Montanans Fighting for Human Right to Health Care Featured on Democracy Now!

Montana State Senator Christine Kaufmann, of NESRI partner the Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN), was featured on Democracy Now today. The MHRN has been leading a statewide campaign to achieve health care reform from a human rights perspective.  The campaign includes a legislative agenda and local initiatives. Kaufmann recently introduced a constitutional amendment in the State Senate to establish the right to health care in the state. Watch the interview >>> Learn more about NESRI’s Human Right to Health Program’s work with the Montana Human Rights Network >>>

United Workers March on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Declare Human Rights Zone

NESRI ally the United Workers of Baltimore marched 500 people strong as part of their Human Rights Zone March and B’More Fair. Nearly 60 organizations from across the country turned out to support the declaration of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor as a Human Rights Zone where all workers can receive healthcare, education and work with dignity. United Workers highlighted workers rights abuses by 3 restaurants in the Harbor – The Cheesecake Factory, Phillips Seafood, and M&S Grill. View a video from the March >>>

Sign-On Letter Urges Education Secretary to Improve School Discipline, Achievement Through Stimulus Funds

NESRI and the Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC) have asked the U.S. Department of Education to encourage school districts to invest federal stimulus money in Positive Behavior Supports (PBS), restorative practices and other innovative approaches to improve student behavior and achievement.  The organizations made the request in a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The letter outlined several steps to encourage the use of stimulus funds for effective programs that improve student discipline, achievement and school safety.  Twenty-four advocacy groups and 41 individuals signed the letter.  Read the letter and the complete list of participating organizations and individuals >>> Read the press release >>> Obtain more information about the DSC Alternatives to Zero-Tolerance Working Group >>> Listen to a recent DSC teleconference on “How Education Stimulus Dollars Can Be Used to Solve Part of the Pushout Problem” >>>

New Video: HUD Secretary Donovan Denies Community Participation

Congrats to NESRI partners May Day New Orleans and Rada Film Group for the short video they put together highlighting how public housing residents were shut out of HUD Secretary Donovan’s March visit to New Orleans.  During that visit, which took place the week of March 2nd, Secretary Donovan met with developers, but when residents tried to schedule a meeting with him they were denied.  Donovan’s actions violated one of the key components of the human rights to housing and to development – community participation.  According to human rights standards development must regard the opinion of community members as of equal value to those of analysts, academics, planners, and the private sector. Read the “Why Weren’t We Invited” press release from May Day New Orleans >>>

NESRI Launches New Podcast and Photostream!

Today NESRI launched two new web 2.0 tools. In podcast 3 (of 5) NESRI Executive Director Cathy Albisa and CADRE Executive Director Maisie Chin, a NESRI partner, address the opening plenary of the U.S. Human Rights Fund’s January 2009 Convening in New Orleans. In the most recent photo collection NESRI visits with May Day New Orleans to collaborate on a Human Right to Housing Participatory Survey. Listen to presentations by NESRI staff, board, and partners on our podcast page >>> Look through our new photostream where we document through photographs key events and actions >>>