The Hot Sheet

Like the postal service

It was COLD but it didnt stop us from letting registered voters in pgh district 2 know that there’s an ELECTION ON TUESDAY!

Roxanne on WAMO tonight at 8pm!

Tune in to WAMO 106.7 from 8-9pm TONIGHT and hear our own lovely and talented Roxanne Banks-Williams share her wisdom on the historic election, inauguration, and next steps for community change.

Go to their website http://www.wamo.com/ to stream audio live.

Tags: change, community, election, inauguration, president, roxanne banks-williams, WAMO

Bad News:

The Violence Policy Center released a new report:  Pennsylvania has the highest black homicide rate of any state in the union. From their press release

“The annual study, Black Homicide Victimization in the United States: An Analysis of 2006 Homicide Data, uses 2006 data–the most recent data available from the FBI–and ranks the 50 states according to their black homicide victimization rates. The study found overwhelmingly that firearms, usually handguns, were the weapon of choice in the homicides. This is the third year that the VPC has issued the report and the second time in three years that Pennsylvania has topped the ranking.”

For PENNSYLVANIA, the study found that in 2006:

• There were 490 black homicide victims, resulting in a homicide rate of 36.86 per 100,000. Of these, 441 were male and 49 were female.
• For homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 87 percent of black victims (414 out of 475) were killed with guns. Of these, 90 percent (372 victims) were known to be killed with handguns. There were 26 victims killed with firearms where the type of gun was not stated. There were 26 victims killed with knives or other cutting instruments, 17 victims killed by bodily force, and 8 victims killed by a blunt object.

• For homicides involving black victims for which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 85 percent of black victims (173 out of 204) were murdered by someone they knew. Thirty-one victims were killed by strangers.”

Read the full report here:  http://www.vpc.org/press/0901homicide.htm

There is no single policy or piece of legislation that will prevent this kind of terror and tragedy.  This is something that calls for community and government intervention working hand in hand.

Tags: deaths, gun, handguns, homicide, murder rate, Pennsylvania, philadelphia, pittsburgh, violence

Rhyme Calisthenics #5

Back in the new year!  As always, the PA League of Young Voters Education Fund is proud to be the fiscal sponsor of this sweet local freestyle hip-hop contest.

Come watch as Rhyme Calisthenics challenges 16 of the region’s best and bravest MC’s to spin once again spin the Wheel of Skillz and showcase their improvisational prowess in 4 rounds of competition.  Our past champions will be returning to the stage to defend their titles against a host of new competitors.

Rhyme Calisthenics is this Friday, January 23 at the Shadow Lounge (5972 Baum Blvd in East Liberty).  The event is hosted by Thelonious Stretch and also features a guest performance by acclaimed wordsmith Subcon.  Doors open at 9pm and the competition begins at 10pm.  $10 / Or just $5 before 10pm.

Party after the competition with DJ Huggy and DJ Vex from midnite til 2AM.  T-Shirt Giveaways, Blue Room Massages and Live art by Lucas Stock and Kristoffer.

For more information visit rhymecal.com

Tags: community, contest, hip-hop, Outreach, pa league of young voters education fund, pittsburgh, Rhyme Calisthenics, voter registration, voters, Youth

Event Update: 1/21/2009

EMPOWER:  CANVASS VOTERS THIS WEEKEND
We’re turning out voters for the city council special election in District 2!  Help us canvass this Saturday and next Saturday, from 10am-2 or from 2-6pm.  Read why special elections are important.  Help get out the vote! 
Sign up here, or email  mac@paleague.com to volunteer for a shift

ENGAGE: “SIGNS OF CHANGE” political activism art exhibit
Opening this Friday at 6pm: Admire the posters, photographs, audio clips, and ephemera of over 40 years of political activism from around the world.  Visit our table there  PA League on Thursday, Jan 27th and Friday Feb 27th from 3pm - 6pm as we register voters and pass out voter rights information at the “Signs of Change: Social Movement Cultures 1960s to Now” art exhibit at CMU’s Miller Gallery.  Learn more about the exhibit and see some of the art at their website,

LEAD:  GRASSROOTS ORGANIZER INSTITUTE
Save the date:  The PA League is back with its series of grassroots organizer trainings that are free and open to the public.  If you’ve always wanted to do more for your community’s political situation, there are three dates coming up this spring that will give you the skills and insight you need to be a leader for change.

Click above to sign up to receive additional agenda information for any of the trainings above (space is limited to 24 attendees per training)

Tags: art, Carnegie Mellon University, Civic engagement, grassroots organizer, green jobs, pittsburgh, political activism, registration, rights, Upcoming Events, voter, young, Youth

Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference Contest

Want GREEN jobs??? Tell Working America why you want to fight for a green economy and you could win a chance to go to the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference in Washington, D.C! Winners not only get the opportunity to attend but also will receive activist training, a chance to hear what the experts think, and meet other green supporters.

For more information on the contest and Working America, check out: http://www.workingamerica.org/greenjobscontest.cfm

Come join the League all over town!

TURNOUT:  DISTRICT 2 SPECIAL ELECTION

As you may not know, Pittsburgh’s city council District 2 is having a special election in a couple weeks to fill the vacant seat left by now-Representative Dan Deasy.  On February 3rd the special election will decide the district’s representative for the next eleven months, in which time the council will be make decisions about the City’s finances that will have repercussions for years to come.

Unfortunately, special elections are notorious for having a low-profile and even lower turnout, so help us turn out registered voters in Mt. Washington and Duquesne Heights!

We’re canvassing for the next three Saturdays to give people information on the candidates running and remind them to vote Feb. 3rd.  We need at least 4 more volunteers for each of these shifts, so sign up below!  We always pair people up, so feel free to bring a friend and do the canvass together.

Click here for the schedule.

More »

Special Elections are Important

On February 3rd a special election in Pittsburgh’s City Council District 2 will decide the district’s councilor for the next eleven months. Over the next year council will be making decisions about the City’s finances that will have repercussions for years to come.

It is important for the neighborhoods of Banksville, Chartiers City, Crafton Heights, Duquesne Heights, East Carnegie, Elliott, Esplen, Fairywood, Mount Washington, Oakwood, Ridgemont, and Sheraden to think carefully in choosing their next representative.

Unfortunately, special elections are for a single office and fall on days when people are not accustomed to voting, and as a result are poorly attended even by active voters. The PA League is going to change that this year by talking to young people in District 2 and providing information about the candidates and then reminding them to turn out to vote.

This is the year that we show that special elections matter just as much as every other election.  Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Mac Booker,
PA League Field Director

Tags: city council, district 2, pittsburgh, special election