Welcome to the February 1 issue of Justice Center News, the update from the Justice Center at All Peoples.

Much of what I’m sharing with you in this issue will focus on our advocacy efforts in Frankfort. The Justice Center is working with our partners at ABLE, the ACLU of Kentucky, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, the Kentucky Council of Churches, the Kentucky Unitarian Universalist Justice Action Network, and others to track various pieces of legislation and meet with legislators. I am also working to help develop our collective capacities to mobilize our congregations to meaningfully engage in this process.

One example — in our work with the state Voting Rights Coalition , we have created postcards and scripts to encourage people to hand-write messages to their elected officials in Frankfort. See below an event we’re planning at JCTC on Feb 7 to engage students there to engage in this process. The Justice Center is happy to share this postcards and scripts with you if you would like to engage your congregations, friends, or neighbors.

Legislation has not yet been filed although we expect Rep Brown and Sen Storm to file this legislation in the next few days. This legislation will provide a pathway for people with felonies to regain their voting rights.

 The “Safer (for some people) Kentucky Act” (House Bill 5)

This bill passed the full House last Friday. We are transitioning our advocacy efforts to the Senate. The information we’re getting suggests that there are more Senators who have concerns about this legislation than Representatives — so your advocacy matters! Please contact your legislators and share your concerns with this legislation.

If you would like a one-pager that describes the main points of the bill, and provides some talking points (admittedly from a Unitarian Universalist perspective), contact me and I’ll be happy to send that out to you.

This legislation, filed by Rep Wilner and Rep Nemes, prohibits utility companies from turning off the power to people when the temperature is above 90 or below 32 degrees. We are currently meeting with key legislators in the House Committee to determine their support.

House Bill 18 and Senate Bill 25 prohibit local jurisdictions from passing ordinances to protect Section 8 housing. This proposed legislation would mean towns and cities will not be able to  prohibit landowners from discriminating against people who use vouchers.

You are encouraged to contact your elected officials to express your concerns about these bills!

Rep Burke has filed House Bill 334 — a statewide prohibition against land owners and rentors from discriminating against people who use vouchers.

Senate Bill 6 will stop Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts in colleges and universities that receive starte funding.

Senate Bill 93 prohibits public school districts and schools from expending any resources on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging or political or social activism.

Reproductive Freedom Coalition

House Bill 179 expands paid parental leave in Kentucky. This bill has passed the house and is moving to the Senate. Your advocacy can help this bill pass this year!

House Bill 10 the” momnibus bill” is an omnibus bill that provides necessary supports and resources for pregnant people, newborn babies and the parents who care for them.

The Justice Center at All Peoples works to develop comfort and confidence to engage in meaningful justice advocacy and activism.  We are offering a series of workshop including topics such as “Embodied Activism”, “Finding and Sustaining Joy” and “Solidarity”. Check the full schedule of workshops and register here.

In partnership with JCTC, All or None, and KFTC, we are hosting an event to support Voting Rights. We’ll have a short presentation followed by an opportunity to engage studentsin advocating for restoration of voting rights.

Feb 7, 12 – 1:00 at JCTC.

More information, contact Nathan Bird at  nathan.bird@kctcs.edu

All Peoples Congregation is hosting a book discussion of The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017 by Dr. Rashid Khalidi. Dr Khalidi is a Palestinian-American, is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, and is regarded as a foremost historian of the modern Middle East.

Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88346042600

Contact Dennis Neyman at 502-500-5019 with questions

“Justice, Advocacy, and Compassion”

This free six-week class explores the intersection between compassion, mindfulness, and our efforts toward justice.

Speakers include social justice activist Mattie Jones, and Reverend Tim Findley, CEO of Elderserve,  Reverend Joe Phelps and Karen Newton (Wellbeing Integrator and Certified Mindfulness Teacher).

March 5th – April 9th from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. at the Earth and Spirit Center (1924 Newburg Rd.)  You can attend in person or via Zoom.  For more information and to register, click here:

To commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Louisville’s historic Fairness Ordinance, Kentucky Senate Minority Leader Gerald Neal and State Representative Keturah Herron introduced the twenty-fifth Statewide Fairness Laws in the Kentucky General Assembly.

9:00  AM Lobbying Meet up at the Capital Education Center

1:30 PM Rally in the Capital Rotunda

For more information and to register, go here.

The Justice Center’s largest source of funding comes from individual donors. Please consider making a generous donation by clicking on the button below to support our efforts.