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Tent City for Change Demands Housing for All Apr 9, 2024 APRIL UPDATE Hey Community! 💐 As we've been working through these last tidbits of winter, it seems we've also worked through most of the TC4C coffers. With 20 protestors on the ground we're barely able to keep up with propane costs let alone food and medicine. Could you help us out? Donate here: linktr.ee/tentcityforchange PS: Stay tuned for some really cool fundraising projects we have on the go! 'Tis the season for spring cleaning! Here at Tent City for Change, we are working to get about 15 new folks settled in with everything they might need this spring, which, in Newfoundland, means lots of tarps to keep everything dry as possible! We are also looking for tents, lanterns/flashlights, coleman stoves, sleeping bags, bedding, pillows, and batteries. So if you're cleaning out some of your old camping gear, or just supplies you've had kicking around for too long, consider dropping them to Downtown Comics where a volunteer will pick them up to distribute to the Resident Protestors as needed. But wait, there are even more ways to help! We're still accepting recycling donations thru the Green Depot. Just use the account number to direct your recycling refunds our way: 738 2933 Interested in getting involved? We are looking to grow our volunteer team! As we gear up for spring, we expect to see more residents who need more support. To increase the capacity of our on the ground work, we are looking for a few individuals who can dedicate their efforts to fundraising campaigns, cooking meals when we can't source them elsewhere, and helping manage our social media and communication channels. Reach out if you would like to join our amazing team! You can reach us on social media @tentcityforchangestjohns on facebook and instagram . Following us on social media is also the best way to stay in the loop with us and be the first to receive our updates! Learn More about what Resident Protestors at Tent City for Change are Fighting For: Here's a quick intro to what Resident Protestors at TC4C are calling for. Get the facts on the right to housing here: https://maytree.com/publications/we-cant-let-myths-about-the-human-right-to-housing-hold-us-back/ If you believe housing is a human right - please support the Protesters fighting for everyone's right to have a safe and dignified place to call home - Donate here: linktr.ee/tentcityforchange Frequently Asked Questions More about Mutual Aid You can reach us on social media @tentcityforchangestjohns on facebook and instagram . Following us on social media is also the best way to stay in the loop with us and be the first to receive our updates! Content below this line is archival & contains info that is outdated. JANUARY 11 UPDATE The provincial government has recently announced the opening of temporary transitional housing at the site of the Comfort Inn. While TC4C advocates celebrate this announcement as proof of the power of community organizing, we nonetheless have concerns about various shortcomings in government plans thus far. TC4C continues to support 4-6 Resident Protestors to meet their basic needs everyday. But did you know that we also continue to support former Resident Protestors who have since received “shelter” or “housing”? Aside from having a roof over their head, many of these folks continue to be failed by government - many of their basic human rights are not met, including the Right to Food. We’re asking the community for donations of Strawberry Ensure (or financial support to purchase it) because many of the folks we’re supporting have lost dangerous levels of body weight while surviving harsh winter conditions. We’ll be accepting donations of Strawberry Ensure at Downtown Comics, and financial donations through our DonorBox, which you can find at: linktr.ee/tentcityforchange We want to send out our heartfelt gratitude to the greater community who has continued to support Resident Protestors. As we continue to push our elected representatives to do better, TC4C will remain a steadfast site of protest and resistance to privatized shelters, exploitative slum lords, and the denial of housing as a human right. You can follow Tent City for Change on social media for more frequent updates. Occasional updates will continue to be added to this webpage, but following on socials is a good way to stay in the loop day-to-day. You can donate to Tent City for Change here: https://donorbox.org/tent-city Follow Tent City for Change on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tentcityforchangestjohns Follow Tent City for Change on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tentcityforchangestjohns Tent City for Change Website: https://tent-city.vercel.app/ Tent City for Change Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/tentcityforchange OCTOBER UPDATE In October, residents of St. John's sick of the unsafe shelter system mobilized and set up tents on Confederation Hill as a visual representation of the housing crisis in this city. Immediately, members of the SJC mobilized and began showing up to see how they could help. Understanding that the encampment would need financial support, we started a fundraising campaign. Members also encouraged resident protesters to move their occupation to Bannerman Park, where they would have access to a bathroom, a greater array of non-profit services, and more shelter from the constant wind. These members along with other concerned citizens formed what became the Tent City 4 Change collective. From October 10 to December 3, Tent City 4 Change has offered essential aid and support to resident protesters. We've raised $5,000.76, and have spent $4,491.20, leaving $509.56 to cover upcoming costs. One of our ongoing contributions has been helping provide hot breakfasts and dinners to resident protesters. Volunteers are offered $40 for breakfast and $50 for dinner to cover expenses associated with making a meal for around 20 people. We have volunteers signed up to bring breakfast for the next 7 days ($280) and dinner for the next 17 days ($850). We do not currently have the funds to cover these costs but hope that the daily donations we are receiving will continue. Donations also help provide essential supplies (bags, hygiene items, medicine), warmth (blankets, hand warmers), utilities (firewood, stove repairs), and crucial harm reduction items, including cigarettes, cannabis, and small amounts of alcohol. We understand not everyone appreciates the necessity of these harm reduction items, but we believe they are a critical part of fostering dignity and safety. Resident protestors are under extremely stressful circumstances living outside in all kinds of weather, and we believe they deserve to have what they need. Tent City 4 Change has also mobilized community donations and connections. The collective has collected clothes, tents, tarps, blankets, food, firewood, and many other items to support camp life. Members are also supporting resident protesters as they are moving into new homes, including collecting and delivering furniture. Most recently, we were able to secure a port a potty after the City of St. John's ruthlessly shut down the Bannerman Park bathroom with no notice. We appreciate that this decision has since been reversed and the bathrooms are now open 24/7 thanks to community advocacy. How You Can Help! Donate Today Your contribution directly assists in providing meals, supplies, and essential aid to the residents of Tent City. https://donorbox.org/tent-city Spread the Word Share our cause with friends and family. Together, we can make a substantial collective impact. Donate items or join the hot meal train More information on what is needed and how to sign up to bring hot meals can be found at: https://tent-city.vercel.app/ We deeply appreciate the generous contributions from Abi, A, Alison, Allan, Amanda, Angela, Ayla, Brandon, Cate, Caitlin, Chloe, Dawn, Elizabeth, Erin, Gregory, Hannah, Hanna, Janet, Jeremy, Jillian, Kaitlyn, Kale, Karen, Katie, L, Lauren, Mandy, Mark, Mary, Maxine, Melanie, Michael, Nathalie, Paige, Paul, Rachelle, Renée, Robin, Ruth, Sarah, Selina, Shaye, Stacey, Stephanie, Tiffany, and Y. Your support has been instrumental in our efforts to bring about positive change. Gratitude and solidarity to everyone showing up to support the resident protestors. We keep each other safe. "How to Fix the Housing Crisis? And why im/migrants are not responsible." It's crucial that we are loud and clear that the housing crisis is a problem of capitalist greed . It is not a problem caused by migration or immigration. Dividing communities and turning people against one another is a key tactic of the rich to hold unto their wealth and power. Check out and share the panel discussion linked below, hosted by the Migrant Rights Network, to spread the message loud and clear of who is and isn't to blame, and what can be done to fix the housing crisis. https://migrantrights.ca/events/oct18/ Previous Next

Our Vision: Text Save Our Oxfam Centre Letter by Phyllis Artis At the first meeting of Save the Oxfam Centre (SOS) April 3, 2012, we were invited to speak about our involvement in the St. John’s Oxfam Centre and what it means to us. Since that meeting someone asked on our website: How did it begin? I said a few words at the meeting on both: where we started and what Oxfam means to me. Here I will repeat and add to what I said at that time. I hope it and all other letters sent to this site will be read carefully by Robert Fox, who we hope to see tonight, and to the National Board of Oxfam Canada. This is my Oxfam story as I remember it today. Phyllis ------------- I’ve been involved with Oxfam since 1970. I was living in England at the time, where my husband and I were on leave from Memorial. He was doing a graduate degree and I was caring for our two young children. Television pictures of starving babies in Biafra moved me to take part in my first Oxfam initiative, an appeal to collect ‘Blankets for Biafra.' In 1973, back home in St. John’s, I joined a small Oxfam Committee, which up till then had focused mainly on fundraising for famines and other disasters overseas. Around the world Oxfam continues to raise money for overseas relief, but in St. John’s and elsewhere in Canada, Oxfam was becoming more interested in the root causes of poverty, and in particular its links with oppression. We wanted to work to promote long-term changes and not stop at charity. We, the St. John’s Oxfam Committee, decided we needed a permanent base in the city for our meetings, staff, resources and expansion of our activities. We found a shabby downtown building used to store furnace parts, persuaded a sympathetic businessman to buy it for us, signed a mortgage (using our own homes as collateral), and proceeded on weekends and holidays to dig out the filthy, oily cellar space, tear down walls, clean, paint, install shelves, scrounge, and spend endless hours writing grant applications, and developing linkages with schools, churches, unions, university, arts organizations, and other Oxfam groups in Atlantic Canada, and more. Upstairs at the Oxfam Centre we created offices and a comfortable meeting room. I remember many gatherings there. I especially remember Friday afternoon study sessions on Paulo Freire’s, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, maybe other texts too, but the discussions on Freire provided a frame of reference for many of our discussions of education, development and political activism. According to Freire ‘If [leaders] are truly committed to liberation, their action and reflection cannot proceed without the action and reflection of [the people].’ Leaders must be followers, and followers must be leaders; similarly with teachers and learners, thinkers and doers, those who donate funds and those who receive the funds. We must act together through dialogue, and avoid the dichotomies in language and living that reflect the prescriptive methods of the dominant elites. These ideas helped shape our projects, and my thinking ever after. Downstairs we opened a store for fair-trade crafts (though we called them something else then), a lending library, free books and pamphlets on development (vital resources before the internet) and some books and magazines for sale. Our idea was to educate the public; find outlets and fair prices for crafts produced in co-ops around the world; encourage the public to drop in and learn about us and our work; attract volunteers, and bring in some income to help sustain our Oxfam Centre at 382 Duckworth St. Financially I don’t think the Oxfam shop was ever very successful, but it made us visible in the city: a welcoming space where people could drop in to learn more about Oxfam and 'third-world' countries, and where any activist groups without a home could meet. Throughout my years on various St. John's Oxfam Committee boards and committees we had amazing, inspirational, well-informed, dedicated staff. First we hired Rich Fuchs and Anne Manuel, recent graduates of Memorial, to do administration, outreach and education, and shortly after that Sean McCutcheon to research the illnesses of miners in St. Lawrence. And then we brought in (after much letter-writing and red tape) Juan Ruz, a refugee from Chile who fled for his life after Allende’s assassination. We provided room and board for Juan and very modest salaries for Juan and the other three staff members. We were a mixed group: students, professors, retirees, artists, unemployed, some from this province and some from elsewhere, old and young, a few with a lifelong record of social activism and others with little or no experience of this kind. We came from differing cultural, religious, political, economic and ethnic backgrounds. Of the active members from my earliest days, the movers, shakers and visionaries who made things happen, the first to come to mind are Rosemary and John Williams and David Thompson, and shortly after that Frances Ennis, Lorraine Michael, Dorothy Inglis, Lois Saunders, Tony Berger, Rod Singaraya and Keith Storey. We partnered with schools, university, community groups, unions and more; we invited guest lectures, organized workshops, and protested with placards in front of banks with investments in South Africa; we boycotted South African wine and we invited a South African friend living in St. John’s to report on his impressions of life under Apartheid when he returned from a family visit to South Africa. We elected representatives from the St. John’s Oxfam Committee to sit on Oxfam Canada’s Regional and National boards, and to travel to the UK for training in building emergency shelters for disaster relief. We had heated debates on funding priorities, ways of increasing awareness of injustice in the world, and ways of addressing these injustices, of contradictions between the principles we believed in and the ways we raised our children and conducted our lives. We were always short of money but we had enough determined, hardworking, optimistic volunteers and staff to keep the centre alive as a vibrant force in the community. And we debated everything. Was it ethical for Oxfam Canada to use the funds it raised, in part from impecunious Newfoundlanders, to pay what seemed to us exorbitant consulting fees to Mel Watkins to help negotiate land claims for the Dene Nation? Should we accept the offer of a local author of bestselling booklets of Newfoundland humour to organize a fundraising drive for us? (We liked him but had mixed reactions to his sense of humour). How could those of us who taught in schools and universities engage students in a Freirian dialogue about inequities around us without engaging in ‘the prescriptive methods of the dominant elites'? I believe the debates and dialogue did much to keep the organization alive and growing over the decades. We also plotted, planned, lobbied, and did whatever had to be done, from meetings at the Centre that extended late into the night, to the hard physical labour of operating the Centre and programs. We learned to think globally as we as tried to act locally. And we had fun. We cooked and ate together, played soccer, took care of each other's kids, worked on a quilt one winter (though I’m not sure we ever finished it). In short we developed a community that is still strong. . . and growing. Of course individuals have come and gone. I am less active in Oxfam now than I used to be. But many of my close friendships date from that Oxfam group of the 70s. Although all my biological family live elsewhere, I decided to retire here in part because of the Oxfam community that provides opportunities to live and work and dialogue with people who share so much of my history and so many of my values. I continue to participate in many of Oxfam's public meetings, celebrations, and fundraising events, and am always made to feel welcome, a part of this extraordinary community. I have been a substantial monthly donor to Oxfam Shareplan (or its predecessor) for over thirty years, I contribute to special fundraising events conducted by Oxfam at other times, and most of my Christmas gifts are now from Oxfam's Gifts Unwrapped. I have willed a portion of my estate to Oxfam. For decades the extraordinarily dedicated, brilliant team of Linda Ross and Bill Hynd led the way at the St. John's Oxfam Centre, keeping oldtimers informed and involved, while opening doors to new volunteers and new projects here and overseas, providing opportunities for the community to get together to raise funds, celebrate, mourn, demonstrate, and act in a thousand ways to promote social justice at home and abroad. Then Linda moved on and Bill seemed to take on the double load without missing a step. I will never know where he finds the energy, efficiency, compassion, intelligence, insight and unflappable good humour to accomplish all he does. But I will be forever grateful to him for carrying on, in spite of what seems to me callous and most undialogic, undemocratic treatment from the National Board and staff at Oxfam Canada. He is an inspiration to all of us. It is unthinkable that the St. John's Oxfam Centre, which we bought and developed, with our own bucks and blood, should be sold summarily, and Bill Hynd fired, without consultation with local staff, board or community. It is also unthinkable that anyone in this province who has supported Oxfam in the past will ever do so again if this threat is carried out. Our Vision: Text

Fund Reimbursement Are you applying for a community aid fund? Is the SJC holding funds for your org in trust? Have you paid out-of-pocket for supplies or services supported by SJC? Click the link below for the Expense Claim form for reimbursement! Expense Reimbursement Claim

Marking May Day with the Worker Action Network May 1, 2022 🌹 May Day Party 🌹 "The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too" - Rose Schneiderman (1882 - 1972) Workers deserve fair and equitable working conditions, but they also deserve joy, art, and beauty. On May Day, 2022 we gathered with the Worker Action Network at Bannerman Park for a celebration of workers rights. Check out the Rose Photo Project we did in partnership with Tania Heath of Project Power Back. All photos by Tania. View photos here: https://www.sjcnl.ca/may-day-party Previous Next

Event Organizing Kit Want to organize an event but not sure where to start? Missing some supplies? Check out our organizing guide! Get in touch with lea@sjcnl.org with questions or for help. Open Event Kit

Community Partners Anti-Racism Coalition The Anti-Racism Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador (ARC-NL) actively works to counter all forms of racism. The main objective of the ARC-NL is to promote and support a culture of anti-racism within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Learn More Fridays For Future St. John's The Youth Led Local Branch of Fridays For Future St. John’s, Newfoundland Grassroots movement #FridaysForFutureStJohns #ClimateJusticeIsSocialJustice Learn More Memorial University Climate Action Coalition The Coalition is a collection of students, faculty, staff, and community members with the shared interest of pursuing climate action at Memorial University Learn More

We Are The Movement Learn more about the people who make up the SJC Sarah Sauve (she/her) Where does Sarah call home? Sarah was born in Hull, Quebéc, which is now Gatineau, but as a teen moved to Nova Scotia, then Newfoundland and Labrador, completed grad school in London, England, and has since found her way back to YYT. When asked about her origins, Sarah contemplated, “I think of myself as a bit of a nomad – I really enjoy travel, moving around, and I haven’t stayed in one place for more than a few years in my adult life. Thinking about staying in one place for longer than a few years still kind of makes me uncomfortable (though less than before). I feel like there’s so much I’ll miss out on if I stay in one place.” It is SJC that has given Sarah a sense of belonging here. She considers Newfoundland & Labrador her home “and it’s because of the Co-op” she states. “I feel like I’ve found a community with which I can put down roots.” Sarah’s Life Experiences all Led her Toward Social Justice Work Sarah’s path to social justice started around age 16 when she attended the CISV Canada National Camp, an organization promoting cultural understanding and global leadership. A ten-year commitment to the organization honed Sarah’s ability to organize events on a local, national and international level. The ethos of CISV is to promote self-reflection, communication and the knowledge that people can truly affect change. Sarah recalls her experience of working with youth in China through her work with CISV. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme, with its focus on physical fitness, skill, service, and adventurous journeys also cultivated leadership and determination in Sarah; she impressively completed gold, which is not an easy task! Through her multitude of experiences, Sarah ended up completing Grad school in the UK and even sailed partway around the world. All of these life experiences, coupled with her recent membership in the anti-capitalist x activist book club, have influenced Sarah to engage in social justice with great commitment. Sarah reflects, “[The book club] has been instrumental in fundamentally challenging and changing my worldview and, I think, made me a better activist because of my increased understanding of structural issues like capitalism, the prison industrial complex, border imperialism and settler colonialism to name a few, and how they interact.” All Roads Lead to SJCNL Sarah: “It was kind of a no-brainer for me. When I first moved back to NL, I had decided that from then on, I would focus more on myself instead of giving so much of my time to activism – things like Argentinian tango and friendships new and old. Over time, however, I couldn’t keep not doing anything about the global problems I kept coming up against. When a friend brought me to a Green New Drinks event, I knew I’d found my people here. ”Let’s Talk Core Beliefs Sarah: “I identify as a feminist, anti-capitalist, abolitionist, anarchist, white, cis-gendered, highly educated, middle-class, neuro-typical woman. I essentially identify my sources of social privilege, which help frame where I’m coming from.“ Sarah Explains the Facets of her Ideology: Feminism to me means equity between all genders. I’ve also read feminist critique of scientific research which is much more widespread as a politic than just equal access to opportunity, but I haven’t looked into it enough to articulate that particular politic properly. Feminist science is a whole scientific epistemology. Anti-capitalism is taking action against capitalism. Though none of us can really live outside of it, we can do many small things in our everyday life to chip away at it (like reading radical literature, discussing and dreaming different futures with friends, refusing plastic wherever I can, refusing to buy what isn’t necessary). Abolition is about removing prisons, policing and surveillance from our society and in its place, building communities based on care where everyone’s needs are met. It sounds like a utopia, but it really needn’t be. We’ve been tricked into believing that hardship and violence are necessary to a functioning society but we don’t need those things to be happy and safe. Abolition is about building a new future just as much as it is about taking down the prison industrial complex. Alternatives to cops and prisons will be different for each community based on its needs and there will be mistakes made, but we need to try hundreds of different experiments and just do it until we get there. Those are all lessons learned from Mariame Kaba’s We Do This ‘Til We Free Us. Anarchy to me doesn’t mean fire, violence and chaos, as I’ve seen it portrayed in the media my whole life. It means community-based leadership and deep democracy, where we all have a say in what affects us. It’s decentralization and a focus on the local context. Interested in Joining SJC? Sarah feels that “feminism, anti-capitalism, abolition and anarchy are closely related politics and work together to combat systems of oppression and also build a better world. If this sounds at all appealing to you, check out the SJC’s Revolution of Care manifesto. ”Though joining was a no-brainer for Sarah, she recalls, “it took me a while to get used to the SJC’s structure; To understand the difference between the Co-op, the Coalitions, the board and membership. It took me a whole year after being involved to actually become a member; this is even though I’d been working with teams already. Once I got used to the decentralized organizational structure, I started to feel more comfortable and knew that this is where I can build community. This is where I can really both make a difference and put down roots.” What Makes this Work Worth it Despite the Challenges? Sarah: “The relationships I’ve built through my social justice work have been everything. I think it’s because being involved in leadership and social justice work has allowed me to be myself unapologetically, and I’m very open to new people. I’m happy to share all of myself, and I try to be as open and non-judgemental as I can and accept all of someone else. ”Are There Wins? “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the small wins we achieve through our work. An event, protest, march, or campaign might not have the desired effect on the seats of power that we want to influence immediately, but if we’ve brought one more person on board to the Revolution, it’s a win. In Mariame Kaba's book, she states that our ‘losses’ aren’t really losses because we are learning things and building momentum through our organization all the time.” How Does this Fit into the Big Picture? One day, we’ll achieve the big changes we want to see, but we have to keep working at it. ‘Do it with others –nothing worth doing is done alone’” (Mariama Kaba). In addition to reading Mariama Kaba’s We Do This ‘Til We Free Us, Sarah highly recommends that we all read Pollution is Colonialism by Max Liboiron. Anne Malone (she/her) Q: Where do you call home? A: I call St. John's, NL home. I have spent a lot of time in Costa Rica but have never had residency there. I love Costa Rica because the country is so environmentally focused and they have a very socialized approach to education and health care. The University of Peace is there and they are in general an incredibly progressive county. Q: Tell us about how your background and life experiences have led you toward social justice work. A: I was always drawn to social justice issues but had never aligned myself with a specific organization. I was part of Project Ploughshares, which formed in the 1970’s and is a group who worked with governments, and civil society, in Canada and abroad, to advance policies and actions to prevent war and armed violence and build peace. For me I connected with them when world peace was an idea in the 1980’s anti-nuclear movement . Then I focused on child rearing and in 2008 I acquired a disability. My sight loss was something that I could not ignore and my status in the world had changed. Opportunities evaporated. I experienced chronic unemployment. That, coupled with all of the barriers, led me to advocate for an accessible urban environment. From there I moved my focus on pedestrian rights and I began to encounter barriers one by one. As my vision decreased, I understood intimately how moving through an urban environment with ease and safety was paramount. Then the next barrier that came with my vision loss was to print media. Through that experience, I learned two things: It was important to advocated for accessibility in our municipalities I realized that many people who have disabilities struggle with poverty because of under employment and lack of government support. They struggle with discriminatory bias and that is significant particularly for people who need assistive technology to read. Those technologies are not free, they are very expensive; for example, a screen reader costs over $2000.00. Having a disability affects everything in your life. It must be noted that people who have disabilities are often caught in a poverty loop. One of the most devastating aspects of sight loss is that barriers to print. We have advancements with computer technology, but for people with sensory disabilities, you need a technology which will enable you to actually access the technology such as the internet. You feel so isolated. Q: Why did you join the SJCNL? A: I joined the SJC when I was connected with Dr Elizabeth Yeoman. In 2012 she was working on a short documentary called ‘Honk If You Want Me Off The Road' which was about the difficulties pedestrians encountered in St. John’s in the winter. And around that time a group emerged at the SJC, called Challenge Car culture, which was advocating for year-round sidewalk accessibility in St. Johns. It was through Elizabeth that I became aware of and joined the SJC. Q: What are your core beliefs and how do they influence how you participate in the SJCNL? A: My core belief is that we live in a world of abundance with very poorly distributed resources. Therefore, my heart always goes to support people who are living with a burden of poverty and the kind of inaccessible connection between poverty, race poverty, gender poverty and disabilities. I began to understand that these things are not coincidences but rather the result of systems and institutions that were constructed to elevate certain groups of people while oppressing other groups of people. I believe that to be morally wrong in every way. Q: What was the moment you realized joining the SJCNL was a good move for you? A: I realized that, I think it was in Dec of 2020, on International Day for Persons with Disabilities, when a large crowd of disabled and non-disabled people gathered on the steps of City Hall and demanded that the city revise a budget that would have reduced public transit in the city… and they met our demand. It worked! It made me and every other disabled person in that gathering feel seen and feel heard. I also realized that as a minority, we tend to think that the people who we have to win over are people in positions of power, but what I learned was, it is far more important to win the solidarity of the voter, not the politician. Because the voter will determine who holds those positions of power. It was pouring rain that evening and watching the Go Buses pull up and the wheelchairs roll out was incredible. It was dark outside, but the steps of City Hall were illuminated with lights from the media . I was gobsmacked. People were telling their personal stories in front of a mic and a camera. This was really happening! I was crying! Had it not been for SJC it would not have happened. Q: Is there anything that we have not asked that you would like to tell us about? A: Next steps in disability awareness could be the acknowledgement of Disability Pride month, which is in July of every year. I would like to see the month of July internationally. I would like to see our community elevated during disability pride month in particular. And I would like to see events that are accessible and public to increase the visibility and amplify the voices and experience of people who have disabilities in our province. Particularly for people who live on the intersections of race and disability and indigeneity in disability and poverty and disability. Q: What makes this work worth it despite the challenges? A: What makes it worth it , is that every step towards our goal is a step. Every statement that is made publicly by a person with a disability is another chink in the armour . Visibility matters, representations matters and being recognized as a member of a community matters. Q. Is there anything that you are reading, watching or listening to that you would recommend to people for SJC learning and sharing? A. I am reading two books right now. One book is called There Plant Eyes: A Personal and Cultural History of Blindness by M. Leona Godin. It is a combination of memoir and the history and culture around blindness. It is written by a woman who experienced loss of her eyesight in her late 20s. It is on the New York Times Best Seller List. It gives so much insight into the invisible struggles of people who live with sight loss. We begin to understand why things are the way they are in the 21st Century, and we begin to understand how the bias that exists today comes from superstitions that formed during the Middle Ages. For example, the term ‘legally blind’ is a throwback to a time when people with disabilities had no other way to support themselves other than to literally beg for alms in public places. To earn the right to do that, people who had invisible disabilities, like blindness, had to appear before a magistrate and undergo certain tests that certified that the disability was valid. If they passed the test, they were declared to be legally entitled to charity and they were now ‘legally blind’. They would wear a licence on a string around their neck. So even though it is antiquated, this is a term that is still used by doctors, organizations and legalized forms. The other book is called Ain't I a Woman? by bell hooks. I got to know her name from my critical disability theory study group. It’s a study of black feminism. Her language is very conversational and very easy to digest. I am having one ‘Eureka!’ movement after another as I read this book. I am also very drawn to black women and women of colour, and I am so inspired and informed by their activism and their advocacy. We owe them a debt of gratitude in helping to inform us of activism in disability justice.

Black Mutual Aid Gala Raises $5300! Sending Heartfelt Thanks to All! Apr 10, 2024 The Black Mutual Aid Gala Team has great news & lots of gratitude to share! We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone who contributed to our fundraiser Gala. Your unwavering solidarity, generous donations, ticket purchases, and active participation in our auction items showcase have made a profound impact on our community. Together, we raised an incredible $5,300, surpassing our initial goal. This remarkable achievement underscores the power of collective support and solidarity in driving positive change. Your generosity will enable us to implement vital service and project-based initiatives that uplift and empower our community. Mutual aid is more than just charity; it's a powerful expression of solidarity and collective care. Studies show that mutual aid initiatives strengthen communities, foster resilience, and promote equity. With your support, we are building a brighter future rooted in solidarity and compassion. These funds will be managed collectively by the Black community, ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical distribution to those in need . Together, we are creating a more just and equitable society for all. We're also excited to announce that this is just the beginning of our efforts to create positive change in our community. Stay tuned for more events and initiatives, especially as we approach Juneteenth in June. We invite you to continue supporting our cause by reaching out to us at BlackMutualAidNL@gmail.com . Your involvement and commitment make a significant difference, and we look forward to working together to make a meaningful impact. A special thanks to the incredible team of volunteers who worked diligently together to bring this event to life. We’d also like to thank all of people and organizations who donated and made the launch of this fund surpass our expectations! Special thanks to the Social Justice Cooperative NL for sponsoring the event expenses, contributing staff hours to support organizing, and to the members and volunteers who stepped up to help make the event a success. Heartfelt gratitude to The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour , and The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Cooperatives for your generous contributions to the cause. And huge thanks to everyone who donated via event tickets, the auction, and donorbox. And a special thanks and shout out to all of the fabulous community members who donated their items, services, artwork, experiences, and more, making a fabulous auction possible! Together, we are stronger! In summary, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. We love you! Please feel welcome to share this announcement. 🎊 P.S. The Black Mutual Aid Fund is still live and continues to accept contributions at donorbox.org/blackmutualaid All photos courtesy of Tania Heath of Project Power Back Photography - thank you for volunteering your time & talent to capture the moment. Previous Next

Our Finances 2025 AGM Minutes Treasurer Report Activity Report In October 2025, we held our 12th AGM in St. John's, NL! Click the links to download our minutes, treasurer's report, audit team report, and activity report from the meeting. Audit Team Report 2024 AGM Minutes Treasurer Report Activity Report In October 2024, we held our 11th AGM in St. John's, NL! Click the links to download our minutes, treasurer's report, audit team report, and activity report from the meeting. Audit Team Report 2023 AGM Minutes Treasurer Report Activity Report In September 2023, we held our 10th AGM in St. John's, NL! Click the links to download our minutes, treasurer's report, and activity report from the meeting. Financial Oversight Policy Download Community Update on 2023 Theft in SJCNL Learn More

Climate Action The Social Justice Co-operative is building a grassroots movement centred on creating caring communities and fostering friendships between activists based on caring for each other. We believe in the dignity and value of every human being. We call this movement a “Revolution of Care” because revolutionary care is the antidote to capitalism, and it is capitalism that has made our society sick. Where capitalism relies on greed to function, the antidote must be generosity. Where capitalism relies on individualism, the antidote must be community. Want to get involved in Climate Action? Check out some of the projects we're working on below, and send us an email to get connected. Connect Project Nujio'qonik by World Energy GH2 Coalition for a Green New Deal: Who We Are Learn More What is Project Nujio'qonik? Project Nujio'qonik is also known as the Port-au-Port & Stephenville Wind Power & Hydrogen Generation Project. It's a wind-to-hydrogen mega-project being proposed by World Energy GH2 for construction on the Port-au-Port peninsula and in the area around Stephenville. The project, if approved, would see 164 wind turbines built on the Port-au-Port peninsula and a Hydrogen Generation Plant built in Stephenville. Who is World Energ y GH2? World Energy GH2, founded in 2022, is a NL based subsidiary of a US company called World Energy LLC, one of the USA's biggest suppliers of biodiesel. The CEO of World Energy GH2 is Sean Leet, whose previous appointments include Director and CEO of two Maritime Transportation companies, KOTUG and Horizon Maritime. The chairman of Project Nujio'qonik is Nova Scotian billionaire John Risley, founder of Clearwater Seafoods. (Notice that no one here has any previous experience in wind energy or hydrogen generation) Protect NL Petition We recently the great pleasure of meeting with Brenda from the South Coast Alliance this week. They are petitioning for a "six-month pause, with time extension possibilities, on approving industry projects on the Southwest Coast until proper Cumulative Effects Assessment studies and meaningful consultations are concluded". Download Petition Brenda came all the way to St. John’s to bring flyers, petitions and protest signs to raise awareness. Send us a message to get some flyers and petitions! You can reach us by replying to this email. You can print your own petition package by clicking the "download petition" button above. You can sign yourself, collect some signatures from family, friends, or coworkers, and return them by contacting the South Coast Alliance at ProtectNL@outlook.com Email South Coast Alliance The Social Justice Cooperative of NL strongly condemns the federal government’s approval of the Bay Du Nord project. The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, recently warned us: “Investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is moral and economic madness.” He was speaking of a United Nations climate report—issued just two days before the federal government approved the Bay du Nord project. Pushing this project forward demonstrates a blatant disregard toward principles of free, informed, prior, ongoing consent of Indigenous peoples and is inconsistent with UNDRIP, CANDRIP, and rights of people and the planet. Our province, Canada, and the planet cannot afford another pollution-producing, oil-seeking money pit. Contrary to what our provincial and federal governments say, there are no responsible reasons to proceed with this project, unless you represent Big Oil. There are many compelling reasons to reject the Bay du Nord Project that fall under two major categories: Environmental Impact Economic Shortsightedness, including Misleading Job Possibilities. Read Full Condemnation Join Fridays for Future Call to Stop Bay Du Nord Join call to STOP Bay Du Nord Condemning Bay Du Nord Out and About Climate Strikes Join us as we march with Fridays For Future for climate action and demand #NoMoreEmptyPromises Socials 4 Justice This event series is an opportunity to bring the community together and hear from local organizers and people with lived experience to talk about social and environmental justice issues. Planting Seeds Community dialogue is key for consensus building. Check out our YouTube page to see some of the discussions we've hosted. Climate Emergency Declaration Petition Succeeds Working Together Towards A Sustainable Future Pictured to the left, are members of Fridays For Future St. John's, the Social Justice Co-op NL, the Council of Canadians Avalon Chapter, and the Coalition For a Green New Deal NL, celebrating after working together to successfully petition the City of St. John's to Declare a Climate Emergency in 2019. Climate Emergency Declaration: Petition to the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador Demand the Provincial Government Declare a Climate Emergency! Sign Now Taking the Climate Emergency Petition Provincial Coalition for a Green New Deal Town Hall Our Vision A Green New Deal isn't just about meeting environmental goals; it shapes every aspect of our society. This living document describes how these intersections are addressed and the shifts that will lead to a sustainable and fulfilling future for our province. Download Our Vision Document Coalition for a Green New Deal Projects Take A Look At What We've Done Green New Deal Town Hall In June 2019, 60 people came together to discuss the future of a Green New Deal in Newfoundland and Labrador. This report outlines the outcomes from that meeting. CBS Transit Town Hall SJC, in partnership with Happy City St. John's, explored how public transit could serve the communities of Conception Bay South (CBS). In The Media St. John's City Council Declares Climate Emergency November 4, 2019 While there is still work to do, St. John's City Council declaring a climate emergency was a step in the right direction. Read Here Letter: Premier Furey, We Need a Green New Deal September 18, 2020 CGNDNL wrote to Premier Furey's new government, demanding that the province begin to move away from oil and gas and toward a greener, more sustainable future. Read Here Can Laid Off Oil Workers Here Transition into Greener Jobs? October 14, 2020 More sustainable employment and transferable skills, Heather Elliott discusses what a fair transition could look like for oil and gas workers on CBC CrossTalk. Listen Here Statement: City Takes Action on Climate Change November 4, 2019 The official declaration by St. John's City Council on Climate Change. Read Here Thumbs Down on Climate Change for Newfoundland and Labrador Budget September 30, 2020 With money still going towards incentivizing offshore exploration, CGNDNL was disappointed with the 2020 budget. Read Here Letter: Oil and Gas Myth-Busting November 26, 2020 We've all heard "Newfoundland and Labrador's oil is greener than other places." Mark Nichols tackles this and other "greenwashed" topics from the oil and gas sector. Read Here Letter: It Shouldn't Be So Hard To Use Active Transportation December 10, 2020 Elizabeth Yeoman discusses the challenges of using active transportation in the St. John's Metro area. Read Here Coalition for a Green New Deal Members Council of Canadians - Avalon The Council of Canadians brings people together through collective action and grassroots organizing to challenge corporate power and advocate for people, the planet and our democracy. Read More Fishing For Success Our music and our art, our craft and our food celebrate our connection to the Sea that has sustained our families for generations. Read More Social Justice Co-op NL The Social Justice Co-operative of Newfoundland and Labrador works to address issues of social, economic, and political inequality at home and abroad. Read More

Land Back Fest with the Indigenous Activist Collective Jul 1, 2022 Land Back fest 2022 and 2023 grew out of Cancel Canada Day YYT 2021, which was organized by the Indigenous Activist Collective, Anti-Racism Coalition NL, Black Lives Matter NL, and SJC NL in response to Idle No More's call to Cancel Canada Day and show # NoPrideInGenocide Land Back Fest is a community gathering and feast with the Indigenous Activist Collective in Bannerman Park on July 1 to celebrate Land Back Movements and Indigenous Peoples. Why celebrate colonial genocide when we can come together to celebrate and demand the return of Indigenous lands to Indigenous hands!? Check out some Land Back fest photos here: sjcnl.ca/lbf Previous Next

Teams We are so thankful for all of the volunteers and partners working on many fronts in the Revolution of Care. This page shows some of the teams that have formed within the SJC over the years. Some of these groups are still active and meeting (AxA Book Club, Challenge Car Culture, Prison Pen Pals, 2SLGBTQ+ Mutual Aid Pod. Transformative Justice Working Group) and others are less active or dormant at this time (Coalition for a Green New Deal, Food Sovereignty, Zero Waste). There may still be content updates on team pages that aren't currently meeting or active, if the SJC participates in something that fits into one of the sub-group themes. While sub-group activity and meetings ebb and flow, the work continues on many fronts, and you can learn more about the projects and initiatives the SJC is involved in on the Social Justice Spotlight section of the website. Challenge Car Culture Challenging the idea that cars are the default way to get around. Advocating for accessibility, pedestrian safety/rights, public transit, and mobility justice. Learn More Anti-Capitalist x Activist Book Club Reading together for revolution! Learn More Prison Pen Pals Connecting and building solidarity through letter writing with incarcerated community members. Learn More Our Work: Programs 2SLGBTQ+ Mutual Aid Pod Organizing mutual aid efforts within the 2SLGBTQ+ community Learn More Transformative Justice Working Group Thinking through how to address conflict and harm in transformative, restorative, non-punitive ways that recognize the value, dignity, and potential of everyone Learn More Climate Action + Coaliton for a Green New Deal Confronting climate crisis and working towards a sustainable and just future Learn More Food Sovereignty Thinking critically and eating ethically Learn More Poverty Elimination Working to improve the well-being of low/no income people in NL Learn More Zero Waste Working toward a world without waste Learn More