Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice - Newsletter -- Bowls For Haiti and Refugee Conditions in New Mexico …

Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice 202 Harvard SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 505-268-9557		Updated: 28 May 2010
Newsletter June 2010

June 2010
Newsletter Contents

Bowls For Haiti and Refugee Conditions in New Mexico …
Membership Application

Bowls For Haiti
please see Special Events Calendar June 5
This fundraiser represents the response of over 30 potters and artists in Albuquerque's arts community to the Haitian crisis. In exchange for $20, donors will receive an original handmade bowl, a symbol of life and the desire to help in Haiti. Poets will read their works, a Haitian dance company will perform, and recent photographs taken in Haiti will be projected. Partners in Health was founded in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer to deliver quality health care in Haiti. Since then, Partners in Health (Zanmi Lasante in Creole) is now the largest health care provider in Central Haiti. In order to break the cycle of disease and poverty, Zanmi Lasante has programs in nutrition, agriculture, water, sanitation, and education through clinic visits, mobile clinics, and vaccination campaigns. Zanmi Lasante was one of the first responders to the January 12th earthquake because its 12 existing facilities in the countryside were untouched by the quake. Its network of over 100 doctors, 600 nurses, and 4,000 employees provided urgent medical and surgical care.
See http://bowlsforhaiti.com .

Kathleen Whitney, co-organizer

Refugee Conditions in New Mexico,
a call for your attention and assistance
please see Special Events Calendar, June 6
Women's Global Pathways-NM helps refugee and other immigrant women adjust to their new life in New Mexico. Women are assisted in transition from welfare to "self help" by providing a nurturing environment while helping create entrepreneurial businesses. Current participants are from Bhutan, Eritrea, Somalia, Burundi, Congo, and Mexico. Nkazi Sinandile, founder of Women's Global Pathways-NM, says:"Three weeks ago I resorted to a hunger strike to raise awareness of the plight of refugees living in Albuquerque. I will make noise until the voices of local refugees are heard loud and clear by local politicians and Washington, social justice activists, and the clergy. These refugees should not live in roach-infested, crime-ridden, and rundown apartments." "Mama Nkazi" calls for systemic changes to the refugee resettlement program inNM and nationally. To help refugee women become self-reliant, she requests: sewing machines, 6 large floor harnessing looms and 6 small weaving looms; 8 knitting looms; ethnic fabric from around the world to make garments; beads; land to plant organic community gardens; children's educational toys; children's clothes; computers; 15-seat van; $$$$ for gas vouchers, interpreters, stipends for women in training, nutritious snacks; a center to house up to 34 women and children. Checks can be sent to La Mesa Presbyterian Church (fiscal sponsor) with "Women's Global Pathways-NM" in the memo line.

Thank you, Albuquerque, for practicing "ubuntu" (in South Africa we say, a person is a person through other persons).

Women's Global Pathways-NM

Please send calendar items, comments, and questions concerning this Web document to Web@abqPeaceAndJustice.org .