Transform America - Uniting a Movement

Because Downhill Battles are not Worth Fighting

Chester Asher — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:13:25 -0700

We're about a third of the way there. 30 mentors at 3 schools in Harlem & Brooklyn. Some mentorships have been wildly successful; as recently showcased by MTV's "Wise Latinas,” Where one of our Moving Minds Mentors was able to "empower" her mentee by helping her to open up and share her gift of poetry. And some have been less successful like when students have skipped out on their mentorship sessions. We're learning and strengthening our programs. Every child deserves an excellent education, but first they have to believe that they are excellent and capable of achieving it academically. It’s an uphill struggle, but we know we have the right equipment. A hand full of tenacity, a pitcher full of faith, and a bag full of tenacity. In Harlem this week we will be celebrating our mentors, our mentees, their parents, and all of their commitments to moving minds and pursuing excellence. Step up to the plate, help us. Only 70 more mentors to go: http://transformamerica.org/destination/education/mentors

Time for some, time for some, time for some...

Chester Asher — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:39:55 -0700

I hope to see you today at 6:30, at Society Cafe (114th & 8th). Bring your calendars. There's a lot of doing to be done. We'll be making plans to,

-Street Team
-Recruit Campus organizers
-Present Youth Councils to Community Boards
-Recruit youth at schools
-Recruit mentors

Later...

Chester Asher — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:15:21 -0700

There will never be an "easier" time to make change. There will never be a time when it is "more comfortable" to engage in the process. It is not an act of convenience. You will always have a choice, a hard choice, between missing an event, a night out, a day at work, a class or sleep; and working to make change. Change won't fit neatly into your schedule between your eleven O'clock class and your two O'clock part time. It won't wait for you to finish studying. It wont suddenly appear when you have a white picket fence, two point five kids, and a dog named Bo. If that's what you're looking for, you may be on the wrong website. Change may come slow...

Change may not come at all. But we work for it as if we expect it with the rising of the sun. And for all our successes or failures, ours will be a beautiful struggle. A struggle with earnest, tenacity, and love.

"There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now." - James Baldwin

Next meeting Wednesday October 21st, 6:30pm 114th & 8th Ave. at Society Cafe.

Thank You!

Daniel Mazzone — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:32:32 -0700

Thank you to all who came to the 3rd Annual AFFIRMative ACTion Social Justice Park Party!

It was a huge success with great artists, great food, and great weather! More importantly we recruited tens of new mentors and youth for our Youth Councils, and left with a new energy to take action. The graffiti wall asked, "What will you do?" Many people contributed, and now we're waiting for your answer. ACT!!

Join Transform America, we meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6:30 P.M. at "Society" on 114th and Frederick Douglass Blvd., sign up for mentorship, join a Youth Council, lead a Youth Council, start up a Flight School, intern, be a campus agitator, join a Street Team once a month, come to our next networking event, get involved with another serious social justice organization. Just make sure you get involved and ACT.

For a quick recap of the Park Party, check out this short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlpSEYsNygQ

Affirm & ACT: A Social Justice Park Party!

Chester Asher — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:03:17 -0700

This Saturday at 1pm, in St. Nicholas Park located on St. Nicholas Ave. and 135th St. we will party.

We will celebrate 30 mentors, 5 Youth Councils and our efforts to end mayoral control. We will feast on the finest burgers, hotdogs and snacks. We will listen to the most beautiful soulful sounds and the most mesmerizing lyrics muttered on this side of Harlem. We will be bedazzled by b-boys & b-girls who really know how to break dance down. We will glare at glorious graff by the baddest graffiti artists in NYC. And all of this will serve to affirm our belief that we can and will make a better world.

Then we will act. We will sign up for mentorships, we will get our friends to sign up for mentorships, we will encourage kids to join Youth Councils, we will get involved. We will visit the tables of organizations like Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence, like the Audre Lorde Project, like Drop the Rock, like LUCHA, GQ, C-Roots, and the D8 Youth Council, and we will sign up to take action. We will act to recruit 100 mentors, start 25 new Youth Councils, start 15 new scholarship funds, and redesign our school system by helping to create a People's Board of Education, and we will do this while smiling, dancing, and eating in celebration.

Share this with your friends and your listserves, speak to a friend, text a friend, work with us, party with us, join us this Saturday to help... Transform America.

"There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now." - James Baldwin read more »

Monthly Meeting... Monthly Opportunity

Chester Asher — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:40:37 -0700

Transform America has bi weekly monthly meetings, every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. You said you were waiting for the opportunity to change the world... Let's go.

This month's meeting will mostly be dedicated to the park party coming up on Saturday. We're meeting this Wednesday at the park, 135th & St. Nicholas Ave. at 6:30pm. Only invite cats you think have a real interest in taking action on social justice issues.

Let's Go!

Thank You... Transform America

Chester Asher — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:09:46 -0700

Thank you all!

Our First Alliance Conference was a success. Thank you to the attendees, thank you to the panelists, and thank you to all our Wings for supporting Transform America.

When I say Transform America I'm not talking about our nonprofit organization. I'm talking about the groups that together form Transform America: Latinos Unidos Con Honor y Amistad, Community Roots, the District 8 Youth Council, and the Gentlemen of Quality. I'm talking about the outstanding individuals within those groups, and the trust that we all have that each is working towards human rights principles. I'm talking about the idea that we are bigger than ourselves and the organizations we belong to; that we fight not only for our own interests but for a greater common good; that together our strength is unparalleled; and that we will, united in common ideals and humanity, create a better world.

Thank you.

Pg. 2009

Chester Asher — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:20:59 -0700

2009. We have a black president in America. A supposed progressive president. What will become of the year 2009? Will it be remembered in the history books as a time of great change, the beginning of a great movement, a great drive to transform our nation? Or will it only be remembered as the year when America's first black president was elected and nothing more? Will this year be an indistinguishable blip in the chronicles of history or will it mark a new page? A page that will tell about a time when college became affordable to everyone regardless of economic status, where the youth became empowered to work for their visions reality, a time when health care became available to all those in need of it regardless of where they worked, a time when violence became detested and frowned upon as a means to police our communities and our world, a time when the concerns of the poor took precedent over the concerns of the rich, a time when we agreed to really live sustainably instead of simply sustaining rhetoric of a "green" society?

Obama may have a few lines to write in this page of history. But we are not only co-authors but also the publishers of our moment in history. Whether with Transform America or with one of our Wings, join us to help Transform America. No issue is an island unto itself. We're starting with education only as a avenue to systemic, holistic, change. Register to be a mentor for 1 hour a week. Suggest ideas that should be included in a mission statement for the New York City Department of Education.

History nor change is made with talk alone. There must be corresponding actions. Pick up your pens. Let's write history.

Maya Acuzena and Jahstix performing at Transform America's 2nd Annual Social Justice Park Party

Haby Barry — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:57:26 -0700

Thank you!

Daniel Mazzone — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:24:22 -0700

Thanks to everyone who made it out to Fort Greene for the Social Justice Party in the Park! We appreciate all of the efforts of the performers, the organizations and the volunteers.

Video and pictures of the event will be forthcoming.

New Date: Park Party, November 2nd, 12-5

Daniel Mazzone — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:24:26 -0700

Due to the unanticipated all day rain-a-thon this past Saturday, we regretfully had to postpone the Social Justice Party in the Park. That said, it gives us more time to attract more media sources and even more attendees. This is going to be a very exciting and significant event and this delay gives us an opportunity to only make it better.

Sunday, November 2nd, 12-5pm, Fort Greene Park (No rain in site, 61 degree forecast).

Register for "Affirm and Act: A Social Justice Party in the Park" - It's Time to Change the Educational System in NYC

Chester Asher — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:41:16 -0700

Register Your Organization HERE:

Registration Application

We have ambitious goals, we must have ambitious organizations with the audacity to work for big change. read more »

Internship Positions Available

Daniel Mazzone — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:31:22 -0700

Three internship positions are available with Transform America: Marketing and Publicity Assistant; Recruitment Assistant; Impact for Change Assistant
Details: See attachments below for details on each position

This is a great experience for anyone who wants to work and/or lead in the non-profit sector, see what change can look like from the ground up, and work for the name of social justice. This is an unpaid internship that requires school credit.

To apply please send your resume and brief cover letter to: info@transformamerica.org

Second Annual Social Justice Party in the Park

Daniel Mazzone — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:38:05 -0700

Social Justice Party in the Park

What: A gathering of organizations to promote social justice, recruit activists, and advance our campaign for better education in NYC.
When: Sunday, November 2nd, 2008; 12 noon
Where: Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn; Map

Come out and help us promote political education, increase mentorship in schools, raise money for college scholarships, and create a mission statement for the Dept of Education. More details to come. read more »

Give Us Your 2 Cents... We'll Ask for More Later

Chester Asher — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:46:04 -0700

The Vote:

Political Education (Youth Council, Democracy Matters, Transform America, GQ, LUCHA, and C-Roots) 6 votes
Alternatives to college (Youth Council) 1 vote
Developing a purpose for the NYC Dept. of Education (Transform America, C-Roots) 2 votes
Making college Affordable (Youth Council, Democracy Matters, GQ, and LUCHA) 4 votes
Increasing Mentors and Counselors (Democracy matters, Transform America, GQ, LUCHA, C-Roots) 5 votes

Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We have to begin to learn to rule ourselves again.
Chinua Achebe read more »