[act-ma] 6/15: LOIS AHRENS "What Drives Mass Incarceration?"

[Commchurch.org]

THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BOSTON
SUNDAY SPEAKERS FORUM presents...

Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 11:00am

Annual Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Commemoration
LOIS AHRENS
"One in a Hundred: What Drives Mass Incarceration?"

According to a recent report by the Pew Foundation, more than one of every
100 American Adults are behind bars. One in nine Black men (ages 20 - 34) is
serving time, as is one in 36 adult Hispanic males. This talk will focus on
how, in the last 30 years, the neo-liberal agenda has exploited fear of
crime and used racism to create the conditions which drive the "war on
 drugs" and mass incarceration.

Lois Ahrens has been an activist and social justice organizer for more than
40 years. In 2000 she founded the Real Cost of Prisons Project, which brings
together justice activists, policy researchers, artists and people directly
experiencing the impact of incarceration to work jointly to end the U.S.
Prison nation. The project has developed workshops, a website
(www.realcostofprisons.org), a daily news blog and three comic books, soon
to be anthologized and published.  Lois has been involved in educating
people with criminal records, those who hire them and the public about how
to overcome/end obstacles created by laws and practices surrounding Criminal
Offender Record Information (CORI). She also works to raise awareness and
opposition to the building or expansion of jails in this state.

Community Church of Boston
565 Boylston St. (Copley Square)
www.communitychurchofboston.org


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JOIN US ON SUNDAYS

10:00am Coffee, Tea and Bagels
11:00am Sunday Speakers' Service/Forum (2nd floor)
11:00am Justice School for children and youth (3rd floor)
12:30pm Luncheon
5:00pm Growing Faith, Strengthening Community (with potluck supper)


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JUSTICE SCHOOL -- FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH!

The Justice School is a new social justice program for children and youth on
Sundays at 11:00am at Community Church. Director JooYoung Choi has developed
a terrific curriculum to teach and learn from young people about social
justice and how to live it. The program is free and you may enroll your
child at any time during the year. We invited you to visit the Justice
School one Sunday to see what it's about, or go to www.thejusticeschool.org
for more details.

Contact JooYoung at jooyoungc at gmail.com or 617.266.6710 if you want to
receive Justice School updates, or for any questions you may have.


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GROWING FAITH, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY

Evening Service at 5:00pm
Sundays at the Community Church of Boston

Community Church of Boston's 5:00pm service and potluck dinner. The
intention of the evening  service is to bring together intergenerational
community to search, reflect, sing, and build community. You are all invited
to bring your favorite dish or snack to share after the service. ALL are
welcome! Call or email Jason Lydon, Congregational Director, if you have any
questions.  617.266.6710 - congregationaldirector at gmail.com


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LUNCH ON SUNDAYS, 12:30PM

On Sunday after our morning programs, we have lunch with one another in the
Guatemala Room (3rd floor), prepared by our cook Luis Alonso Guzman. Enjoy a
delicious lunch with friends! A small contribution is requested to help
cover lunch expenses.


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DIRECTIONS/PARKING

The Community Church is located at 565 Boylston Street in Copley Square,
between Dartmouth and Clarendon Streets.

Parking is available on Sunday mornings at the Back Bay Garage (entrances on
Clarendon Street or St. James Ave.). We can provide a sticker to affix to
your parking receipt, and you will be charged $5.00 for 3 hours of parking.

By public transportation, take the Green line to Copley or take the Orange
line to Back Bay station. Community Church is a 2-minute walk from either
station.


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A PEACE AND JUSTICE CONGREGATION SINCE 1920

The Community Church of Boston is a free community of human beings united
for the study and practice of universal religion, seeking to apply ethical
ideals to individual life and the democratic and cooperative principle to
all forms of social and economic life.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US

Jason Lydon, Congregational Director
Community Church of Boston
565 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617)266-6710
(617)266-0449 (fax)
info at commchurch.org
http://www.communitychurchofboston.org