PBHA’s Auction for the Summer Urban Program

Cambridge Queen’s Head Pub

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

5:30-8:30 p.m.

CHECK OUT OUR FANTASTIC AUCTION ITEMS	To plan for your bidding, please download a copy of a program of the event SUP Auction Program 2009
DIRECTIONS TO THE QUEEN’S HEAD PUB	The Queen’s Head Pub is underneath Sanders Theatre in Memorial Hall on the campus of Harvard University. Please visit the Sanders Theatre Website for directions
Purchase Tickets	If you HAVE NOT purchased tickets, click below to make your paid reservation(s). With an online paid reservation, you will be placed on a guest list – no paper tickets are needed.

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Recently SLAM worked with the Harvard College Democrats to produce a video about the human cost of layoffs:

In an open letter to Harvard University President Drew Faust, co-signed my many organizations including Harvard’s Undergraduate Council SLAM writes:

We write to you as members of the Harvard community because we are concerned with our University’s response to the economic crisis. We recognize that Harvard confronts a difficult challenge with a significant drop in the endowment announced in November 2008. However, Harvard remains the wealthiest university and one of the wealthiest non-profit organizations in the world. In this difficult moment, Harvard faces a choice: we can choose either to use our wealth in order to strengthen our community—students, faculty, and workers together—or to allow greed and fear to divide us and erode our institution of higher learning.

We call upon Harvard in these times to act, not out of a logic of fear, but out of a logic of courage and creativity. In recent months, it appears that Harvard is taking the former path by laying off workers and generating an atmosphere of divisiveness. We reject this approach. Accordingly, we demand that the University suspends layoffs and recalls all workers, full-time and part-time, who have been fired since October 2008.

***

First, Harvard has not demonstrated—through transparent, full disclosure of financial information—why job cuts “cannot be averted now.” Second, even if the need for further budgetary cuts were to be transparently demonstrated, the moral logic that should animate a non-profit institution whose motto is “Truth” can never justify forcing its lowest paid workers to pay for a crisis that confronts us all.

Because this is a crisis that involves the entire Harvard community, we must be involved in formulating a comprehensive response. This response must be grounded in an ethos of shared sacrifice and democratic participation. We insist that this process be opened to the community, and thus request a meeting with the President, the Corporation, University administrators, members of the Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM), and other relevant groups in order to begin working together on creative and alternative solutions.

After over a week, the Harvard administration has still not responded to the letter.

Harvard has justified their actions by the recent decline in its endowment, but it refuses to disclose its full budget to the public and executive salaries remain as high as ever.

As Harvard students, we know that we must use our voice to support the workers in our community through this economic crisis. We ask Harvard to fulfill both its mission of education and public service by supporting its workers when it matters most.

We all expect to make sacrifices during these uncertain times, but by targeting its lowest-paid and often immigrant workers, Harvard sends a clear message that some members of our community are more expendable than others.

Join us in fighting for Harvard to protect its workers. Help us show them that people all over the Country are watching their actions by signing our petition and telling others about our campaign.

Together we have already gotten Harvard to rehire Bedardo Sola, the custodial worker in the video, we need everyones help to make Harvard rehire all the workers who have been laid off and to pledge that the richest University in the world will not add to unemployment during this time of economic crisis, but work towards creative solutions that value all members of the Harvard community including students, workers to faculty, administrators, money managers,a residents of the Cambridge and Allston-Brighton communities and more.

We can only rise together.

Where: Peacework magazine’s offices at the American Friends Service
Committee in Cambridge, MA

When: June 1 – August 15, 2008 (flexible), 25 hours per week

What: Interns will learn about all aspects of producing a varied peace
and justice publication, and will be encouraged and mentored in
designing projects to incorporate their particular interests into
their work on the magazine. Research and prepare at least one article
about a Boston area activist project/campaign; conduct at least one
interview and prepare it for publication; help Peacework increase its
outreach to young people through its web and print editions; help
compile the resource and event listings for the magazine; attend area
peace and justice events; learn basic layout, web research,
fact-checking, database, and fundraising skills.

Who: Activists of color, ages 18-24, with interest in writing as an
important way to work for social justice. Some experience with social
justice activism recommended. Preference given to candidates based in
the greater Boston area.

How Much? $2500 stipend

To Apply: Send resume, writing sample (2000 words or less), and cover
letter by April 1, 2009 to Phyllis Cohen Gately, AFSC, 2161
Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge MA 02140; 617/661-6130; pcohen@afsc.org

About Peacework: Published since 1972, Peacework
(www.peaceworkmagazine.org) is a national monthly peace and justice
magazine published by the American Friends Service Committee. Its goal
is to serve a broad range of movements for nonviolent social change by
covering social justice and peace issues in a way that links
grassroots work with national and international perspectives.

About Patricia Watson: Peacework was served with skill, grace, and
deep dedication by editor Patricia Watson from 1997-2003. In addition
to her work making Peacework a valuable and honored journal of
nonviolent activism, Patricia found time to continue her involvement
in grassroots organizing for economic and racial justice, and also to
provide care and guidance to a constant stream of young activists who
sought her out. It is with great pleasure that we announce the
establishment of a paid internship that will bear her name and provide
a unique opportunity for young writers of color to gain an in-depth
educational experience in what we call “empowerment journalism.”

About AFSC: The work of the American Friends Service Committee
(www.afsc.org) is rooted in the spiritual insights of the Religious
Society of Friends (Quakers). Since 1917 the AFSC has worked with
people of many religious and ethical traditions to affirm the dignity
and promise of every individual, to relieve the suffering of war and
poverty, to foster peace and reconciliation, and to promote social
justice.

Now, Sanjin considers Sandra a true friend. “She and I can talk about anything – school, our histories, politics, music, you name it.” Sanjin, who currently serves as director for PBHA’s Elderly 1-2-1 as well as PBHA Adult Services PGO, credits the program for both giving him the opportunity to form such a friendship and allowing him to “get out of the Harvard Bubble and see the world as it really is.”

“Elderly 1-2-1” is only one of four programs under the auspices of PBHA’s Elderly Affairs Committee. All programs meet for approximately three hours every weekend and serve nursing homes located in Cambridge. The “1-2-1” program matches volunteers one-on-one with a nursing home resident. PBHA’s Alzheimer Buddies for the Arts volunteers facilitate art projects to be completed by Alzheimer’s patients. PBHA’s “Vernon Hall” members play bingo with residents once a week, and “Pets as Therapy” participants bring dogs to nursing homes for the inhabitants to play with.

Sanjin estimates that the EAC has around 30 volunteers, who currently serve between 50-100 constituents. However, the program always welcomes more volunteers: “There is an unfortunate social stereotype that the elderly are at the tail end of what they can contribute to the world. But people don’t realize that oftentimes, [the elderly] just need someone to have a conversation with. People can help just by providing some companionship.”

EAC seeks student volunteers who are caring, open-minded, and committed to making a difference in someone’s life. New volunteers are accepted at any point in the semester. For more information, see the EAC’s section at http://pbha.org/our-programs.

As a Senior Counselor with the Summer Urban Program, you have the chance to work with a group of 10 children, teaching and mentoring them as you explore the city together. All Senior Counselors receive free housing and a stipend of at least $3400.

Please come learn more at our info sessions this week and next:

Email sup@pbha.org with questions.

Non-Profit Management Fellow

The Harvard Club of Boston Nonprofit Management Fellow with PBHA is a recently graduated Harvard undergraduate seeking experiences to develop leadership skills in the nonprofit sector. By working closely with the Executive Director, the Fellow assumes responsibilities for several projects relating to the management of PBHA. Although specific responsibilities vary, areas include: strategic planning, special events, public relations and marketing, fundraising, board development, etc.

Emily graduated from Harvard in 2009 with a degree in sociology.  During her undergraduate years, Emily was very involved in PBHA through its Chinatown and Cambridge programs.  She was also student development chair in 2007 and 2008.  Emily plans to work in youth-based non-profit organizations.  Her interests include visual arts, snowboarding, and social theory.

Supports Mentoring Program Group Officer; Cambridge and Mentoring programs

The PBHA Directors of Programs (four in all) support student PBHA program directors. They ensure that program run effectively, responsibly, and safely. They work in conjunction with program directors to plan for the semester, do site visits, and write evaluations of the program. Finally, they provide institutional memory as program directors change each year. They report directly to PBHA’s Deputy Director.

Born and raised in Cambridge, Robert has always loved his City (everyone also seems to know him). Along the road he studied at Boston State University and Harvard University to obtain a deeper, more technical understanding for his field of interest.  For the last 15 years he has had the fortune to have parked at PBHA. Robert loves to facilitate workshops on mentoring, youth development, classroom management and has a strong passion for the performing arts.

Programs Supported by Robert: Cambridge Afterschool Program (CASP), Cambridge One to One, Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program (CYEP), CHANCE, David Walker Scholars Program, EnviroEd, Environmental Action Committee, HARMONY, HARMONY Summer, Harvard Youth Leadership Institute (HYLI), LEADERS!, Spanish Acquisition Beginning in Elementary School (SABES), Summer Programs, Summer Science, Wilderness 1-2-1, Youth Recreation