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| Recent Events |
A group of East Austin residents held a press conference on Thursday, June7th,
2007 at 11:00 AM at City Hall to denounce the City’s proposal to relocate the Animal
Shelter to East Austin (601 Airport Blvd). East Austin residents are concerned and
angry about the possible move.
Janie Rangel, PODER Chair states, “ The community has a huge need for real
affordable housing, the proposed Animal Shelter site at 601 Airport Boulevard can
be used for the Community Land Trust to build real low-income housing. Some
parcels can be designated for Habitat for Humanity and Guadalupe Development
Corporation to build real affordable housing.” Johnny Limon Chair of the Gardens
Neighborhood Association states, “With over 8,000 people on the list waiting for
public housing and Section 8 housing and thousands of homeless children waiting for
housing, the City should be building and providing housing for the residents.”
PODER request that you call the Austin City Council members and ask them to leave
the Animal Shelter on Town Lake. Ask them to build affordable housing in East
Austin.
2007 at 11:00 AM at City Hall to denounce the City’s proposal to relocate the Animal
Shelter to East Austin (601 Airport Blvd). East Austin residents are concerned and
angry about the possible move.
Janie Rangel, PODER Chair states, “ The community has a huge need for real
affordable housing, the proposed Animal Shelter site at 601 Airport Boulevard can
be used for the Community Land Trust to build real low-income housing. Some
parcels can be designated for Habitat for Humanity and Guadalupe Development
Corporation to build real affordable housing.” Johnny Limon Chair of the Gardens
Neighborhood Association states, “With over 8,000 people on the list waiting for
public housing and Section 8 housing and thousands of homeless children waiting for
housing, the City should be building and providing housing for the residents.”
PODER request that you call the Austin City Council members and ask them to leave
the Animal Shelter on Town Lake. Ask them to build affordable housing in East
Austin.
| East Austin Needs Affordable Housing Not Animal Shelters |
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| Four Groups File Lawsuit against Austin City Council: Public vote omitted - to move Animal Shelter to East Austin neighborhood |
PODER, Govalle/Johnston Terrace Neighborhood Planning Team, Old West Austin
Neighborhood Association (OWANA), and Fix Austin held a press conference on
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 in front of City Hall, 201 West Cesar Chavez Street at
10:00 AM. Read more(MS Word)
Neighborhood Association (OWANA), and Fix Austin held a press conference on
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 in front of City Hall, 201 West Cesar Chavez Street at
10:00 AM. Read more(MS Word)
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| Festival De Las Plantas 10/20/2007 |
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The outcomes all Texans want are safe neighborhoods and effective treatment for
troubled children. But, TYC is not producing these positives outcomes. Instead,
abuse, violence, under-staffing, and high ratesof recidivism plauge the agency. It's
time for the legislature to turn this sinking ship around and make the structural
changes needed to create a juvenile corrections agency that truly works for Texas
Familes and taxpayers.
troubled children. But, TYC is not producing these positives outcomes. Instead,
abuse, violence, under-staffing, and high ratesof recidivism plauge the agency. It's
time for the legislature to turn this sinking ship around and make the structural
changes needed to create a juvenile corrections agency that truly works for Texas
Familes and taxpayers.
| Blue Ribbon Report Community Forum 11/13/07 |
| PODER X-Mas Party 11-30-07 |
On Saturday, Jan 12th, volunteers from PODER's board and staff, American Youth
Works, Master Naturalists, and neighboring Oak Springs and Govalle-Johnston
neighborhoods joined to clear Oak Springs Water Quality Preserve of trash and
poison ivy. Volunteers following the beautiful trail (built by American Youth Works
last year) and then ventured up the hills around the site, filling more than 40 trash
bags. We celebrated how far the area has come since the fight to preserve it from
development in 2006.
The cleanup was a commemoration of community teamwork and the natural beauty
that exists in the heart of East Austin.
In the coming year we will be planning work days for digging, planting, and clean-ups
to restore and maintain Oak Springs. We invite everyone from the community to take
part and enjoy this East Austin treasure!!
Check out our Recent Events to get the scoop on the
Oak Springs Victory.
Works, Master Naturalists, and neighboring Oak Springs and Govalle-Johnston
neighborhoods joined to clear Oak Springs Water Quality Preserve of trash and
poison ivy. Volunteers following the beautiful trail (built by American Youth Works
last year) and then ventured up the hills around the site, filling more than 40 trash
bags. We celebrated how far the area has come since the fight to preserve it from
development in 2006.
The cleanup was a commemoration of community teamwork and the natural beauty
that exists in the heart of East Austin.
In the coming year we will be planning work days for digging, planting, and clean-ups
to restore and maintain Oak Springs. We invite everyone from the community to take
part and enjoy this East Austin treasure!!
Check out our Recent Events to get the scoop on the
Oak Springs Victory.
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| Oak Springs Clean-Up 1/12/2008 |
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| Community Justice Network for Youth Southern Regional Gathering |
The Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY) is a program of the W. Haywood
Burns Institute. This program is comprised of community based programs, grassroots
organizations, service providing agencies, residential facilities and advocacy groups
that focus their work on youth of color. The CJNY's primary function is to be a
support network for organizers and practitioners who are on the ground working with
youth who are at risk or already involved in the juvenile or criminal justice systems.
Burns Institute. This program is comprised of community based programs, grassroots
organizations, service providing agencies, residential facilities and advocacy groups
that focus their work on youth of color. The CJNY's primary function is to be a
support network for organizers and practitioners who are on the ground working with
youth who are at risk or already involved in the juvenile or criminal justice systems.
PODER, (People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources), joins Cesar E.
Chavez National Holiday Coalition in announcing the launching of a nationwide effort
to win a national holiday for Cesar Chavez, founder and former President of the
United Farm Workers (UFW) on March 31, his birthday.
PODER joins over 65 cities in 30 states calling upon the Congress to establish the
holiday and a day of service and learning for Chavez. Parades, marches, petition
gathering, forums, concerts, festivals, faith based and other events will echo “Si Se
Puede!” Yes We Can, the slogan learned from Cesar Chavez to state their
determination to win national recognition for Chavez.
Cesar Chavez gave our nation and each of us a unique example to live our lives by.
His selfless dedication for farm worker and worker rights, economic justice, civil
rights, environmental justice, peace, nonviolence, empowerment of the poor and
disenfranchised, is a monumental legacy that will inspire all and the generations to
come.
Chavez National Holiday Coalition in announcing the launching of a nationwide effort
to win a national holiday for Cesar Chavez, founder and former President of the
United Farm Workers (UFW) on March 31, his birthday.
PODER joins over 65 cities in 30 states calling upon the Congress to establish the
holiday and a day of service and learning for Chavez. Parades, marches, petition
gathering, forums, concerts, festivals, faith based and other events will echo “Si Se
Puede!” Yes We Can, the slogan learned from Cesar Chavez to state their
determination to win national recognition for Chavez.
Cesar Chavez gave our nation and each of us a unique example to live our lives by.
His selfless dedication for farm worker and worker rights, economic justice, civil
rights, environmental justice, peace, nonviolence, empowerment of the poor and
disenfranchised, is a monumental legacy that will inspire all and the generations to
come.
| Cesar Chavez "Si Se Puede" March 3/29/08 |
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| Councilman Mike Martinez presents PODER with a proclamation for Cesar E. Chavez Day, March 31, 2008 |
Bottom Row/L-R: Bertha Williams, Janie Rangel, Paul Hernandez, Sylvia Herrera, Gus Garcia. Top Row/L-R: Linda
Valdez, Rene Valdez, Isela Gutierrez, Will Harrell, Yvette Rodriguez, Alfredo Santos, Leticia Fonseca, Librado Almanza,
Allen Campbell, Marie Saldana-Rocha, Mike Lydia, Johnny Limon.
Valdez, Rene Valdez, Isela Gutierrez, Will Harrell, Yvette Rodriguez, Alfredo Santos, Leticia Fonseca, Librado Almanza,
Allen Campbell, Marie Saldana-Rocha, Mike Lydia, Johnny Limon.
| Cesar E. Chavez "Si Se Puede!" Award 3-31-08 |
PODER held its Annual Cesar E.Chavez “Si Se Puede!” Awards Dinner on March 31,
2008, where it recognized twenty-one individuals that continue the struggle for justice.
Individuals that help keep the spirit of Cesar E. Chavez alive. You can contact PODER at
472-9921 or email at poder@austin.rr.com if you wish to join the campaign for a national
holiday for Cesar E. Chavez.
PODER continues that legacy of working with colleges, churches, elected officials and
community organizations to achieve justice. We are proud to announce the recipients of
the 2nd Annual Cesar E. Chavez “Si Se Puede!” Awards. These individuals have
demonstrated that “Si Se Puede!’ “Yes we can!” - make a difference!
2008, where it recognized twenty-one individuals that continue the struggle for justice.
Individuals that help keep the spirit of Cesar E. Chavez alive. You can contact PODER at
472-9921 or email at poder@austin.rr.com if you wish to join the campaign for a national
holiday for Cesar E. Chavez.
PODER continues that legacy of working with colleges, churches, elected officials and
community organizations to achieve justice. We are proud to announce the recipients of
the 2nd Annual Cesar E. Chavez “Si Se Puede!” Awards. These individuals have
demonstrated that “Si Se Puede!’ “Yes we can!” - make a difference!
| Planting the Seeds of Life PODER's Earth Day - April 22, 2008 |
PODER is guided by the indigenous belief that nature kind and human kind are
interwoven and interlocked. Today, neighborhoods are faced with a common issue of
survival and a crisis of life for this living planet, Mother Earth. Any threat to the
environment endangers us all. In our traditional ways, we view Mother Earth and her
resources as living entities to be honored. People of color are at a point where we must
act to restore world environmental harmony and save Mother Earth for all cultures.
April 22, 2008 marks the 37th Anniversary of Earth Day and PODER is guiding our path in
returning to the indigenous ways of honoring our Mother Earth. We are giving thanks to
the sun, wind, water, and earth which sustain all living creatures. We our honoring our
Mother Earth and her resources through prayer, danza, song, poetry and food.
interwoven and interlocked. Today, neighborhoods are faced with a common issue of
survival and a crisis of life for this living planet, Mother Earth. Any threat to the
environment endangers us all. In our traditional ways, we view Mother Earth and her
resources as living entities to be honored. People of color are at a point where we must
act to restore world environmental harmony and save Mother Earth for all cultures.
April 22, 2008 marks the 37th Anniversary of Earth Day and PODER is guiding our path in
returning to the indigenous ways of honoring our Mother Earth. We are giving thanks to
the sun, wind, water, and earth which sustain all living creatures. We our honoring our
Mother Earth and her resources through prayer, danza, song, poetry and food.
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| PODER held a Protest and Press Conference on Wednesday, June 18th at 11:00 am in front of the Pure Casting Facility, 2110 E. 4th Street (next to Zavala Elementary School). Pure Casting Facility uses and emits various chemicals into the air. Only in East Austin will you find polluting facilities next to an elementary school and in a residential area. PODER and the Young Scholars for Justice (YSJ) addressed the Austin City Council and Councilman Mike Martinez agreed to put together a stakeholders group which will include the City of Austin officials, Pure Casting and PODER to begin the process of relocation. PODER also feels that the Pure Casting property should be purchased with Affordable Housing Bond money and used for the development of real affordable housing. |
| Protect the Health of East Austin Children Relocate Pure Casting Facility! |
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| PODER joined the Southwest Workers Union, Grassroots Leadership, and No Wall- Big Bend in a protest outside of Rep. Ciro Rodriguez’ office in San Antonio, Texas on July 17, 2008. The groups carried a message to Rep. Ciro Rodriguez to denounce his support for the SAVE Act which contains provisions to further expand the border wall and family detention centers. The SAVE Act contains inhumane strategies to address the complex issue of migration to the U.S. |
| No Border Wall! No Family Detention Centers!! NO SAVE ACT!!! San Antoino, TX 7-15-08 |
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| (Photo: Jessica Wilson & Susana Almanza, Chavelo & Christino Herrera) PODER receives grant from Keep Austin Beautiful for the Oak Springs Water Quality and Preserve Project, located at 3101 Oak Springs. This 5.997 acre tract contains natural springs, native plants, wetland, and huge beautiful Oak trees. In 2005 it was a proposed site for a paved shopping center that would have included a dollar store, two fast food joints, and two other 4,000 square foot retail stores. PODER and area residents (with the assistance of Councilman Mike Martinez) protested the plan and convinced the City to purchase the site to protect it from destruction. The site has a partial trail and benches. PODER along with other groups plan to educate the community about this treasure and engage people in its restoration, maintenance, and use by families as a green space. You may visit Keep Austin Beautiful at keepaustinbeautiful.org |
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| 3rd Social Forum of the Americas |
Over 10,000 people attended the 3rd Social Forum of the Americas- Otro Mundo Es
Posible! (Another World is Possible!) in Guatemala – October 7 – 12th , 2008. The
Forum was recognized as the “Foro de la Resistencia!” (The Forum of Resistence!).
A ceremonial Blessing by the Mayans and revolutionary music opened the hearts
and spirits of those attending the forum. “Somos Americanos, Somos en Canto”,
were the words that spoke to the crowds.
Posible! (Another World is Possible!) in Guatemala – October 7 – 12th , 2008. The
Forum was recognized as the “Foro de la Resistencia!” (The Forum of Resistence!).
A ceremonial Blessing by the Mayans and revolutionary music opened the hearts
and spirits of those attending the forum. “Somos Americanos, Somos en Canto”,
were the words that spoke to the crowds.
| Festival De Las Plantas |
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