Social Justice Co-operative 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 About Us Home: Welcome Community Update on Theft in SJCNL **Jan 2026 Update - Fraud Report Available To Read Here** Download Fraud Report Board Response Fund The Revolution! Independent donors like you allow us an uncompromising political voice! We have accomplished a lot over the past couple of years but we need financial resources to bring about a Revolution of Care. The Social Justice Co-operative does not take money from corporations or governments for our activism and operations. To maintain our independence, we depend on grassroots funding from people like you. Please consider funding our work, be that as a one-time donation, or as a monthly donor, to help us keep momentum going by sponsoring our work. Donate

Free Palestine Action Team Jan 25, 2024 Statement in Solidarity with Palestine Free Palestine Action Team Read More

An archive of some social justice work in the SJC & broader community. Email us your submissions! Social Justice Spotlight Apr 10, 2024 Activist Film Collective to host Online Screening of Three Promises Available to anyone located in NL at the time of screening. Date to be announced. Film Synopsis: "While the Israeli army retaliates against the Second Intifada in the West Bank in the early 2000s, a mother films her family's daily life, punctuated by time spent shielding her family from harm in the basement. Now, her son revisits this past, delivering a heart-breaking portrait of the anguish of parents who are forced to choose between their children’s physical safety and the emotional upheaval of leaving home." Read More Apr 10, 2024 Black Mutual Aid Gala Raises $5300! Sending Heartfelt Thanks to All! 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. Read More Apr 9, 2024 Tent City for Change Demands Housing for All Tent City for Change sends 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. Read More Jan 25, 2024 Statement in Solidarity with Palestine The SJCNL Free Palestine Action Team recognizes that Canada and Israel are both settler colonial states built on stolen land. The struggle for social justice is not bounded by national borders; as we fight to dismantle colonialism in so-called Canada, we must also stand against colonialism abroad. In alignment with our principles of revolutionary care, we are committed to uplifting the voices of those most marginalized and we recognize that there is no justice or liberation without collective liberation. We organize in solidarity with the Palestinian people, whose struggle under a settler colonial system of domination has been ignored for too long. Read More Jan 11, 2024 Free Palestine Rallies Every Saturday at 2pm NT at Harbourside Park in St. John's until a Ceasefire! Condemn the genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli state and send a message loud and clear to local politicians that we demand they call for a ceasefire now! You can sign up for the Palestine Solidarity NL Listserv here: https://palestineactionyyt.beehiiv.com/subscribe Read More Dec 17, 2023 Three Promises: Palestinian Film Screening Presenting, Three Promises by Yousef Srouji, in St. John's. Synopsis: While the Israeli army retaliates against the Second Intifada in the West Bank in the early 2000s, a mother films her family's daily life, punctuated by time spent shielding her family from harm in the basement. Now, her son revisits this past, delivering a heart-breaking portrait of the anguish of parents who are forced to choose between their children’s physical safety and the emotional upheaval of leaving home." Read More Oct 15, 2023 Running Down the Walls Fundraiser Thank you to everyone who came out to support Prison Justice and Abolition and to all who donated! We sent $298 to the Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) Warchest Program that supports political prisoners and prisoners of war in the US. You can find more about their work here: https://www.abcf.net/warchest-program/ We also raised $50 for our own NL-Based Prison Pen Pal Project to provide stamps and letters to volunteers and incarcerated people. You can learn more about that work here: https://www.sjcnl.ca/pen-pals Read More Sep 24, 2023 Migrant Justice: Status for All Email Campaign The SJC supports the Status for All campaign whole-heartedly. We believe in a world without borders and are imagining and working toward a Revolution of Care, a future that puts care at the core of social organization, instead of profit. We dream of a future where the destruction of thriving ecosystems for profit is brought to an end, where everyone's needs are met, and everyone's dignity is respected, everyone's value is celebrated. Where colonial, capitalist governments no longer decide who is worthy of rights, services, or protections. We know this future is possible and is coming because people, particularly Indigenous, Black, Brown, Queer, Trans, Poor, Disabled, and Migrant feminists & abolitionist dreamers, organizers, and activists have been fighting and working for generations to bring it into being. Read More Sep 22, 2023 Project Nujio'qonik It's Muskrat Falls All Over Again. Members of the SJC and Council of Canadians Avalon Chapter gather at Impact Assessment Office in St. John's in solidarity with the Environmental Transparency Committees Demand for A Federal Impact Assessment. Protestors chant, "We're here to fight for the future we need, the elites won't save us from their own greed" Read More Jul 1, 2022 Land Back Fest with the Indigenous Activist Collective A different way to spend July 1 in St. John's. 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!? Read More May 1, 2022 Marking May Day with the Worker Action Network "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. Read More Mar 8, 2021 A Feminist Recovery Means Full & Permanent Immigration Status for All SJC Supports Migrant Rights Network's Call for Full & Permanent Immigration #StatusForAll as Part of a #FeministRecovery from Covid 19. Sign the call here: https://migrantrights.ca/take-action/permanent-resident-status/ Read More Mar 6, 2021 Sex Worker Solidarity Expressing solidarity with sex workers & sex worker rights on #InternationalSexWorkerRightsDay Sex work is work and needs to be decriminalized! Thank you to SHOP for inviting us to participate in #StoriesOfSexWorkerSolidarity Read More Dec 1, 2020 End Mega-Damage The SJC signed the North American Mega Dam Resistance Alliance's Call to Protect Mistashipu, the Grand River. Add your voice to STOP GULL ISLAND by signing the petition: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JgHBcjkEtvwVH_x8lPsZQBg-jgoeX-EttOghs5rLGqI Read More Aug 1, 2020 Build Safer Communities SJC supports Abolition Coalition and allies call to Divest from Prisons and Policing. Show your support, and join us in signing the declaration! https://www.choosingrealsafety.com/ Read More Feb 27, 2020 In Solidarity with the Sovereign Wet'suwet'en Nation The Social Justice Cooperative declares our complete and unconditional solidarity with the people of the sovereign Wet’suwet’en nation in their ongoing resistance to Canadian colonialism, as well as with all those who have taken action in support of the Wet’suwet’en nation following invasion by the RCMP. Activists build a pipeline through O'Regan's office! Read More

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

Climate Petition Challenge Petition to Declare Provincial Climate Emergency Join us and demand that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador declare a climate emergency. How does it work? 1. Download the petition package below 2. Fill in your name and information. Know others who want to sign? Get their information too! 3. Return your completed package to the Social Justice Co-Op (details on the form) That's it! Quick and easy! Why do I have to download a form? In order for a petition to be presented in the House of Assembly, it has to be on paper. But don't worry! You collect the signatures and send us the forms, we do everything else, including cover the postage fees (contact us for details). Download the form and show your support today. Every signature counts! Print & Sign The Petition Climate Petition Challenge: Who We Are Right to Left: Lela Evans (PC), SJC member Rosie Myers, and Jim Dinn (NDP) posed for a selfie after Rosie delivered the petition to Confederation Building. What have we done so far? Taking the first steps towards progress In 2019, a team of SJC members put together this petition and set out into their communities. Over the course of a few months they collected over 2,000 signatures from citizens demanding the province declare a climate emergency Unfortunately, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that signature collection had to stop. The petition was put on hold until it was safe to venture out again. In June, 2021, the Coalition for a Green New Deal NL and DecarbonizeNL teamed up and breathed new life into the project. They contacted all the seated parties and four MHAs - Lela Evans (PC), Jim Dinn (NDP), Jordan Brown (NDP), and Paul Lane (IND)- agreed to present the petition to the floor. From June 16th to the end of session, our petition was presented every day! Our Labrador MHAs spoke to witnessing climate change firsthand, and all demanded the province take action. We are now collecting signatures again, with the intention of presenting a second batch of petitions in October when the House resumes. This is where we need you! Download the form and get out into your communities. Stay safe, collect signatures, and get us the support we need so we can demand the government take the climate crisis into account with every deicion they make. We can do this! 2073 SIGNATURES COLLECTED, AND COUNTING! Sign the petition to declare a climate emergency! Join the Climate Petition Challenge Climate Petition Challenge: Quote Climate Emergency Declaration: Petition to the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador We, the undersigned residents of the Province of NL, bring the attention of the House of Assembly to the following: THAT, WHEREAS: According to the document “The Way Forward on Climate Change” the province is already experiencing the effects of climate change; NL joined the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change in 2016, but is not on track to meet its 2020 targets; Financial costs resulting from climate change will unequally impact municipalities due to responsibilities set out in the “Municipalities Act 1999” THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon the House of Assembly to urge the government to: Declare a CLIMATE EMERGENCY Establish a task force on decreasing the effects of the climate crisis while building community resilience Consider climate in all policy & decision making Download, print and sign the climate petition now! Climate Petition Challenge: Who We Are Climate Petition Challenge: Get Involved

Our Vision: Text Revolution of Care Manifesto The struggle against patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, imperialism, climate change, and our corrupt economic system can feel overwhelming. It’s not a struggle we can take on alone. That’s why 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. By capitalism, we mean the global intersecting systems of oppression that impoverish billions to make a handful of people rich, the systems that co-opt democracy to protect the rich, and the systems that make all of us complicit in the destructive exploitation of our land, water, and communities in the service of profits for the rich. Our affluence in Canada is built off of poverty here and elsewhere. We do not live in isolation. Our local choices affect lives internationally. All beings on earth, human and non-human are linked in a web of relation. Click here to read our Strategic Compass for 2021 Our Vision: Text Care, like capitalism, can be applied as a way of life, as a system to uphold rule in society and our communities, and as a guideline by which all decisions are made. Capitalism encourages taking advantage of every situation for personal gain, focusing our attention inward, and creating a competition out of life itself. Revolutionary care encourages the exact opposite: to seek to provide for the needs of all those around us, in every situation, creating a sense of community and belonging. Revolutionary care uses empathy as a means of knowledge and understanding; this knowledge is the basis for all decisions, with the ultimate goal of meeting the needs of all. Where capitalism applies value to how much an individual can take, the revolution of care calls for our values to be shifted based on how much care one gives back to their community and each other. Where individual wealth is multiplied by the greed of capitalism, collective wealth is multiplied under the revolution where care is placed as the centre. Revolutionary care, when applied on a larger scale, has the potential to collapse hierarchies by giving consideration and a voice to all. It prevents the elevation of the few above the many by illuminating our world with the views and emotions of those around us, creating empathy, and, ultimately, generosity. It elevates the importance of the community as a whole creating a sense of belonging and trust. It decentralizes decision making by creating fluid governance based on current needs and giving space to all who wish to participate. Revolutionary care has the potential to crumble capitalism by creating communities that care for their people rather than their profits. The SJC intends to grow this movement, and spread the Revolution of Care as a way of organizing, a way of decision making, and as a way of life. Our Vision: Text A “Revolution of Care” means reclaiming care, by building a movement centered on compassion and kindness that gives space to heal, learn, and grow. By strengthening relationships and ensuring that everyone feels welcome, we are connecting community members and shaping our own system, one that can end the exploitation of people and the destruction of thriving ecosystems for profit and build communities where everyone feels loved and respected. Therefore, the Social Justice Co-operative commits to the following principles of revolutionary care: - ensure anti-racist decolonization; -- anti-racist decolonization, at its very core, is a care building movement based on Indigenous feminism which includes radical love and acceptance. Indigenous feminism places care at the centre of decision making and ensures that all community members have their physical, spiritual and emotional needs met; - radical inclusivity: everyone is given an equal opportunity to join our movement by addressing barriers; creating welcoming environments, especially for members of traditionally marginalized and neglected groups; -- a revolution of care requires us to have patience for all people as they learn and make mistakes; -- recognize that we have all been socialized in inherently racist, classist, sexist, cis-heteronormative and ableist systems and that it takes time and patience to understand and unpack this socialization; - all voices are heard, marginalized and most impacted voices are amplified, and all experiences are valued and considered; - a collaborative, cooperative, consensus-based, decentralized approach to decision-making; - intentional relationship and community building, recognizing the need for social spaces in addition to organizing spaces; - promotion of worker-owned co-operatives, a strong union movement, and international worker solidarity; - intentional care for all of humanity, our environment, and the other species with whom we share the earth by resisting wasteful, hazardous, and unsustainable patterns of consumption and destruction; - intersectional approach to a just transition from an extraction economy to a society that cares for the land and for each other. Our Vision: Text The Revolution of Care is a journey and as we grow and learn, we continue to reflect on how we can better serve the movement. Hence, this is a living manifesto, to be built and expanded on as our revolution grows. Our Vision: Text

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.

Challenging Car Culture: Welcome Challenging Car Culture: About Us A Bit About Us We advocate for accessible and active transportation, and for free, sustainable mass transit. We challenge the idea that cars are the default way to get around. Join the #ChallengeCarCulture Coalition and #ThinkOutsideTheCar with us. Private vehicles are not our future, and they do not serve our planet or our communities. While they've come to be thought of as the default way to get around, this hasn't been the case for most of human history and it's pretty obvious who's benefiting...the automobile and petro industries! We can do better. We can move as a community with free, accessible, public transit, and walkable, bikable, rollable neighbourhoods. Say Hi @ Our Monthly Meeting! Join us on Zoom on the 1st Monday of each month from 5:30-7pm NT for our monthly general meeting. All are welcome! Email us for the meeting link. Connect with CCC re: meetings Challenging Car Culture: Text Pop Up Crossing Guards A proactive response to pedestrian safety concerns: Challenge Car Culture members host "Pop Up Crossing Guard'' events around St. John’s. This initiative, launched early in 2023, sees volunteers hit the streets to help pedestrians cross safely, foster positive community interactions, and draw attention to the follies and dangers of car centric culture and neighborhoods. Equipped with high visibility vests and homemade stop signs, Challenge Car Culture volunteers pop up in areas known for their lack of safe crossings or stressful pedestrian experiences. Our first event took place at the junction of Military Road, Bonaventure Avenue, and Garrison Hill, helping people navigate the triangular crosswalks, where motorists often fail to stop appropriately. The second pop-up was during the NL Folk Festival, where the team set up at the intersection of Military Avenue and Bannerman Road, ensuring festival attendees could navigate the area safely. Reception from the community has been resoundingly favorable, with pedestrians expressing gratitude for the increased safety and reduced anxiety experienced during the pop-ups. The homemade stop signs have proven to be particularly effective, catching the attention of drivers and facilitating smoother interactions between pedestrians and motorists. Challenge Car Culture's Pop Up Crossing Guard initiative represents a practical approach to fostering people-centered neighborhoods, making a tangible difference in pedestrian safety and challenging the prevailing car-centric culture. Would you like to see us at a crosswalk or intersection near you, or join us on the streets for a pop-up? Don’t hesitate to get in touch. Connect with CCC re: Crossing Guards Wheatpasting Challenge Car Culture is all about action with a creative twist. Our recurring "wheat-pasting" events are a creative way to challenge car culture and nudge people toward alternative thinking – all while having a good time. Armed with impactful posters and a sense of camaraderie, Challenge Car Culture members hit the streets, transforming dull walls into thought-provoking canvases. These posters disrupt the status quo, urging folks to reconsider their car-centric habits and explore more eco-friendly ways to get around. But it's not just about serious messages – these events are also about fun. Laughter fills the air as posters go up, creating a sense of community and shared purpose. The process itself becomes a statement, showing that change can be enjoyable and engaging. Challenge Car Culture's wheat-pasting events serve a dual purpose: they spark conversations and actions while also injecting a dose of enjoyment into activism. So, keep an eye out for our posters – they're more than decorations, they're invitations to join a movement that's steering us toward a more sustainable future, one paste-up at a time. Want to join us next time? Please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you Connect with CCC re: Wheatpasting Near Hits Project We want to hear from people who have been nearly hit while walking, cycling, using a mobility aid, or pushing a stroller. We are building a map of areas, and a list of issues, that are dangerous for non-motorist and need to be addressed. Learn More Slippery Sidewalk Open Mic Last year (Nov 2022) we hosted an open mic at the BIS, where we invited people to rant, roar, rap, scream, scowl, weep, sing, speak, plead (non-exhaustive) into the mic about experiences with snow, icy, slippery, or unsafe sidewalks! Are you sick of the slip? Do you have something you want to get off your chest about slippery sidewalks? Click the button and use the form to share your story with us. Share your Sick of the Slip Story Challenging Car Culture: Pro Gallery Advocating for Accessibility On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Dec 3rd, 2020, we gathered in honour of those who have been injured or killed trying to navigate our inaccessible, dangerous sidewalks. We gathered to bear witness for those who are isolated in their homes for half of the year, every year, due to negligent sidewalk clearing. Access is a right not a privilege and our city is failing to safeguard the rights of People with Disabilities in even the simplest, most basic ways. We gathered with three asks: 1. Clear our sidewalks with the same priority as adjoining streets. 2. Use a Universal Design approach in all further developments, including the Kelly's Brook Shared Use Path: consult Universal Design experts and community members with diverse lived experiences and accessibility concerns. 3. Reverse the recent cuts to Metrobus. (We won this one!) Advocating for Accessibile Sidewalks! We Demand Safety! Support the Kelly's Brook Shared-Use Pathway The Kelly's Brook Shared-Use Pathway is going ahead with asphalt trail surface! This is a big win for inclusivity in our city! Thanks to everyone who supported this project! Get to Know the Kelly's Brook Trail Take a tour with Elizabeth Yeoman on her blog Meet the Trail Here Engage with City St. John's! The ‘What We Heard’ (WWH) document summarizing feedback from the Kelly’s Brook Shared-Use Path public engagement process is now available. Read The Report Brunch and Learn for Kelly's Brook Trail with St. John's City Councillors Brunch and Learn to discuss the upcoming vote to INDEFINITELY DEFER funding for Phase One of the Kelly's Brook Multipurpose Trail project. Watch Video here Action Archive Mobility Justice Discussion with the Human Rights Commission Presentation by and discussion with the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission, Carey Majid. The focus was on mobility justice, especially lack of sidewalk clearing, as a human rights issue. We explored the details and process of launching a human rights challenge on the matter. Email Us for More Information Challenging Car Culture TV Play Video Search videos Search video... All Categories All Categories Nonprofits & Activism People & Blogs Street Skeets present: Stairway to Inclusion Play Video Residents protest state of sidewalks in St. John’s Play Video Protestors Shut Down Traffic to Demand Accessible Sidewalks Play Video Challenging Car Culture: News News & Views City of St. John’s 2021 Budget an Act of Deliberate Negligence Toward Residents ‘It traumatized me’: St. John’s woman tells about being hit by car after being forced onto road in her wheelchair Dec 8, 2020 Statement Dec 03, 2020 The Telegram Return of the U-Pass: This Time Bringing Students On Board Show your support for sidewalk snow-clearing! Oct 22, 2020 The Indepeendent Sept 28, 2020 Statement Investing in a Walk-able City Pays for Itself Some residents hope to make a case to bring Metrobus service to C.B.S August 21, 2020 The Independent Feb 15, 2020 CBC Reduce Speed Limits in the City of St. John's Speaking as a Car-Owner: It’s Time for a War on Cars Jan 25, 2020 Statement Sept 9, 2019 The Independent

Prisoner Justice Projects The SJC believes in prison abolition and the fight to bring about a world beyond prisons and policing. We believe communities can work together to address harm and hold one another accountable through Restorative and Transformative approaches to justice. Below are some projects we are involved in to connect with, advocate for, and support incarcerated community members. Prison Pen Pal Project We are a group of volunteers building friend ships through letter writing with community members experiencing incarceration in provincial penitentiaries in NL. Learn More about Prison Pen Pal Project Running Down The Walls Join us on October 15th 2023 at 2-5pm for the first ever St John’s Running Down the Walls fun 5k run/jog/walk/strut/roll. Bring $10 to participate or fundraise a minimum of $10. We’ll have water and snacks for all participants! Event starts at 2pm NT at the Corrections Wellness Garden, 89 Forest Road. Social to follow at 5pm NT at the Benevolent Irish Society, 30 Harvey Road. Learn More about Running Down The Walls

Join the Social Justice Co-operative Join: Welcome INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIP SJC BY-LAWS Co-operative Values & Principles Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice. Join: What We Do 1. Voluntary and Open Membership Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Activist Film Collective to host Online Screening of Three Promises Apr 10, 2024 The Activist Film Collective would like to thank all those who helped us meet our fundraising goal to cover licensing and platform fees for an online provincial movie night screening of Three Promises by Yousef Srouji. Film Synopsis: "While the Israeli army retaliates against the Second Intifada in the West Bank in the early 2000s, a mother films her family's daily life, punctuated by time spent shielding her family from harm in the basement. Now, her son revisits this past, delivering a heart-breaking portrait of the anguish of parents who are forced to choose between their children’s physical safety and the emotional upheaval of leaving home." The organizing team is still in the process of deciding on a date. We welcome more volunteers to join us! Please email activistfilmcollective@gmail.com if you'd like to join the organizing team or for more info on volunteering. To register to receive an invitation to the event once a date as been decided, please submit the following form: To stay in touch with the Activist Film Collective you can follow us on instagram and facebook @activistfilmcollective Previous Next

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