Justice & Opportunity Week (July 18-22) is five days of community education and empowerment brought to you by the Open Buffalo movement. With featured guest D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D., the nationally renowned Founder and Executive Director of the Social Justice Learning Institute (Inglewood, CA).

(All events free and open to the public.)

 

Monday 7/18

Special Press Event

Time: 11:00am

Location: Greater Works Christian Fellowship, 210 Southampton St., Buffalo

Open Buffalo partners kick off Justice & Opportunity Week, and unveil the results of our 4-month community policing survey.

Free and open to the public.

 

Monday 7/18

“What it Takes to Get Free — Origins of Police in America”

Time: 6:00pm

Location: SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence, 80 Durham Ave., Buffalo

 

As part of Open Buffalo's Justice and Opportunity Week, And OPEN Buffalo's Push for Police reform, VOICE-Buffalo will be conducting a session discussing the origins of the police department and it's development in the US. In a time of deep Rage, we understand the importance of history to help drive us forward in a way that is in line with our values. We can no longer wait.

Free and open to the public.

 

Tuesday 7/19

A Conversation with D’Artagnan Scorza

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo

The featured event for day 2 of Open Buffalo Justice & Opportunity Week:

D'Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D., the pioneering Founder/Executive Director of the Social Justice Learning Institute (Inglewood, CA), visits Buffalo to talk about innovative ways to attack injustice and opportunity gaps. Attend this free event for inspiration in the struggle to bring equity and economic opportunity throughout the city of Buffalo. (Audience Q&A to follow.)

Also, don't miss a moving live performance by Buffalo's very own Drea DNur to kick off the evening!

Free and open to the public.

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About Scorza:

Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza is the Founder and Executive Director of the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) in Inglewood.  Dr. Scorza is a graduate of Morningside High School, a US Navy Iraq-War Veteran and native son of Inglewood.  He has Ph.D. in Education from UCLA, a B.S. in Liberal Studies from National University and a B.A. in the Study of Religion from UCLA. Dr. Scorza served as a UC Regent from 2007-2009 where he passed policies that helped expand access to education for African-American and Latino youth, established veteran’s service centers and prioritized $160 million for student services. Dr. Scorza is community organizer with extensive program development and policy experience and he’s helped passed green school policies and statewide policies democratizing food access.  He was 2010 Education Pioneers Fellow and a 2013-2014 Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) Fellow where he expanded his expertise in socially responsible economic development.  He’s currently engaged in grassroots policy efforts affecting boys and men of color, health equity and local economic development. At SJLI, Dr. Scorza leads a team that works to close disparities in education, expand business opportunities, improve health in the built environment and help youth of color go to college. Dr. Scorza chaired the Measure GG campaign for IUSD, powered by concerned local residents, to secure $90 million in school improvement bonds to update facilities and expand access to a safe, healthy and quality education. He serves on the Los Angeles and California Food Policy Councils and was elected to the Inglewood Unified School District, Board of Education.

Wednesday 7/20

“The House I Live In” (Documentary)

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Squeaky Wheel, 617 Main Street, First Floor, Buffalo

The Drug Policy Alliance joins us to show this documentary about the effects of the 40-year war on drugs. (Panel discussion to follow.)

Free and open to the public.

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About the Film:

For the past 40 years, the war on drugs has resulted in more than 45 million arrests, $1 trillion dollars in government spending, and America’s role as the world’s largest jailer. Yet for all that, drugs are cheaper, purer, and more available than ever. Filmed in more than twenty states, The House I Live In captures heart-wrenching stories of those on the front lines — from the dealer to the grieving mother, the narcotics officer to the senator, the inmate to the federal judge — and offers a penetrating look at the profound human rights implications of America’s longest war.

 

Thursday 7/21

“Know Your Rights” Workshop

 Time: 6:00pm

Location: Greater Works Christian Fellowship, 210 Southampton St., Buffalo

 

You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.

We all know that we have rights after an arrest, but what can you do to protect your rights before things get to that point?

Join us for a FREE training and conversation around your rights during a police encounter. We realize that knowing your rights will not stop a negative police interaction from happening, but we will help give you some skills to try and defuse a situation and protect your rights.

Presented in collaboration with the N.Y. Civil Liberties Union (WNY Office).

 

Friday 7/22

“Poetic Justice” — Creative Space

Time: 6:00pm

Location: Masten Park, 100 Masten Ave., Buffalo

In culmination of Justice and Opportunity Week, please join us for this fun evening of community uplifting and celebration. We have some live performances planned, and are also saving space in hopes that those in attendance might be inspired to share talents of their own! Feel free to bring your own musical instruments, voices, dancing feet, poems, and stories to share.

Free and open to the public.

 

Justice & Opportunity Week is brought to you by:
Open Buffalo, Back to Basics Outreach Ministries, Citizen Action of New York, Prisoners Are People Too, SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence, VOICE-Buffalo, Partnership for the Public Good, NY Civil Liberties Union (WNY office)

For more info, please contact info@openbuffalo.org.