Danny Jones shares his story as part of the Let Me Tell You project in Michigan. Photo: AFSC
Rest in Power, Danny Jones
Danny Jones, Program Coordinator for the Michigan Criminal Justice Program, brought love and joy to all people he met. In this remembrance, Adrianna Parent née Duchene writes: “The loss of Daniel Jones is felt deeply by countless people across the country. I miss my friend and I mourn the loss of his light in this world. I pray for resilience, peace, and hope for all of us who are affected by his death.”
AFSC alum Ron Simpson-Bey describes Danny as a “true Servant Leader who had committed his second chance at life to serving humanity.” Natalie Holbrook, who directs AFSC’s work in Michigan, shares this:
He was love. He is love. My confidant and comrade. My soul brother. His feet on the ground carrying the labor of creating a better world on his shoulders and allowing all of us to find our gifts in this work. A gentle warrior among humans. Forgiveness and love are his center. This love lives in all of us who were touched by this mighty man.
I will hold close always Daniel stepping up and stepping into his purpose as a leader and facilitator. He came forward in a time of need at a prison in the UP. He helped us build a brilliant curriculum on empathy and forgiveness and accountability and LOVE! And then he led with it.
Remember this, my dear movement family: Danny wanted nothing more than for us to heal—to grow in love and connection and to address harms in our communities differently than we have done thus far. He believed in the power of accountability and transformation. He told me, “Your love will set her free.” He was right. He was thoughtful and pause filled. He was wise beyond his years and candid and funny as f*. He was wounded and healing. He is love.
The AFSC Michigan Criminal Justice Program will be honoring Chief Justice Bridget McCormack among others and our now-ancestors Daniel Jones and Earl Burton. RSVP to Natalie at nholbrook@afsc.org.
Training a new generation of abolitionists
In Chicago, young leaders ages 15 to 19 took part in a four-week program to strengthen their organizing and advocacy skills. They also worked on local campaigns to stop youth incarceration, writes Alicia Brown, the McConnell Peace with Justice Fellow with AFSC in Chicago.
From St. Louis to Cambodia – and back
Devonn Thomas (above) was recently named director of AFSC’s work in St. Louis. She writes: “In this role, my team and I will work to increase #RealStudentSafety and abolish the role of police in local public schools and universities…. Just a few weeks into my tenure, I was given the opportunity to represent Saint Louis’ Peacebuilding Program in Siem Reap, Cambodia” at AFSC’s Just Peace Theory of Change gathering.
Twin Cities program eyes increased coalition work in 2023
Brynne Crockett, Program Director of the Twin Cities Healing Justice Program, reports that AFSC will soon be recruiting for the 2023 Youth Board cohort. We envision they will focus on organizing city and state level campaigns, continuing to be trained and steeped in the analysis around systemic oppression. The goal is to build coalition with two other youth-led organizations in the Twin Cities and to help them create a youth board that can work in coalition with YUIR.
Documentary looks at threats to—and defense of—boycotts, free speech
Over the past six years, unbeknownst to most Americans, 34 states passed laws intending to silence boycott and other nonviolent measures aimed at pressuring Israel on its human rights record. These dangerous bills remove the legal protection that has been awarded to boycotts for generations, granting governments the power to condition jobs on political viewpoints. On December 5 at 7 pm CT in Oak Park, Illinois, the AFSC Palestine Activism Program is co-sponsoring a screening of Boycott, followed by a panel discussion.
Short takes
At a rally at the Iowa Capitol in opposition to a reckless gun amendment to the Iowa Constitution, State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad (above) shared his deeply personal story about forgiving the young man who killed his son…. Here’s the latest update from AFSC alums at Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice….Following the horrific shootings in Colorado Springs, AFSC issued this statement of solidarity….Join our Farm Bill for All call on December 6….AFSC invites you to apply for a role on one of our governance bodies….Here’s our year-end thank-you video to all the people who make our work possible.
Map by Raygun
The Midwest Digest turns 10!
I’m guessing December 3, 2012 might not mean much to most people. But that’s the day the first edition of the Midwest Digest hit the e-waves. Top stories included a Wage Peace Gathering in Chicago, the announcement of Sharon Goens-Bradley’s start in the Twin Cities, and civic engagement work with youth in St. Louis.
The Digest went on to cover an art display in Kansas City; a Northeast Ohio discussion of the “fiscal cliff;” the If I Had a Trillion Dollars national youth film festival, coordinated out of Indiana; planning for a fair-trade, refugee-led coffee venture in Dayton; a mosaic art project in Chicago; and new videos featuring criminal justice staff in Michigan.
The Digest also included the Iowa Immigrant Rights Program as featured on the PBS Newshour; an op-ed in the Des Moines Register and a new video from Chicago, both calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine; Michael McConnell’s speech at a victory celebration for Muhammad Salah; and a conference call with Afghan civil society activists.
Whew! If that sounds like a lot, well, it was. AFSC Midwest Region staff, Friends, volunteers, partners, alumni, and supporters have a lot to be proud of over these past ten years and much to look forward to. As always, we are…
…Grateful for your support
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