>

MARCH 2008

March 8, Cambridge, MA
At the Harvard Human Rights Journal and the Harvard Law School's Human Rights Program Annual Conference, "The United States and Human Rights: Bringing Rights Home" Tiffany Gardner, Director of NESRI's Legal Program and Katrina Project will participate in a panel discussion on "Acknowledging the Right to Livelihood." >>>

March 15, New York, NY
Cathy Albisa, NESRI Executive Director, will participate in a panel discussion at the Left Forum entitled, "Radicalizing Rights: Bringing Human Rights Home" about using the language of international human rights to mobilize people for economic and social justice within the United States. >>>

March 15, Boston, MA
NESRI's Human Right to Education Program Director Liz Sullivan will present at a Human Rights Conference hosted by the International Law Society at Suffolk University. >>>

March 18, Washington, DC
NESRI Executive Director Cathy Albisa will speak at the Take Back America 2008 Conference. The session is titled, "Addressing Race: Race in American Life & Politics." >>>

March 19, 2008, Eugene, OR
NESRI Executive Director Cathy Albisa will speak at Public Interest Law at Work: Advancing Economic and Social Rights at the University of Oregon. >>>

March 21, 2008, Philadelphia, PA
NESRI Executive Director Cathy Albisa will speak at the Edward V. Sparer Symposium at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. >>>

March 24 – 28, New York, NY
Liz Sullivan, NESRI Education Program Director, will participate in the panel “Framing Dropouts Revisited” at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference. >>>

APRIL 2008

April 3, Boston, MA
NESRI Executive Director Cathy Albisa and NESRI Board Member Martha Davis will participate in a panel on human rights in the United States >>>

April 12, Storrs, CT
NESRI Executive Director Cathy Albisa will participate in a workshop on the Indivisibility and Interdependence of Human Rights at the University of Connecticut. >>>

April 17, Boston, MA
NESRI Human Right to Health Program Director Anja Rudiger will present as part of the workshop on "Who should be responsible for health insurance: Individuals, employers or society?" at the Raising Women's Voices National Conference. >>>

April 17-20, Chicago, IL
The US Human Rights Network will host their 2008 Human Rights Conference. Join in for the training institutes, youth summit, worships and more! >>>

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• Our funders: Ford Foundation, Mertz-Gilmore Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, U.S. Human Rights Fund, Libra Foundation, and all of our individual supporters for their commitment to NESRI's work promoting human rights in the United States!
• Our Interns and Volunteers for their enthusiasm!
• Vincent Villano for all his support in our housing work.
• NYU Law Students for Human Rights.

SUPPORT NESRI >>>

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DONATE...
NESRI relies on the support of foundations and individuals. Your 100% tax-deductible contribution to support NESRI's work will help us promote a human rights vision in the United States! We also accept in-kind donations (printing services, computer equipment, frequent flyer miles, etc.) so please contact us for more details. Donate today! >>>

Thank you for your support! 

NESRI Staff >>>
Cathy Albisa, Executive Director
Tiffany Gardner, Legal Program Director
Liz Sullivan, Education Program Director
Anja Rudiger, Health Program Director
Laura Gosa, Program & Fundraising Associate
Craig Hughes, Education Program Intern
Piali Basu, Health Program Intern
Marion McCleneghan, Volunteer Board Coordinator

NESRI Board of Directors >>>
Martha Davis,Chair, Northeastern School of Law
Lisa Crooms, Secretary, Howard University School of Law
Patrick Mason, Treasurer, Florida State University, Department of Economics
Mimi Abramovitz, Hunter College School of Social Work and The Graduate Center, CUNY
Carol Anderson, University of Missouri Department of History
Rhonda Copelon, CUNY School of Law
Paul Farmer, Professor of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Bruce Rabb, Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel LLP

The National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) promotes a human rights vision for the United States that ensures dignity and access to the basic resources needed for human development and civic participation.