<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><!--StartFragment--> <h2>ARE YOU READY TO PUT YOUR ANTI-RACIST VALUES INTO ACTION?</h2><h2><o:p></o:p></h2> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; ">BECOME A MEMBER OF THE <u>COMMUNITY CHANGE RAPID RESPONSE TEAM!</u></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>Throughout our nearly 40 year history, Community Change has been committed to action for racial justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To increase our impact when the need for action arises, CCI is forming a Rapid Response Team; we are developing a network of volunteers who are willing to participate in antiracist actions in the Boston area and who will inform and encourage others to join them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To be a member of the CCI Rapid Response Team, it is not necessary to answer every call for action, but rather to be willing, when possible, to stand up for racial justice with others. To join CCI’s Rapid Response Team, call 617-523-0555 or email <a href="mailto:janet@communitychangeinc.org">janet@communitychangeinc.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; "></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; ">ACTION IS NEEDED NOW FOR TWO ISSUES IN THE BOSTON AREA</span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><b><u>1. Help stop housing evictions in Dorchester & Boston-area.</u></b></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> The pressure generated by activists forming blockades in front of the homes of those facing eviction has halted the bank’s plans. THIS ACTION IS WORKING BUT MANY OTHERS ARE FACING EVICTIONS. You can help tenants avoid some of the devastation of the racist sub-prime mortgage disaster by standing with these tenants. The most probable next case will be a triple decker where the tenants have offered to buy, have applied for and received mortgage approval after having the foreclosed property value appraised, and then were turned down by the bank as they doubled the asking price.</span></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></div> <ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"> <ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="a"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">For stories and info on foreclosure evictions in Boston, go to:<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><a href="http://boston.indymedia.org">http://boston.indymedia.org</a> and <a href="http://www.clvu.org">http://www.clvu.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol> </ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> For history and analysis of the subprime mortgage disaster and how it affects communities of color, go to <a href="http://www.faireconomy.org">http://www.faireconomy.org</a> and click on <i>Foreclosed: State of the Dream 2008.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> To hear more about and discuss this issue, come to the Community Change Brown Bag Discussion on February 20 to meet Roxan McKinnon, Director of City Life/Vida Urbana.</span></p> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> 2. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Help ensure high quality education for all MA K-12 students by reforming MCAS now.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><b><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></b></span></font></div><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1"><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="a"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span style=""><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><b>Join us at the State House on February 13 for the </b></span></font><o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol> </ol> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; ">MCAS Reform – Lobby Day & Action</span></span></div><h2 style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in"><o:p></o:p></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><i>Wednesday February 13, 2008, 10:30 a.m. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <h1 style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">Room A-1, The State House<o:p></o:p></h1> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> We will be asking the Governor, our representatives and senators to reduce the weight of the MCAS and use a range of evidence to determine graduation as has been done successfully in other states. If possible, please make<span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span> appointments with your Representative and Senator to meet with them on February 13 (11:30 am or after). Appointments can be made now, and let us know if you would like assistance in making appointments. Even if you can’t make appointments before, please come anyway and we will direct you to your legislators’ offices.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> b. <b>Call the Governor, your Representative and your Senator anytime</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><b>on February 13</b></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">, or during the week of February 11-18 and ask for their support of MCAS Reform. Governor’s Phone #: 617-725-4005 – State Phone #: 617-722-2000.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">c. Email the Governor, your Representative and your Senator anytime</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><b>February 13, </b></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">or during the week of February 11-18 and ask for their<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">support of MCAS Reform. To email the Governor: Go to <i>www.mass.gov</i></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Click on “contact the Governor’s office” and you will be directed to an<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">email form.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> For more information on the MCAS Reform effort, go to: <a href="http://www.citizensforpublicschools.org">http://www.citizensforpublicschools.org</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->
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