Tag Archives: activism

Oct18

‘ inspire young learners to become champions for their future and the world around them.’

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on this beautiful fall day

our community and groups large and small

gathered together

in places all around town

for No Kings 4

in a non-partisan celebration 

of the importance of voting

some of the adults

brought their early voting ballots

marching together

with their families

to drop them into the ballot box

others got information

about the details, registration, and options

at the children’s table 

we made

pictures, signs, headbands, bracelets, crowns

ate a treat or two 

my very friendly next door table neighbor

was sharing the wonderful books

her mama had authored

about diversity, inclusion, and welcoming all kinds of children

what a sweet high energy firecracker

who be-jazzeled our faces with a jewel or two

never stopped moving or smiling

made such a beautiful sign

her active role in the community

has already begun.

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‘children don’t vote but adults who do must stand up and vote for them.’

*Marian Wright Edelman

*Marian Wright Edelman (born 1939), is an American civil rights activist, children’ rights advocate, and lawyer who is the founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund. She influenced leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Hillary Clinton and was elected the first Black woman on the Yale board of trustees in 1971.

 

 

 

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vet’s park, ann arbor, mi, usa

Mar29

the people.

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it was a peaceful sunny beautiful day for a march in Ann Arbor

with kids and dogs and big people too

all walking and talking and singing and chanting together 

even a knight dressed in full armor came out on this fine day

all standing up together

for each other, for our neighbors, near and far, and for our country.

no kings.

 

 

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‘the people have the power.

all we have to do is awaken the power in the people.’

-john lennon

Mar26

ugly gerry.

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Ugly Gerry is a font created in 2019 to protest gerrymandering. It used the shape of a U.S. congressional district for each of its characters. 

It was designed by Ben Doessel and James Lee of the Leo Burnett Agency in a project for Represent Us. 

The team was from Chicago, and after seeing how crazy the Illinois 4th district had become, they became interested in this issue. … Its notorious earmuff shape looked like a U, then after seeing other letters on the map, they created a typeface so their districts could become digital graffiti that voters and politicians couldn’t ignore.

Shapes that loosely resembled the letters ‘A’ through ‘Z’ were used to create the (uppercase) font.  Some of the shapes were not of single districts but instead combined pairs.

Ugly Gerry has been called “the world’s most revolting font”.

 

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‘type is what meaning looks like.’

-max phillips

 

 

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source credits: ben doessel and james lee, leon burnett, democrat docket, wikipedia

Feb24

do what is right.

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a large and passionate crowd turned out in the cold last night 

speakers, chanters, singers, hot cider, flags, signs, hand warmers

even a counter-protester

before the city council met

some community members

spoke at the meeting

the Romulus city council

unanimously approved a resolution

against a planned ICE detention center

in which they outbid an auto supply company

to purchase a vacant building in the city

during the meeting

the mayor  said the city will not issue a permit or a certificate of occupancy

unless mandated by a federal judge to do so

next step is to take it to the state

power of the people.

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‘the time is always right to do what is right.’

-Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jan6

‘resist much, obey little.’- walt whitman

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how i spent my sunday afternoon in ann arbor

it was snowy but full of fired up people

‘i need to be able to tell my grandchildren i did not stay silent.’

Jul9

fresh for everyone.

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Pete the Cat is in his bag and he feels safe in there.

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this post is  dedicated to all of the farm workers out there

may they and their families be safe from harm

during this very challenging time

we see you and appreciate you 

 thank you for the hard work you do every day to bring food to all of us.

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‘the people who give you their food give you their heart.’

-cesar chavez

*Cesario Estrada Chavez 1927-1993) was an American labor leader and civil rights activist. Along with Dolores Huerta and Gilbert Padilla, he co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee  (AWOC) to become the  United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union.

Apr19

the herds.

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These animals, crafted from cardboard and plywood, make up “The Herds,” a public art project that recently set off from the Democratic Republic of Congo on a journey through major cities in Africa and Europe. The goal is to raise awareness about how the climate crisis is endangering the very animals represented by the life-size puppets. “We believe thousands and thousands of people are watching us,” project member Siphokazi Mpofu told AFP. “We believe out of these thousands, maybe 10 will take out something on what we are doing and then take it back to their communities, to their cities.” Watch a video of the herd in motion. 

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‘The wildlife and the natural beauty of this earth are the heritage of all generations to come.

We must act as their guardians.’

– Sir David Attenborough

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source credit: AFP

Dec28

my grandson has a few words to say about being a good neighbor in this world.

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Jun6

our part.

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“love football – hate racism”

well done.

 

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“ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year.

ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term.

ours is the struggle of a lifetime,

or maybe even many lifetimes,

and each of us in every generation must do our part.”

-*john lewis

 

*John Lewis was an American politician, civil rights leader, and Medal of Freedom awardee who served in the House of Representatives from 1987 until his death in 2020.

May23

change of heart.

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A 9-year-old girl’s plea to save a sidewalk slab with a heart-shaped cavity has tugged at the heartstrings of Ann Arbor officials, who have agreed to let it stay. The inspector also spray-painted an X over the R that previously marked the slab for replacement, while writing “Save!” and giving the heart a fresh touch of color.
Where Dahlia left a note along the sidewalk last week making the case for keeping the slab, the city’s inspector on Monday left a response letter complete with the city seal on it. “Thank you for your wonderful letter, and for bringing this to our attention!” it reads. “Your note is very well written, and after further considerations, we feel this sidewalk slab can be saved. We’re so glad you let us know, and that we can save your ‘heart.’”
Seventh Street heart sidewalk

“Thank you for being so passionate and proactive about your community!” the response letter states. “When you’re old enough, you should consider working for the city to continue making it a great place to live. Sincerely, City Sidewalk Repair Program.”

Dahlia, the daughter of Kelly and Matt,  said in her note to the ‘Sidewalk People” last week that she was devastated when she saw the slab was marked for replacement.

“You see, the heart is not just a heart,” she wrote. “Ever since I was little, I said hi to the heart. Don’t you see how much it means to me? Every time I pass the heart, I say hi and it brings me joy.”

Anyone else who wants to say hi to the heart now can find it along the east side of Seventh Street across from Waterworks Park between Murray Court and Washington Street.

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“kind words do not cost much, yet they accomplish much.”

-blaise pascal

 

 

 

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source credit: ryan stanton, mlive, ann arbor news