Pennsylvania Courts #Recalls #MeritSelection #JusticeHelpline #JusticeTransformation

The judicial branch of our government is coming more and more into the conversations focused on #JusticeReform. In Philadelphia i advocate with families who have been subjected to closed courtrooms abuse and recently was able to have Judge Lyris Younge removed from Philadelphia family court due to her abuse of power. Unfortunately Judge Younge is back to her unethical practices, now in common pleas court until the judicial review of her unethical conduct in family court is heard by the Pennsylvania Judicial Review Board. I'm really not feeling the fact that she is still on any judicial bench in Pennsylvania. There is an immediate need to remove judges like Younge before the next election cycle. 

Professor of Law, Michelle Dauber spoke at a Philadelphia NOW event on #EndingRapeCulture in our society. Professor Dauber teaches at Stanford University where elite mentality ruled until #JudgePozzo gave rapist #BrockTurner a six months sentence instead of two years. That under verdict was the spark that set Prof. Dauber on fire. She said "That was not acceptable" and helped organize other women who had been through his court and dismissed. 

Judge Del Pozzo states that based on his 30 years as a judge, Persky's 6 month sentence for #BrockTurner was "inconsistent with the jury verdict and what others got in similar cases #EnoughIsEnough @ambertamblyn @hodgman Please support @RecallPersky here https://t.co/8NjObiDHFe pic.twitter.com/T2JBv2kwzb

— Michele Dauber (@mldauber) February 18, 2018

Professor Dauber efforts to #EndRapeCulture has not stopped with the recall of Judge Del Pozzo. She started #EnoughIsEnoughVoterProject to bring information to voters about candidates running for office.

We're saying no abusers in public office -- and no enablers either. Women deserve better and we are going to get it -- at the ballot box. We won @RecallPersky together and together we will win this fight too. https://t.co/0U9upqTKWO @hodgman @ambertamblyn @SenGillibrand pic.twitter.com/FVhzYHSfrC

— Michele Dauber (@mldauber) September 26, 2018

The organization, dubbed the Enough is Enough Voter Project, says on its website that it aims to "hold politicians accountable and ensure violence against women is part of the national conversation this November and in future elections." In a video promoting the project, Dauber said, "Aaron Persky isn't the only elected official who doesn't take violence against women seriously." She continued:

He's one of many. It's time for that to change. Enough is enough. We're mobilizing women and our allies all across the United States to investigate and to defeat candidates who have turned against women on issues of sexual harassment and violence against women... These people have no place in public life. We're saying enough is enough by standing up to bullies at the ballot box. We will vote them out. https://www.bustle.com/p/the-enough-is-enough-voter-project-is-targeting-politicians-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-misogyny-12115161 

We are looking for ways to hold these judges accountable and transparent. Recall of  a judge is rare but we now know that the recall is possible. #PennsylvaniansForModernCourts has also been working on court reform and would like to see #MeritSelection replace the current elections of judges. They partner with organizations and communities to raise awareness about the court systems in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanians For Modern Courts will be hosting a Know Your Courts Workshop, October 23rd 6pm at the Lucien Blackwell Library.

Blackwell Regional Library Adult/ Teen Department

125 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19139

PMC Listens™ Helpline, reachable at (484) 463-7689 is a dedicated voice mail box, where callers can request information about court processes and procedures as well as report any barriers they may feel are impeding their participation.  A guaranteed response will be delivered within 24 hours, providing personalized assistance by a team of trained volunteer law students, lawyers, and other interested community members. These volunteers will not provide legal advice and will refer callers to other resources, when necessary.

PMC Watches™

PMC Watches™ Citizen Court Monitoring is a community-oriented expansion of PMC’s traditional “court watchdog” role. PMC is enlisting a team of Citizen Court Monitors to observe, record and offer recommendations on court proceedings. Not only will this serve as a means of data collection and an opportunity for Philadelphia residents to gather firsthand insights into the formal and informal structures of justice in Philadelphia, it will further ensure a robustly accountable court system. 

PMC Watches includes a watchdog program focused on civil courtrooms particularly Landlord-Tenant Court. There were 10,264 evictions in Philadelphia in 2016, amounting to 28.12 households evicted every day. These proceedings are of monumental importance to the people involved, whose homes are at stake, and through PMC Watches we are able to provide community members with the opportunity to learn firsthand about these proceedings, as well as to ensure a robustly accountable court system through their very presence in the courtroom.

Further, we are proud to announce the Philadelphia Bail Watch, a PMC Watches program developed in partnership with the Philadelphia Bail Fund that will  shine a light on the current preliminary arraignment process, where money bail decisions are made and, ultimately, people’s access to freedom pretrial is determined. Did you know that defendants in Philadelphia do not get to meet with an attorney before their bail hearings (preliminary arraignments)? Or that bail hearings often last 90 seconds or less?
Philadelphia Bail Watch has three main goals:

1. Invite the public and interested stakeholders to watch Philadelphia’s preliminary arraignment hearing    process and learn about its implications for bail policy and pretrial detention;
2. Monitor the current preliminary arraignment process and impact of the District Attorney’s recent bail reform efforts; and
3. Collect and share people’s perceptions of Philadelphia’s preliminary arraignment process in order to use this information to advocate for improvements.

Through Philadelphia Bail Watch, court watch volunteers will gather data and share their impressions of bail hearings. The Philadelphia Bail Fund and Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts will then compile the information collected to issue a report to Judge Marsha H. Neifield, President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court, and her colleagues on our collective findings. A findings report will be released in the summer of 2018.
All are welcome to participate in this program; no prior experience is necessary.
For information on the programs or to volunteer, please email PMC's Program Director, Thomas Pietryla, at tpietryla@pmconline.org.
https://www.pmconline.org/pmc-in-the-community.html

#DrumLikeALady 5th Anniversary Celebration At Barnes Foundation

October 7, 2018 women from various cultures joined together at The Barnes Foundation for PECO's free family fun, to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Drum Like A Lady founded by LaTreice V Branson. My grandchildren and i really enjoyed the family focused day centered around percussions and crafts. My grandson wanted to build and i wanted to expose him and my granddaughter to the drums played by women. We didn't make to any drum workshops because he was immersed with building his cardboard house, thanks to the assistants of Ms. Yani.

 Women from various cultures came together to celebrate and showcase  their talents on various drums, dance and song. We had the pleasure of
 being part of each others world with #BatalaPhilly giving a great performance that opened the day of celebration. So much wonderful energy was felt through the women beating those drums. Batala Philly opened up their drum line and allowed the crowd to join in the recital. The interaction allowed us the crowd to share our energy with the drummers who #TurnedUp and with each other!! Great experience during a time when we women are finding ways to connect with and protect one another. #MusicIsAPowerfulExpressionThat Unites

Ladies First Showcase: An evening of music featuring all female driven acts: A Benefit for Unite for Her at World Cafe Live Philadelphia - Upstairs. Presented by: Drum Like A Lady

Featuring:
Danielle and Jennifer www.danielleandjennifer.com
Paulette Branson & Mixed People ww.mixedpeopleband.com 
Gemtarra www.gemtarra.com 
Roxy Rollz www.roxyrollz.com 
Sylvia Platypus www.sylviaplatypus.com


ABOUT UNITE FOR HER:
When Unite for HER founder Sue Weldon was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she began searching for information on therapies that would complement the medical treatments she was receiving. What she discovered was a lack of easily accessible resources on topics like nutrition, acupuncture, massage, yoga, counseling and other ways for breast cancer patients to enhance their wellness and care for their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

Since its establishment as a nonprofit organization in 2009, Unite for HER’s cornerstone has been to bridge that gap for breast cancer patients, focusing on wellness initiatives that will positively impact their health, as well as the health of all women and girls.

Drum Like a Lady is a community cooperative, led by LaTreice V Branson, whose mission is to provide a safe space for women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, and lifestyles to express their uniqueness through collective drumming, dance, music education, and health advocacy. 

#drumlikealady #ladiesfirst #uniteforher

October 9th Last Day To Register To Vote And We Need All Votes On Deck!!

Please allow me to explain how and why your vote counts in every election!! We are talking numbers in the masses or lack of mass numbers at the election polls and what those numbers say to elected officials. So many of us who advocate for change in how we conduct elections was really looking for a shift in voters from politics as usual to accountable and transparent politics. So many are fed up with both parties and many third parties was looking for the voters to look at the third parties platform. Problem is many voters platforms are emotional and informed by mainstream media, whose political platform is Democrat/Republican.

I express these facts because the 2016 presidential election number of write in's dramatically went up due to the fact that voters were not happy with either of the major parties candidates and choose to show their dissatisfaction by writing in another person whom they felt would best serve the people of our country. On facebook there was a huge debate as if these votes were wasted votes. No i don't see them as wasted votes, i see them as voices of people fed up with politics as usual and letting the powers that be know how fed up they are. 2016 is the year of the protest vote and guess what? The major parties witnessed a shift in votes to independent and write in and heard our protest votes loud and clear!!

My seven year old grandson and i was talking to people about registering to vote. He lets them know that their vote can keep guns out of his school. A potential voter wanted to debate with us about keeping the guns out of the schools. The potential voter told my grandson teachers should have guns to protect him if someone comes in there shooting up the school. The potential voter would not look at me, but i was firm in standing against guns in the hands of teachers who are barely trained to educate our populations. Then another voter who my grandson and i had spoke to earlier chimed in with not wanting guns in our schools. I suggested to keep our schools safe learning facilities that metal detectors should be installed and not guns. The other voter asked the potential voter when have they heard of a mass shooting in urban schools? The potential voter couldn't answer that question. The voter went on to mention that these rural areas hunt for hobby and a way to feed their families. Guns are a part of their everyday life and that is why it's so hard for them to incorporate metal detectors. The potential voter kept looking at my grandson saying you have the right to protect yourself then the bus came and the potential voter boarded the bus with our thoughts in mind. How and if this person will vote in November is a mystery, but we sparked an important lifestyle conversation and touched on the emotions of the voters right to protect them self and hopefully built understanding for metal detectors in learning facilities. #BooksNotGuns

These conversations can be challenging, what's important is to prepare for the push back with understanding for people's lack of trust in our elections. #JustAct is an arts-based catalyst activating social change and healing in individuals, organizations and communities to build a just world. LisaJo the founder of Just Act can help you host these challenging conversations in your communities. She has been working with youth groups to help the youth understand the importance of civic engagement. The youth after creating their Just Act interactive play said that they are more likely to vote in every election because of the exposure to their concerns in a fun meaningful experience.

LisaJo Founder of Just Act at E3 Youth Empowerment Center

info@justact.org

Your vote is your power to let the powers that be know that you are holding them accountable. They need your vote to collect a pay check and that is powerful!! Please plan to go to the polls with family and friends. If you can research who you want to vote for.  You can visit Cast your vote and let your voice be heard in every election!!

Committee of Seventy Posted:

VOTING RIGHTS

Voters need to know their rights as they head to the polls. Seventy's pocket-sized cards will clearly state this info and will be translated into Chinese, Khmer, Korean,Spanish and Vietnamese. We're crowdfunding the design and printing costs and will be working with APABA-PA, Ceiba, the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and SEAMAAC to get them in the hands of thousands of voters across Philadelphia.

Help us remove one more barrier to voting in this important election! Donate via GoFundMe.

• 

EVERYONE VOTES PA

Have a question about voter registration? Voter ID? Finding your polling place? Visit Everyone.VotesPA.com for online and printable resource to get ready for Election Day.

For questions about Seventy's Voter Guide, please contact bettergov@seventy.org

How easy is it to vote in...

This nifty Washington Post digital tool shows at a glance each state's laws regarding registration deadlines, voter ID, average wait times at the polls, and early and mail-in voting. PA's aren't among the most voter-friendly, and our registration deadline, for example, is 30 days before Election Day. That's next Tuesday (Oct. 9), so check your registration, and nudge your friends, relatives and co-workers. 

• More you can do: Register to serve as a nonpartisan poll monitor with Common Cause PA and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to support Pennsylvania voters on November 6.

#VoteTogether Host A Vote Party!! Click for toolkit!!