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| Recent Events |
| PODER joined the Southwest Workers Union, Grassroots Leadership, and No Wall- Big Bend in a protest outside of Rep. Ciro Rodriguez’ office in San Antonio, Texas on July 17, 2008. The groups carried a message to Rep. Ciro Rodriguez to denounce his support for the SAVE Act which contains provisions to further expand the border wall and family detention centers. The SAVE Act contains inhumane strategies to address the complex issue of migration to the U.S. |
| No Border Wall! No Family Detention Centers!! NO SAVE ACT!!! San Antoino, TX 7-15-08 |
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| (Photo: Jessica Wilson & Susana Almanza, Chavelo & Christino Herrera) PODER receives grant from Keep Austin Beautiful for the Oak Springs Water Quality and Preserve Project, located at 3101 Oak Springs. This 5.997 acre tract contains natural springs, native plants, wetland, and huge beautiful Oak trees. In 2005 it was a proposed site for a paved shopping center that would have included a dollar store, two fast food joints, and two other 4,000 square foot retail stores. PODER and area residents (with the assistance of Councilman Mike Martinez) protested the plan and convinced the City to purchase the site to protect it from destruction. The site has a partial trail and benches. PODER along with other groups plan to educate the community about this treasure and engage people in its restoration, maintenance, and use by families as a green space. You may visit Keep Austin Beautiful at keepaustinbeautiful.org |
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| 3rd Social Forum of the Americas |
Over 10,000 people attended the 3rd Social Forum of the Americas- Otro Mundo Es
Posible! (Another World is Possible!) in Guatemala – October 7 – 12th , 2008. The
Forum was recognized as the “Foro de la Resistencia!” (The Forum of Resistence!).
A ceremonial Blessing by the Mayans and revolutionary music opened the hearts
and spirits of those attending the forum. “Somos Americanos, Somos en Canto”,
were the words that spoke to the crowds.
Posible! (Another World is Possible!) in Guatemala – October 7 – 12th , 2008. The
Forum was recognized as the “Foro de la Resistencia!” (The Forum of Resistence!).
A ceremonial Blessing by the Mayans and revolutionary music opened the hearts
and spirits of those attending the forum. “Somos Americanos, Somos en Canto”,
were the words that spoke to the crowds.
| Festival De Las Plantas |
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| PODER's 2008 Holiday Fundraiser Thanks to all who attended! |
| Oak Springs Preserve Clean-up & Community Planting Sunday 11/23/08---THANK YOU! |
PODER would like to express heartfelt gratitude to all of our wonderful volunteers
and donors from Austin Bible Fellowship, Booker T. Washington Housing, and all the
community members who came out to pick up trash, clear weeds and debris, and
plant native trees and perennials at the Springs. Together we transformed the
preserve into a friendly green space and planted nearly 400 plants and trees in the
flowerbeds along the trail. We could not have done this without them, and we
encourage folks in East Austin to get involved and enjoy this East Austin treasure.
Please contact carmen.llanes@gmail.com or call 472-9921 for info on future events
and volunteer opportunities at Oak Springs Preserve.
and donors from Austin Bible Fellowship, Booker T. Washington Housing, and all the
community members who came out to pick up trash, clear weeds and debris, and
plant native trees and perennials at the Springs. Together we transformed the
preserve into a friendly green space and planted nearly 400 plants and trees in the
flowerbeds along the trail. We could not have done this without them, and we
encourage folks in East Austin to get involved and enjoy this East Austin treasure.
Please contact carmen.llanes@gmail.com or call 472-9921 for info on future events
and volunteer opportunities at Oak Springs Preserve.
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| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist; he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968). Austinites celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, 2008. |
| MLK March 1-19-09, Austin Texas |
| In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in the spirit of our President-Elect's call for a day of service young people from American Youthworks/Environmental Corps partnered with PODER and Treefolks to plant trees and clear trash at Oak Springs Preserve (located at 3160 Oak Springs Dr, at the corner of Airport Blvd) on January 17, 2009. |
On Wednesday, the day after President Barack Obama’s inauguration, members of
the Austin and San Antonio communities joined in a national day of action to tell the
incoming administration that we are still hoping for real change we can believe in with
a rally at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Antonio.
Rally participants recognize this as a historic moment of change and are asking
President Obama for support and action during his first 100 days of his presidency to:
1) End the family detention policy
2) End immigration raids
3) End Operation Streamline
4) End construction of the border wall and
5) End ICE-local law enforcement collaboration.
the Austin and San Antonio communities joined in a national day of action to tell the
incoming administration that we are still hoping for real change we can believe in with
a rally at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Antonio.
Rally participants recognize this as a historic moment of change and are asking
President Obama for support and action during his first 100 days of his presidency to:
1) End the family detention policy
2) End immigration raids
3) End Operation Streamline
4) End construction of the border wall and
5) End ICE-local law enforcement collaboration.
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| Protesting Anti-Immigrant Policies - San Antonio, Texas ICE Office |
| Cesar E. Chavez "Si Se Puede!" March and Rally held on Saturday, March 28th |
| Cesar E. Chavez is one of the most important leaders of the 20th century. His legacy of workers rights, civil rights, environmental justice, equality for all, peace, non-violence, children and women's rights, deserves national recognition. Cesar Chavez inspired millions of people across the country of all races and nationalities to engage in social & economic justice for farm workers. His life work to empower the poor & disenfranchised is a model for all. |
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| Oak Springs Trail Building Thanks Austin Bible! |
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| PODER's Young Scholars for Justice 2009 |
| PODER's Young Scholars for Justice (YSJ) held a protest at the Pure Casting Facility, located at 2110 E. 4th Street on June 10th, 2009. Afterwards the YSJ went door-to-door distributing information to area residents on how to file a complaint with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) if area residents are exposed to odor, dust, and/or noise pollution from the Pure Casting Facility. |
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| 7th Annual Festival de las Plantas Traditional healing and practical uses of medicinal plants |
| Patagonia in Austin held their “Vote Your Choice” Environmental Campaign in October and PODER competed with 2 other local environmental organizations for the chance to win $2,500! PODER won the second prize of $1,500 from Patagonia. PODER thanks all of you for your vote and support. |
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| Tanks But No Tanks |
| The 1992 campaign to close the fuel storage facilities in East Austin, known as the “Tank Farm,” was an issue that brought grassroots empowerment and bridged east and west Austin environmentalists. PODER would like to thank all our supporters for attending our 18th Anniversary of the Tank Farm Closure. We would also like to send an extra special thank you to our volunteers! |