Rochester Alliance Of Communities Transforming Society Inc

ROCACTS IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING FAITH COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND UNDERSTANDING ACROSS RACIAL LINES AND ADDRESS STRUCTURAL RACISM.THE CLIMATE JUSTICE TASK FORCE ADVOCATED AND ENCOURAGED ADVOCACY ON THE NY CLIMATE ACTION SCOPING PLAN. THEY ENCOURAGED ROCACTS TO JOIN OTHER FAITH IN ACTION ORGANIZATIONS IN BECOMING MEMBERS OF NY RENEWS AND JOINING THEM IN ADVOCATING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE. THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT SET UP A CLIMATE ACTION COUNCIL AND CHARGED THEM WITH ASSEMBLING A SCOPING PLAN TO GIVE THE DETAILS OF KEEPING NYS ON THE SCHEDULE OF REDUCTION OF GREEN HOUSE GASES AND TRANSITIONING THE STATE TO A RENEWABLE ENERGY ECONOMY. CO-SPONSORED AND PARTICIPATED IN A GARDEN BUILD ON SAMUEL MCCREA WAY WITH FLOWER CITY NOIRE COLLECTIVE.THE EDUCATION TASK FORCE CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THE INCLUSION OF AN ANTI-RACIST CURRICULUM, INCREASED DIVERSITY IN TEACHER HIRING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICE, AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE SCHOOL CULTURE.THE TASK FORCE AND THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA PARTNERED ON A PROJECT TO REDUCE THE USE OF EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE PRACTICES IN THE PREK ENVIRONMENT AND TO USE PROVEN INTERVENTIONS THAT KEEP CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SETTING. ROCACTS WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM BEN & JERRY'S FOUNDATION TO PURSUE THIS WORK. THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TASK FORCE ORGANIZED ITS WORK AROUND SPECIFIC PUBLIC POLICY CAMPAIGNS, TRACKING BILLS, ACTIONS, COALITION PARTNERS, AND SUPPORT FROM OUR DELEGATION. ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SUPPORTED THE PEOPLE ACT, GEORGE FLOYD POLICING ACT, EMMETT TILL ANTI-LYNCHING ACT, AND BUILD BACK BETTER ACT.STATE INITIATIVES INCLUDED DANIEL'S LAW, PAROLE JUSTICE (FAIR & TIMELY, ELDER PAROLE), AND BAIL REFORM.THEY ADVOCATE THE REDUCTION OF GUN VIOLENCE BY PARTICIPATING IN HOMICIDE PRAYER VIGILS. JSTF ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN SIMPLE WEEKLY PRAYER VIGILS FOR VICTIMS OF HOMICIDE AT THE SITE OF THE HOMICIDE, SHOULD THEY OCCUR.THE POVERTY/JOBS/HOUSING TASK FORCE CONTINUES TO WORK TOWARD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY-WIDE TENANT'S UNION, 1199 SEIU, CITIZEN ACTION, AND THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, TO CAMPAIGN FOR GOOD CAUSE EVICTION LAW, AND PUT OUR FOCUS ON STATE LEGISLATION. THE TASK FORCE SUPPORTED THE CITY-WIDE TENANT'S UNION AND PARTICIPATED IN RMAPI'S FRONTLINE WORKERS' COHORT TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR RESIDENTS OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY.THE VOTING RIGHTS TASK FORCE WORKED WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON VOTING RIGHTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING AND CONDUCTED NUMEROUS VOTER REGISTRATION INITIATIVES TO INCENTIVIZE CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CURRENT ELECTIONS. THEY DISTRIBUTED VOTER REGISTRATION MATERIALS TO STUDENTS SO THEY COULD REGISTER SO 18-YEAR-OLDS COULD VOTE IN THE NEXT ELIGIBLE ELECTION AND 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS COULD BE PRE-REGISTERED FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS. COLLABORATIONS: DANIEL'S LAW COALITION, COLOR OF CHANGE. PAROLE JUSTICE COALITION: VOCAL-NY, CLEAN SLATE COALITION, FTP ROC, RAPP, SURJ ROC.CLEAN SLATE COALITION: METRO JUSTICE, MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, ROCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, VOCAL-NY.