John George Social Justice Awards

For information about the 2019 30th Anniversary and Social Justice Awards Reception, please click here.  To purchase tickets/be a sponsor, please click here.

John George Social Justice Awards

In the Spirit of John George…

“Think Globally — Act Locally”

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Everett and Jones BBQ

126 Broadway, Oakland

5:30 – 7:30 PM

Please join us for the sixth biennial John George Social Justice Awards!  The Club sponsors this event in non-election years to recognize people in the Oakland/Berkeley community for their contributions to social justice.

2017 Awardees

Alona Clifton— Lifetime Social Justice Award.  Alona was JGDC co-chair from 1990 – 2014; she will be joining us from her current home in Atlanta!

Ms. Margaret Gordon—Social Justice Award.  Ms. Margaret is a pillar defending environmental justice, as long time leader West Oakland Economic Indicators Project, as a former member of Oakland’s Port Commission, and a community leader for many years.

Jan Thyer & Lichi Fuentes– Cultural Action for Social Justice Award.  Jan and Lichi are co-Directors of La Peña Community Chorus.  They have worked tirelessly for decades to lead the chorus in songs of peace, justice, and solidarity with Latin America and the world.

Gabrielle Henry–Young Adult Social Justice Spirit Award.  Gabrielle is Nominated by the NAACP as embodying the spirit of John George in working for social justice.

Dorothy King/John Jernegan–Community Service Social Justice Award.  Dorothy and John have been owners of the Everett and Jones restaurant in Jack London Square for over 20 years. They have used the venue to host many progressive events over the years and they have used their resources to feed the homeless.

Keynote Speaker–Pamela Price–Progressive Local Attorney, Running for Alameda County District Attorney, June, 2018.  Pamela is an Elected Member of the Alameda County Democratic Party Central Committee; 18th Assembly District Woman of the Year 2017; and National Lawyers Guild 2016 Champion of Justice

Mistress & Master of Ceremonies–Sandra J. Johnson & Walter Riley–Co-Chairs, John George Democratic Club

We hope to see you there!

$60 • General

$450 • Table

$20 • Low Income (Individual)

Please RSVP by adding a comment below, and send your check to John George Democratic Club, PO Box 18802, Oakland, CA  94619

John George Democratic Club Youth Art/Essay Contest–2017

2017 Art & Essay Contest Art: West Oakland Students Only Essays: Open to All Oakland Public School                Students

“The Statue of Liberty and Immigration in America: 

Is America Still a Refuge for Immigrants? ”

More than 100 years ago, France gifted the United States with the Statue of Liberty because the French viewed America as a beacon of hope and democracy.  In 1883 the poet Emma Lazarus wrote the poem that is inscribed on the Statue’s pedestal.  The most famous lines, which refer directly to immigrants and refugees, are:

 

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless,

tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

 

• Middle and High School Students:  Write an essay on the topic: “As you look at the issue of immigration in America today, how are the Statue of Liberty and Emma Lazarus’s poem still relevant?”  (500 words maximum)

 

• Elementary School Students:  Draw a picture that shows Oakland as a healthy place to live.  (maximum size 11” by 17”)

 

Each winner will receive $300 – in the form of a $150 gift certificate and $150 to open a credit union savings account. 

 

Submit your entry (drop off or mail) by WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017 to the West Oakland Public Library at 1801 Adeline Street, Oakland, 94607 to the attention of the John George Democratic Club. Essays may be emailed (see instructions on back).   Please be sure to attach the submission form on the back of this flier to your entry.

 

Awards Presentation

Saturday, June 10, 2017

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

West Oakland Public Library, 1801 Adeline Street, Oakland

 

Co-sponsored by the West Oakland Public Library, the John George Democratic Club, and the John George Educational Trust Fund

 

 

For more information, please call Jack Lucero Fleck at (510) 436-7682 or visit www.jgdc.org

                                                       Refreshments Will Be Served  —-  Labor Donated

Rules for the 2017 Art and Essay Contest

 

• All students who submit ART entries must attend public schools in West Oakland.
• Students who submit ESSAYS may attend any Oakland Unified School District public school.
• Art work should be on paper no larger than 11” by 17”.
• Essays should be no more than 500 words.
• All art and essays must be submitted by Wednesday, May 17, 2017 to the West Oakland Public Library at 1801 Adeline Street, Oakland, 94607, to the “Attention of the John George Democratic Club”.  You can drop off or mail entries but they must be received by May 17^th!  Don’t forget to attach the submission form below to your entry.  Essays also can be emailed, with the info on the submission form, to Laurie Soman at Lsoman6708@aol.com.  Please put “JG Essay” in the subject line.  Emailed entries still have to reach us by May 17^th.
• Each winner will receive a $150 gift certificate and $150 to open a credit union savings account.

 

For background information on environmental justice and coal in Oakland:

 

:  Google phrases like “history and meaning of Statue of Liberty” and “Emma Lazarus poem”.

:  Check out websites/posts like the following:

• https://www.nilc.org/about-us/what_we_do/ (National Immigration Law Center)
• http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/02/07/alameda-county-moves-to-protect-immigrants-from-trump-order/
• http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/02/07/alameda-county-750k-defend-immigrants-refugees-trump-policy/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_city
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/sanctuary-cities/
• http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/daca-explainer-dreamers/

 

Who is John George?

 

This contest honors the memory of the late Alameda County Supervisor John

George, Alameda County’s first African American member of the Board of

Supervisors, and a tireless fighter for health care, education, the rights of labor and poor people, a better environment, and peace and social justice.

 

John’s slogan was “Think Globally, Act Locally”