For Communities Worth Calling Home!

www.stepscoalition.org

Find us on

Facebook

DeMiller Hall

610 Water Street

Biloxi, MS 39530

“…My people, we gathered

here to speak your

names…”

www.aclu-ms.com

ACLU of Mississippi

Initiative 26 Is Defeated! Mississippi voters rejected an amendment to the

Mississippi Constitution intended to ban abortion and

to set up a legal challenge to Roe v. Wade.

The mission of the ACLU of

Mississippi is very simple: To

defend the inalienable human

rights and freedoms guaranteed

in the U.S. Constitution,

especially the Bill of Rights. We

accomplish our mission through

litigation, advocacy, public

education and community

organizing.

4th Annual Mississippi Youth Hip Hop

Summit: Turn Up The Volume! The ACLU of Mississippi's 4th Annual Hip Hop Summit

was a success! More than 600 registered for the

summit and the annual Prevention of Schoolhouse To

Jailhouse Conference. Youth participated in numerous

workshops July 9-10 at Jackson State University.

Tenth Anniversary Observance of

9-11 Terrorist Attacks Dozens of residents joined the American Civil

Liberties Union of Mississippi in observance of

the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist

attacks. The program paid respect to the lives

lost that day in 2001, but also examined the

impact post 9-11 that government policies have

had on the country's civil liberties.

Advocates For Freedom is a new non-profit association of

concerned citizens whose mission is to foster awareness

on the MS Gulf Coast of the pervasive and growing

problem of human trafficking.

The main mission of Advocates For Freedom is:

To bring awareness and education to our community

To empower the general public to recognize Human

Trafficking and what to do to combat the social issue

Advocates For Freedom has accomplished much:

Spoken in 77 different locations

Put on 4 major trainings

Helped start 2 task forces (one State Wide and

one for the five Gulf Coast states)

Aided many victims

AIDS In Action Mississippi

www.aidsactionms.org

AIDS Action In Mississippi (AAIM) was created to battle the 20+

years this epidemic has affected the people in this state, across the

country, and around the world. We have the knowledge and tools

necessary to end HIV/AIDS and improve the quality of life of the

individuals and families both infected and affected.

AAIM is a statewide grass roots organization dedicated to advocating

for the rights of all people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Utilizing the voice and experiences of persons living with and

affected by this pandemic, we are committed to ending the effects of

HIV/AIDS on Mississippi.

Asian Americans For

Change

www.aachange.org

Since the oil spill of April 2010, AAC has been working closely with

the

fishermen community to inform them with accurate information and

resources

AAC in partnership with MDES has successfully enrolled close to

200

participants with the collaboration of MGCC with training such as

HVAC, electric, and welding; approximately 100 people that

completed

their training.

In collaboration with MDES Program, Asian Americans for Change

(AAC) have reached out to more than 600 Vietnamese community

members in South MS lower 3 counties, Harrison, Jackson, and

Hancock

AAC have successfully placed two bilingual HVAC, one electrical,

and

one welding class in 2011. Two HVAC classes have graduated with

few

who acquired EPA certification

www.thebackbaymission.org

Back Bay Mission Our 2011 Accomplishments

We have completed 18 projects in our Housing Recovery program which

include minor and major rehab projects; the work was completed by

volunteers. Over a 1,000 volunteers have put in over 15,000 hours of work.

We housed 18 chronically homeless individuals with a diagnosed disability in

our 14 units through Home At Last program which is a permanent supportive

housing program through HUD.

We have provided assistance to over 4500 individuals in our Emergency

Assistance program, which includes utility relief; help with purchasing

prescription meds, obtaining I.D.’s, birth certificates and food from the

pantry.

We also have provided services to over 1000 homeless individuals through our

Day Center; they were able to take showers, do their laundry, use the center

as their permanent mailing address and utilize the computer for resume’

building and job searches.

Our 2012 Project

The building of a duplex for homeless veterans through our Affordable

Housing Initiative program. The funding will be provided through a HUD

supportive housing grant.

A faith-based community

development and service agency

located in Biloxi, MS, that has served the

poorest of the poor since 1922.

www.bpsos.org

“With these accomplishments under our belt, we are moving forward in our fourth decade of operation…”

From the Oil Spill Relief and Advocacy Campaign Report

Numbers At Quick Glance:

30 = # of workshops, seminars, meetings - 18 town hall

meetings, 12 workshops, seminars and claims assistance clinics

in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

45 - # of volunteer professionals mobilized from around the

country - BPSOS attorneys and legal staff, community

interpreters, citizen journalists, volunteer attorneys, CPAs and

tax professionals

550 = # of individuals directly assisted or served

10,000+ = Many thousands more were indirectly assisted via

educational radio programs and small media.

100,000+ = Pounds of food delivered to residents in need

through food bank joint operation

Center For Environmental

& Economic Justice, Inc.

www.envirojustice.com

CEEJ’s objectives include organizing grass root community people and

other community-based organizations to affect public policy on socio-

economic development issues and environmental justice (EJ) concerns

that are germane to people of color and other ethnicities impacted by

injustices.

CEEJ is working to eliminate environmental health hazards and promote

economic sustainability through community education, hazard control

training, and by engaging in social justice issues that affect Afro-

Americans and other impacted ethnicities in Mississippi.

a non-profit community based organization that was

founded in 1989, (formerly UJAMAA Community

Services, Inc.) in Biloxi, Mississippi.

www.msccd.org

The Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) is a web-based resource for families,

schools, and communities interested in the topic of inclusive education. This

network has grown out of Inclusive Schools Week ™, an internationally-

recognized, annual event sponsored by Education Development Center, Inc.

(EDC). In 2011, ISN will be expanding its capacity to offer new products,

conferences, online events, and social networking opportunities.

The Ridgeland Challenger Baseball League celebrated its 20th season. The league has grown

from the original 18 to 125 players ages five to 67 playing on four youth teams and six adult

teams. The adult teams were formed, Paul Rogers, Challenger’s Co-commissioner explains,

“because the original kids grew up and didn’t want to stop playing.” The season runs from April

through June, with each team playing two games per week at Ridgeland’s Hite Wolcott Park.

The Challenger League is open to any child or adult with a disability who wants to play, at no

cost to the players or their families. While most of the players are from the Jackson Metro area,

the league includes several players who travel up to 100 miles for the opportunity to take a

swing.

www.coastalfamilyhealth.org

The mission of Coastal

Family Health Center

(CFHC) is to promote

healthy communities by

providing accessible,

quality primary

healthcare services to all

persons regardless of

economic status. We

accomplish this with

competent and caring

staff who works to meet

and exceed expected

standards for care and

customer satisfaction.

The Homeless Coordinator of Outreach Services is responsible for the following:

Coordination, communication and problem solving related to Coastal Family Health

Center’s homeless outreach services.

Assist in the development, implementation, monitoring and ongoing evaluation of

CFHC’s homeless Outreach services policies.

Coordinates data collection/reporting activities associated with outreach services.

Coordinates activities with other outreach workers and work with staff of the

homeless clinic, promotes customer services by resolving patient concerns in a

timely

manner.

Provides assistance to homeless patients and CFHC staff by helping to schedule

appointments with the clinics and other agencies.

Develop linkage with city wide agencies in a collaborative effort to better the

welfare

of the homeless population located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Coastal Family Health Center, Inc. (CFHC) is a non-profit

501c(3) Federally Qualified Health Center serving

Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties, the three coastal

counties of Mississippi, since 1978, representing 33 years

of uninterrupted service to the area.

www.cwcbiloxi.org

“The mission of Coastal Women for Change is to make a difference in our communities through securing and revitalizing our neighborhoods. We do this by ensuring that our communities have

adequate information in a timely manner so that we can both influence and make informed decisions about the recovery process and community development, now and in the future.”

With these goals in mind, the participation of the community we want to serve by partnering with other organizations with similar purposes, CWC will make the

vision a reality and the community a safe and prosperous place to call home.

CWC will strive to develop creative and innovative projects that augment community development

CWC will build its community resource services by implementing:

Youth Mentorship/ Leadership and Support Group Programs, Elderly

Projects, & Coastal Restoration Projects.

CWC will continue to be an information center in the community by raising public awareness and issues relevant to the residents of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The Commercial Appeal on November 26, 2011.

-By Amos Maki

Since March, about 300 people have signed up for a program designed

to steer them away from costly alternative financial institutions --

payday lenders, car-title lenders and check cashers -- and into regular

bank and credit-union accounts.

The Clarion-Ledger on November 26, 2011.

-By Jerry Mitchell

With payday lending and check cashing services growing in popularity, some banks are

offering similar services…Bill Bynum, CEO for Hope Credit Union, offers a program

where credit union customers can borrow $500 over six months at 18 percent APR.

HOPE Opens New Full-Service Branch in Utica

Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting and Community Fair 11/5

Hinds County, MS – HOPE (Hope Credit Union) has opened a full-service branch to serve residents

of Utica, Mississippi, and surrounding communities. The location at 107 Depot Street is fully

staffed and able to provide HOPE’s complete range of affordable, responsible financial products

and related services.

El Pueblo The Village

www.elpueblo-ms.org

A New U.S. Citizen!

Hector Tuesta became a U.S. citizen

at a swearing-in ceremony. He is

pictured receiving his naturalization

certificate with his daughter.

“As long as injustice continues to

take away the power of my

brothers and sisters, I shall

continue the journey and the

fight…correcting everything that

stands against love. When love,

justice and mercy are our

incentives and our agenda, we

shall overcome.

Peace, Joy and Justice” -Sally Bevill

El Pueblo is an active, vital organization helping

immigrant communities along the Mississippi Gulf

Coast.

Immigration Legal Services: El Pueblo houses the

Hispanic/Latino Ministries Immigration Legal Clinic,

which is recognized by the Board of Immigration

Appeals (BIA) of the U.S. Department of Justice. The

Clinic is staffed by the only two BIA accredited

paralegals in the state of Mississippi. The Clinic provides

high quality, low cost, family-based immigration services

greatly needed by immigrants of the Mississippi Gulf

Coast region. We specialize in family-based immigration.

Changing Hearts and Minds: Projects that inform

the public of the immigrant reality in order to combat

the growing xenophobia in this country.

http://www.mississippigulfresortclassic.com/birdies-for-charity.php

www.equityandinclusion.org

&

Values

To end poverty and inequity in the South, we believe in building a

movement and organization that are accountable to the priorities of

low-income communities and supporting them…by…

The knowledge, voice, and empowerment of grassroots communities

Intergenerational movement building

Integrity, truth telling, character building, and moral leadership

Meeting people where they are, respect, inclusion, and cultural understanding

Building individual and community resilience, helping each other learn to help ourselves

Opportunity, equity and justice

Quality, accurate, timely, and user-friendly information

Transparency and accountability

Taking action

Commitment, consistency, and passion to do what it takes to accomplish our purpose

Publicly naming our core values and supporting people to live them

www.makeitfair.com

Who Are We

The Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center (GCFHC) is a private non-profit organization.

The center was established by the National Fair Housing Alliance and a group of

concerned Gulf Coast citizens in 2003. GCFHC is active in 6 Mississippi Gulf Coast

Counties: George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone.

The Mission

The Fair Housing Center of the Gulf Coast Region of Mississippi is dedicated to

eliminating housing discrimination and furthering equal housing opportunities

through education, outreach, advocacy, and enforcement of fair housing laws.

What We Do

GCFHC furthers fair housing by dividing its efforts into 2 major categories:

education and enforcement. GCFHC educates Gulf Coast citizens about their

rights under Fair Housing laws and through mass media, presentations, seminars,

workshops, publications etc. In an effort to enforce fair housing laws, GCFHC

takes fair housing complaints from individuals. Complaints are researched and

investigated and clients are assisted in finding the best remedy to their fair

housing issue.

www.healthygulf.org

Gulf Fish Forever - The Gulf of Mexico provides jobs, food, and

recreation to millions of people. As a marine habitat, it is a

national treasure that we should all want to preserve.

Commercial fishing is a key economic driver around the Gulf.

Global Warming - The Gulf of Mexico is ground zero for the

impacts of climate change. Rising sea-levels, more powerful

hurricanes, and invasive species are all serious threats to the

natural resources of the Gulf, our homes, and our communities.

Healthy Waters - The Gulf Restoration Network works to

protect and restore waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico that

are critical to recreation, fisheries, wildlife habitat, and

drinking water.

Natural Defenses - Hurricane Seasons have shown how

vulnerable Gulf coastal communities are. As impacted areas

rebuild, decision-makers and planners must protect and

enhance the natural barriers that help protect our communities.

United For A Healthy Gulf

www.hopecda.org

Supporting the individuals, families,

small businesses, and neighborhoods of Biloxi, Mississippi.

Mission: Hope Community Development Agency will leverage

resources to build capacity and develop viable, affordable

and stable neighborhoods.

Vision: Hope Community Development Agency will unite

partners to create vibrant and sustainable communities.

Case Management - The main focus of Hope Community

Development Agency is to assist our clients with obtaining

sustainable permanent housing.

Community Outreach - Hope CDA also supports efforts to

maintain the integrity of East Biloxi by participating in and

disseminating information to residents on pressing issues such

as: FEMA trailers, Flood Elevation levels, Environmental issues,

and any other concerns that affect the quality of life in the

community.

A Housing Resource Center…

H

www.lesm.org

LESM is a faith-based, non-profit organization serving at-risk

families and children throughout Mississippi.

We serve people of all ages, races, religions and economic

circumstances. Our commitment is to help transform the lives of

at-risk individuals, families and communities so that they may

become more interdependent, secure, empowered, healthy and

hope-filled.

Lutheran

Episcopal

Services In

Mississippi

engage…educate…empower…

Our Vision: To rebuild and restore family and community.

Our Mission: Guided by Christ’s love and grace, LESM serves as an

instrument seeking to bring dignity, healing, justice, hope and

encouragement to all people.

www.lifeofms.com

WHAT WE DO:

Supplying information and referral services to allow sufficient access

and utilization of available assistance;

Furnishing peer support and guidance to encourage, establish and

maintain independent living attitudes and philosophies;

Rendering advocacy and self-advocacy support on an individual or

systems-wide basis;

Providing skills training instruction in an array of areas to improve

specific independent living abilities and competencies;

Assisting individuals with disabilities in their efforts to transition

successfully from institutions back into their own homes and communities

and preventing the institutional placement of people with disabilities.

Providing or coordinating equipment or supplies, modifications or

other services that improve an individuals capacity to live independently

Dedicated to the Empowerment of People with Significant Disabilities

GURLS for Life, 2010 Eden Street, Pascagoula, MS 39581

228-218-2348

“…Other active local partners in

Louisiana's Gulf Coast included Voice of

the Ex-Offender, National Urban League,

Puentas, Neighborhood Partnership

Network, Vietnamese American Youth of

Louisiana-New Orleans, and Mary Queen

of Viet Nam Community Development

Corporation. Partners in coastal

Mississippi included Coastal Women for

Change, NAACP-Biloxi, and

COUNTING IN THE GULF COAST: HIGH EXPECTATIONS; LOCAL FRUSTRATION; UNCERTAIN OUTCOME

http://www.civilrights.org/publications/reports/census-gulf-coast-2011/counting-in-the-gulf-coast.html

At Mercy Housing and Human Development, our main goal is to provide home-

ownership opportunities to families whose income is between 30 percent and 80

percent of local HUD median income.

By collaborating with other organizations having similar missions and values, MHHD

uses integrated strategies to provide housing, community and economic development

for low-wealth families of Mississippi. Through research, analysis, advocacy, direct

services and community organizing, MHHD responds to contemporary needs.

Since 1997, MHHD has helped first-time homebuyers purchase homes. The value of

homes bought since that time tops $6.3 million. Grants awarded by MHHD toward

these purchases exceed $1 million.

At Mercy Housing and Human Development, not only are we lighting the path toward

home ownership, but we are staying involved post-purchase with programs that

promote home maintenance and continuing financial stability. We strive to empower

communities through home ownership and to enable families to build better lives.

www.mscenterforjustice.org

The Mississippi Center for Justice is a nonprofit, public interest law firm committed

to advancing racial and economic justice. Supported

and staffed by attorneys, community leaders and volunteers, the Center develops and pursues strategies to combat

discrimination and poverty statewide.

Paheadra Robinson

Honored with Florence

Kelley Consumer

Leadership Award

-October 6, 2011

Mississippi Center for

Justice's founding

president and CEO

Martha Bergmark

honored as part of

President Barack

Obama's Winning the

Future Initiative.

–October 13, 2011

HIV Epidemic in the

South Reaches Crisis

Proportion

The Southeastern U.S. is

experiencing the highest

rate of new HIV/AIDS

infections, says the

executive summary of a

research report released

by The Southern

HIV/AIDS Strategy

Initiative (SASI).

-November 29, 2011

IT Support

The Mississippi Center for Justice operates two offices,

presenting a great need for document transfer and multi-

office networking between the two offices. An IT expert

could analyze current systems and technology tools, and

offer recommendations for improvements. Technology

trainings are also needed.

Policy Campaigns

At the heart of our mission to create a just society is a

desire to build healthy communities across Mississippi. By

engaging elected officials, faith-based leaders, media,

community activists, educators, childcare providers,

healthcare professionals and other advocacy partners, the

Mississippi Center for Justice provides the legal

perspective to policy initiatives that improve the lives of

Mississippians.

Volunteer attorneys provide recovery assistance

MCJ

www.msidtf.org

MCIDTF's own, Rev. Dr. Alice Graham has been awarded

the Purpose Prize to celebrate a well life of dedication to the betterment of others and the

communities in which they live.

"With decades of energy and passion ahead of them, five

people will win the 2011 Purpose Prize® for improving

their communities and the world."

Congratulations, Rev. Graham!

MCIDTF Role and Accomplishments in

Disaster Response and Recovery

MS Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force (MCIDTF) was formed in 1980

as a Long Term Recovery Committee to respond to the needs of MS

Gulf Coast citizens following hurricane Frederick .

MCIDTF also coordinates a bi-monthly learning collaborative that

brings together mental health professionals, clergy, community

leaders, and disaster relief professionals for training and networking

to address the unmet needs of coastal communities and work

together to provide solutions that address these needs utilizing

collaborative efforts.

MCIDTF Endeavors:

MCIDTF is currently working with its partners to address the short and

long term impacts of the Gulf Oil Spill Disaster on coastal residences.

As a member of South MS Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster it

played a key role in the Summit’s organization and coordination.

MCIDTF is working with local partners to determine necessary

resources for assisting citizens impacted by the Oil Spill Disaster.

www.mhap.org

The Mississippi Health Advocacy Program (MHAP) strives to be a strong, effective voice for

improved health care for all throughout the state of Mississippi, especially those whose health

is threatened by poverty, racism, malnutrition and violence. MHAP will work with communities

to identify health needs and formulate strategies for change, and will research, analyze,

propose and promote policies that will enhance the health status of every person, regardless

of financial status.

MHAP MISSION

MHAP researches health care and human services initiatives at the state and national levels

and serves as an information clearinghouse for groups across the state. MHAP provides

speakers for church and professional groups on health policy and advocacy. The program

provides more detailed information on health policy and funding during the legislative session

through special previews, action alerts, and updates and keeps the public informed by

providing timely news links on issues of importance.

RESEARCH & COMMUNICATION

MHAP promotes health system change by developing innovative health and human services

policy and monitoring implementation. The program also provides information and support to

front-line workers and poor communities as they work to address problems at the local level.

Mississippi Health Advocacy Programs (MHAP) combines research, analysis and grass-roots

organizing to improve health policies, practices and funding in Mississippi, especially in

support of the state’s poor and undeserved people.

PROVIDING LEADERSHIP

www.yourMIRA.org

-By Susan Eaton

August 10, 2011

One year after Arizona’s dread SB 1070 took effect,

progressives have transferred their fear and

loathing to the 2011 winner in the mainstream

media’s toughest-immigration-law-in-the-nation

contest: Alabama’s HB 56.

Stop and Think Espera y Piensa

The Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA) is a membership-based alliance which

seeks to expand the rights and opportunities of vulnerable immigrants in Mississippi–and

by example and extension inform the national policy debate over immigration reform.

MIRA works to support immigrants in the exercise of their rights through providing legal

services, organizing, advocacy and public education. MIRA was formed in the Fall of 2000

in response to the needs of the rapidly growing, largely Latino immigrant population in

Mississippi. Through constant vigilance and activity, MIRA members have successfully

advocated the defeat of anti-immigrant legislation introduced in Mississippi, including

English-only bills and other oppressive measures.

Enhance the quality of child development experiences for all

low-income children living in Mississippi;

Advocate improved child care policies and greater public

investment in child care subsidy programs for low-income

families; and

Build a strong, grassroots constituency.

ABOUT MLICCI

Quality Early Care for All Mississippi's Children

The Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative (MLICCI) is a

statewide, nonprofit organization of parents, providers, and

community leaders working together to:

www.mschildcare.org

MS Rainbow Alliance, originally known as Mississippi Gulf Coast Gay

Community Social Club, has spearheaded the drive to host outstanding

events and provide social support and public information. The primary

goal of MS Rainbow Alliance has been to become a fixture in the community

that is dedicated to educating and fostering understanding and patience

between the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex

(LGBTQI) and heterosexual communities with the certainty that it will lead

to mutual acceptance and fairness among all residents of Mississippi.

MS Rainbow Alliance is committed to the elimination of discrimination

based on sex, gender, race, class, socio-economic status, ethnic

background, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, cultural background,

religious belief, lack of religious belief, HIV status, or mental health status.

www.wix.com/msrainbowalliance.com/homepage

www.moorecommunityhouse.org

Located in the heart of

east Biloxi, Moore

Community House serves

low-income families with

quality child care,

education and programs

for community

development, leadership,

and comprehensive family

services.

EARLY HEADSTART

Providing early care and education for infants to three-year-olds and

comprehensive health and family support services--including for pregnant

mothers. MCH's program targets teen mothers so they can remain in school

and graduate. The program now operates in a new post-Katrina facility on

the Hope 6 public housing site in Biloxi.

MOORE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM

MCH's Child Care Food Program provides each enrolled

child with nutritious meals and snacks. It also supports

nutrition education. COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES

Case management starts with an intake interview with each parent and includes

a comprehensive family needs assessment. MCH responds where possible and

makes referrals to partner community organizations.

EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING REFERRALS

MCH offers employment and training referrals for adult

residents who live in public housing and have kids in our

child care programs.

The New Orleans Black Men & Boys Initiative (NOLA BMBI)

The NOLA BMB Initiative seeks to shape a new future for black

men and boys in the great city of New Orleans. This is a multi-

year initiative is composed of strategic community and

national campaigns focused on issues of critical impact on

Black Men & Boys. Community-rooted campaigns will focus on

community-building and policy advocacy. Together these

separate campaigns work toward one shared vision of helping

to make New Orleans a place where Black Men & Boys thrive.

MFGC 2010-2013 Redistricting Awareness &

Advocacy Initiative:

Not counting displaced persons who are and have

been actively rebuilding will also adversely affect

congressional redistricting. Louisiana post Katrina

stands to lose one Congressional District and one

Electoral vote in March of 2011.

What is Operation Recover and Restore?

Operation Recover and Restore is a restorative justice

project consisting of a threefold awareness and regional

advocacy campaign that works with residents from the

Gulf Coast through the following community-based

initiatives.

Moving Forward Gulf

Coast, Inc. is a

community-based

initiative committed

to Restorative

Justice for residents

of the Gulf Coast

region.

MOVING FORWARD

One person, one vote:

The principle derived from the Equal Protection Clause of

the Fourteenth Amendment that each person's vote should

count the same as every other person’s vote which is

achieved by requiring that all legislative districts be drawn

approximately equal in population.

Founded in 1909,

the NAACP is the

nation's oldest and

largest civil rights

organization. From

the ballot box to

the classroom, the

thousands of

dedicated workers,

organizers, leaders

and members who

make up the

NAACP continue to

fight for social

justice for all

Americans.

World AIDS Day: Getting To Zero:

From cities and communities to

college campuses, NAACP units are

focused on how to prevent new

cases of HIV/AIDS.

NAACP Takes Death Penalty

Fight to CT: NAACP President &

CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous joins

Troy Davis' sister Kim in

Connecticut to call for the repeal

of the death penalty.

Take a Stand For Freedom

In Your Community: JOIN

the stand For Freedom

campaign for voting rights.

Daisy Bates Education

Summit: December 1-3,

2011 "Finding Our Way

Back to First" - Get

details and information

for this year's education

summit Thursday, Dec.

1— Saturday, Dec. 3.

James Crowell

Biloxi Branch

NAACP President

Ruth Story

Gulfport Branch

NAACP President

Johnis Ross

NAACP Youth

Advisor

www.naacp.org

The National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies (NAVASA)

is a national organization whose mission is to improve social and economic

justice in the Vietnamese communities throughout the country. NAVASA

achieves its mission by implementing three key strategies:

(1) Building organizational capacity of Vietnamese-led community-based

organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs),

(2) Developing a new generation of non-profit leaders, and

(3) Increasing funding support for Vietnamese CBOs and FBOs.

Developing Leaders and Transforming Organizations

NAVASA launched the National Dan Than (Be the Change) Corps in

2004 to prepare a new generation of nonprofit leaders. To date:

-3 Dan Than alumni serve as current executive director of nonprofits

-2 Dan Than alumni received New Voices Fellowship

-Dan Than corps members serve in 10 different host sites: Silver

Spring, MD; Springfield, MA; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; Biloxi,

MS; Houston, TX; Seattle, WA; San Jose, CA; Sacramento, CA; and

Oakland, CA.

There is no Plan B: The cost of the Port of

Gulfport expansion for neighboring communities

The port expansion may sound like a great idea, but it is actually a total waste of

valuable money that was supposed to go to the people here. $570 million dollars was

allocated to the repair and reconstruction of low and moderate income homes in the

wake of Hurricane Katrina, but our political figures misused those funds. Supporters

of the expansion say that this port will bring in more money and jobs to Mississippi.

There is the theory that once the Panama Canal expands, the influx of ship traffic will

bring business to the port of Gulfport, but is that really how things will play out?

"The Mission of the North Gulfport Community Land Trust is

to protect and preserve the African American cultural

heritage, and honor the ancestors of the North Gulfport

community through the creation of permanently affordable

housing, community advocacy and reinvestment."

www.oxfamamerica.org

Oxfam America is an international relief and

development organization that creates lasting

solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.

Together with individuals and local groups in

more than 90 countries, Oxfam saves lives,

helps people overcome poverty, and fights for

social justice. We are one of the 15 affiliates in

the international confederation, Oxfam.

Raymond C. Offenheiser

President, Oxfam America

‘This belongs to them’

Haiti: reducing the risk of flooding in Artibonite

http://mississippi.sierraclub.org/

Dead baby dolphins

wash up in Gulf

Extremely high

numbers of dead baby

dolphins are washing

up along the beaches

of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Oil is Still Here and So Are We: Six months after

the onset of the BP disaster, a lot has changed in the

Gulf region. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

restructured the former MMS, which oversaw offshore

oil and gas activities; improved regulations for

offshore drilling has been put in place, and; a

moratorium for deepwater drilling was enacted and

then recently lifted however, tougher standards have

made it more difficult for oil companies to resume

drilling immediately.

"How many disasters will it take

until our leaders decide to act? We

don't want to see one more oil

disaster. The BP disaster was

supposed to be the wake up call,

but we hit the snooze button. Today

the alarm went off again."

- Michael Brune, Sierra Club

Executive Director.

“Tell President Obama to clean

up our air”

www.splcenter.org

Richard Cohen at US Supreme

Court

The SPLC was founded to ensure

that the promises of the civil

rights movement became a

reality for all. Since our

founding in 1971, we’ve won

numerous landmark legal

victories on behalf of the

exploited, the powerless and the

forgotten.

Our lawsuits have toppled

institutional racism in the South,

bankrupted some of the nation’s

most violent white supremacist

groups and won justice for

exploited workers, abused

prison inmates, disabled

children and other victims of

discrimination.

A Rich History The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nonprofit civil rights

organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to

seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society.

Who We Are

The Southern Poverty Law Center called on the

Birmingham, Ala. community to demand that city

officials stop allowing police officers to use Mace

against students in Birmingham’s public schools.

Southern Poverty Law Center Calls on

Birmingham to defend Students

When George Wallace stood in the "schoolhouse door” to stop African-

American students from enrolling in the University of Alabama, it was

all for show. With Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, we can

only hope that his position is similar political posturing.

Note to Alabama AG 'Big Luther': Stop Acting So Small

By Richard Cohen, President

“I remember the land, where I ran and played and picked flowers.

We fished and picked blackberries, we played soft-ball--all on the

Turkey Creek. Now it has been taken over by the drug dealers.

You see, African Americans couldn’t swim in the Gulf of Mexico,

so we played in the Turkey Creek. We also used it for baptizing

and fishing. We must save the Turkey Creek-- it saved us.”

North Gulfport Community Land Trust Founder: Rose Johnson

www.turkey-creek.org

Recognized in 2001 as one of

Mississippi's Ten Most

Endangered Historical Places,

the Turkey Creek estuary was

settled following the Civil War

by African-American freedmen whose twenty-

first century descendants now find themselves

besieged near the geographic and commercial

epicenter of Mississippi's second largest and

fastest growing city (Gulfport).

Purpose

Perpetual Recovery

Derrick

Christopher Evans

Executive Director

Throughout the 1970s

and much of the

1980s, Turkey Creek's

land use, folkways,

community institutions, and architecture

remained remarkably true to earlier

times. Land was security passed from one

generation to the next and descendants

of the settlers held tight to the long,

narrow lots extending south from Rippy

Road to the creek and beyond.

A Rich History

As neighborhoods

improve, we target

new partners to

strengthen our

organization as

new challenges are

embraced. We

continue to

explore housing

development and

advocate for

housing-related

needs.

www.visionsofhopeblx.org

MISSION AND PURPOSE

Our mission is to provide safe, permanently affordable

housing and security from displacement for low-

moderate income residents.

Our purpose is to build strong and stable communities

through the empowerment of its residents by offering

access to education, healthcare, training and other

resources.

Youth IDA Program

Prescription Assistance

VITA Tax Preparation

Every year, we

have made it

possible for

hundreds of

people to receive

GED diplomas. A

competitive

workforce has

made essential

the importance of

having an

educated

background.

Because we are free people,

born of free people,

who are born of free people,

back as far as time begins,

we celebrate your freedom.

Because we are wise people,

born of wise people,

who are born of wise people,

we celebrate your wisdom.

Because we are strong people,

born of strong people,

who are born of strong people,

we celebrate your strength.

Because we are magical people,

born of magical people,

who are born of magical people,

we celebrate your magic.

My people, we gathered here to

speak your names…

CHÚNG TA NÓI TÊN BẠN

Bưởi vì chúng ta sinh ra là người tự do,

Sinh ra của tự do,

Là người sinh ra người tự do,

Từ ngày xưa khi thời gian mới bắt đầu,

Chúng tôi ca tụng niềm tự do của bạn.

Bưởi vì chúng ta là người có trí tuệ,

Sinh ra của người có trí tuệ,

Là người sinh ra người trí tuệ,

Chúng tôi ca tụng trí tuệ của bạn.

Vì chúng ta là người hùng mạnh,

Sinh ra của người hùng mạnh,

Là người hùng mạnh sinh ra người hùng

mạnh,

Chúng tôi ca tụng sự hùng mạnh của bạn.

Vì chúng ta là người kỳ diệu,

Sinh ra của người kỳ diệu,

Người kỳ diệu sinh ra người kỳ diệu,

Chúng tôi ca tụng sự kỳ diệu của bạn.

Công dân ơi, chúng ta gôm lại đây để nói

đến tên bạn……