After an exciting series of First Friday speakers through the winter addressing the issue of food access as a health and environmental justice issue, JALSA leaders and staff have had a busy spring meeting with key leaders on this topic. Gus Schumacher, former Undersecretary of Agriculture, has been working with us to explore the role that Doctors and Health-Insurers can play in promoting greater access to healthy resources and lifestyles for poorer communities struggling with lack of access to fresh food and places to exercise.
–Access to fresh healthy food is an important issue of equity. Join us in our efforts in this preventative health measure to help increase such healthy food availability. Call Annie Fox at JALSA: 617-227-3000 or email annie@jalsa.org
As many of you know, Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians is set to expire on September 30, 2011. Since 1991, the United States has provided temporary legal status to Liberian nationals who fled and have been unable to return to Liberia due to unstable conditions resulting from the civil war. On March 18, 2010, President Obama signed a memo extending DED for Liberian nationals through September 30, 2011. The extension provided these Liberians with temporary work authorization, but it expires in six months and does not provide them with a new pathway to obtain lawful permanent residency.
We are collecting organizational signatures for a sign-on letter in support of an extension of DED for this population – for more information and to sign on, please visit
http://www.energyofanation.org/liberian_ded_letter.html/
Organizational signatures will be accepted through May 27, 2011.
Liza Lieberman
Grassroots Policy Associate and
DC Young Leaders Coordinator
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
1775 K Street NW, Suite 320
Washington, DC 20006
IMMIGRATION POLICY REFORM
*** JALSA urges members to continue to write the Patrick Administration indicating our concern over potential Massachusetts participation in the so-called “ICE Secure Communities” program. JALSA believes this program will not make us more secure, but will create an atmosphere of distrust and discrimination.
*** Interested in working on Immigration issues? Contact Sheila Decter if you would like to help participate in national conference calls and help to prepare local educational programming on immigration. 617-227-3000 or email JALSAoffice@gmail.com
Sheila Decter recently had a column on paid sick days in the Jewish Advocate entitled, “Choosing between getting well and getting paid”.
The following link is to an article that appeared in the Boston Globe on March 29
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/family/articles/2011/03/29/the_tug_of_war_that_decides_whether_mom_or_dad_stays_home_with_their_sick_child/
The Honorable Sumner Z. Kaplan
It is with great sadness that JALSA shares the news that Sumner Z. Kaplan, one of JALSA’s founders and one of our greatest fans, passed away Tuesday at the age of 92. As most of you know, Sumner had tremendous energy and actively participated in everything we did until just a few months ago when he became ill. We hoped his health would return, but unfortunately, that was not to be. We have lost a tremendous friend.
Sumner was the beloved husband of 66 years to Eleanor ( Ellie) Kaplan; devoted father of Ruth Kaplan and her husband Toby Kusmer, Marjorie Kaplan and her husband Michael Stanislawski; dear grandfather of Sarah Rose Kusmer and Anna Kusmer, Ethan, Aaron and Emma Stanislawski .
We extend our deepest sympathies to Sumner’s wife, Ellie, and his daughters, Ruth and Marjorie, and to his entire extended family. As a community we mourn the loss of our dear friend and fierce leader for justice.
Sheila Decter
Feb 27, 2011 Rally for the Immokalee Tomato Workers
As of March 17, 2011, current agreements are with Whole Foods supermarket (the only one), Burger King, McDonalds, and Taco Bell. For information see: www.ciw-online.org
and http://news.change.org/stories/activists-protest-stop-amp-shop-demand-slave-free-tomatoes
Gus Schumacher speaking at JALSA on Feb. 22, 2011.
Gus Schumacher, chairman of Wholesome Wave, is a leader in the “prescription vegetables” movement. This innovative pilot program has enabled doctors at three health centers in Massachusetts to treat families struggling with health and obesity, by writing “prescriptions” that can be used at local farmers markets to buy fruits and vegetables to feed their families. http://wholesomewave.org/
Larry was CLSA directer & executive director New Eng. region, American Jewish Congress, as well as a long-time leader of the region. A staunch advocate for civil rights, Larry was involved in many cases and actions to help end racial discrimination.
His input into efforts around school desegregation were immensely important. He represented Black community leader Elma Lewis in important issues around the transfer of the old Mishkan Tefilah property to Black communal institutions and represented the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in its historic land suit against the town of Mashpee.
His concerns around religious liberty guarantees continued in his work on the bench where he had important input in matters dealing with a balance of protection of religious rights for Christian Scientists and the State’s need to protect children.
After his retirement from the bench, Larry and Lily moved to Falmouth. For many years after that, he would still bus to Boston to join us for various JALSA meetings. However, for the last several years,he has experienced ill health and we have missed his good counsel.
Condolences may be sent to Lily Shubow, 339 Gifford Street, Falmouth, MA 02450.
Sheila Decter, Executive Director, JALSA
