Wake Up the Earth Nonprofit Roundup: How to Get Help or Get Involved

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The JP Neighborhood Development Corp.'s booth at WUTE 2016. From left: Executive Director Richard Thal, Francia De Jesus, Anna Waldron and Kelly Ransom.

Chris Helms

The JP Neighborhood Development Corp.'s booth at WUTE 2016. From left: Executive Director Richard Thal, Francia De Jesus, Anna Waldron and Kelly Ransom.

The JP Neighborhood Development Corp.'s booth at WUTE 2016. From left: Executive Director Richard Thal, Francia De Jesus, Anna Waldron and Kelly Ransom.

Chris Helms

The JP Neighborhood Development Corp.\'s booth at WUTE 2016. From left: Executive Director Richard Thal, Francia De Jesus, Anna Waldron and Kelly Ransom.

Dozens of local nonprofits turned out for Wake up the Earth on Saturday to share their messages of caring and activism. Need help? Want to get involved? Here’s how:

The Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine supports Palestinians in their struggle to end the occupation and “raises awareness about Israel’s use of water as a weapon against the people of Palestine.” Sara Driscoll said, “We want the state of Massachusetts to stop aligning with Israel until the occupation ends.” Contact bostonallianceforwaterjustice@gmail.com for more information.

The Arborway Committee for Public Transit is advocating to extend the green line to Hyde Square. Add your name to the petition at arborway.org.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters is now enrolling boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 12 for its summer program. They are also looking for volunteers; anyone 18 years old or older is welcome to apply. Learn more at bbbsmb.org.

The Boston Climate Action Network will be selling heirloom tomato, pepper and lettuce plants to support the climate action network. The event will be on May 14 from 10-3 at 14 Gay Head St. in Jamaica Plain. The network advocates to require the utility companies to pay for repairing gas leaks, instead of the rate payers.

The Boston Food Forest Coalition creates publicly accessible food gardens and orchards throughout the city. One example is the Egleston Community Orchard on Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain. “We are always looking for volunteers, people who want to participate in workshops, and donations,” said Valerie Oorthuys. She added that she loves gardening but lives in an apartment, so this volunteer work is a great source of personal pleasure and satisfaction for her.

The mission of Boston Glass LGBTQ Adolescent Social Services “is to improve the well-being of LGBTQ youth of color and their allies by providing a continuum of services that addresses their immediate needs, equips them with tools to make healthy decisions and live fulfilling lives, and helps create communities in which they can thrive.” Come to their drop-in center at 75 Amory St. for free services, including HIV testing. Learn more at jri.org/glass.

The Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism supports community journalism. BINJ does investigative long-form journalism and gives it to local news outlets for free. “There is no armchair long-form journalism,” said Editorial Director Chris Faraone, “It is too involved.” Find them at binjonline.org.

Citizens for Farm Animal Protection is working to prohibit cruel confinement of farm animals. “We are working to get a spot on the ballot to ensure that egg-laying hens, mother pigs, and cows being raised for veal have space to turn around in their pens. We are trying to improve some of the most extreme conditions in farming today,” said Brigitte Laukien. To sign their petition, go to citizensforfarmanimals.com/sign. Signatures need to be pen on paper, so they will mail you a document to sign and send back. To volunteer, go to citizensforfarmanimals.com/volunteer.

The Connolly Branch Library has a nice list of upcoming events and ongoing activities, including the Lego Builders Club and Bilingual Story Time. See the whole list of events and sign up for their email newsletter at bpl.org. With construction at the JP Branch set to continue another year, the Connolly's programs are doubly important to local families.

The Department of Children and Families is hosting a Foster Care Appreciation and Recruitment Fair on June 4 in Franklin Park. They are also looking for volunteers. For information about foster care and adoption, call 800-543-7508.

Anne-Sophie Fast-Clarke had her face painted at the Eastern Service Workers Association booth.

Jane Helms

Anne-Sophie Fast-Clarke had her face painted at the Eastern Service Workers Association booth.

The Eastern Service Workers Association is a membership organization that helps low-income workers. They organize workers, fight for lower utility rates and try to prevent utility shutoffs. If you need help or want to volunteer, call 617-265-9200.

Food Not Bombs protests food waste in the community. They recover food before it hits the trash and redistribute it to those in need. “Food is a human right, not a privilege,” said James Cook. They want to expand and are looking for volunteers and kitchens. Learn more at FNBBoston.org.

The Jamaica Plain Forum hosts speakers and discussions to spark conversations about issues that affect our community and our world. Its next event is an informal information session about its Community Leaders Fellowship on May 10 at its office in the Brewery Complex. Read more at jptransition.org/community-leaders-fellowship.

Members of the JP Historical Society at WUTE 2016. From left: Diane Simpson, Ed McGowan and Gretchen Grozier.

Chris Helms

Members of the JP Historical Society at WUTE 2016. From left: Diane Simpson, Ed McGowan and Gretchen Grozier.

JP Local First makes a case for shopping locally to improve our community and support environmental sustainability. Go to jplocalfirst.org to find out which businesses are locally owned.

[Editor's note: Jamaica Plain News is a member of JP Local First.]

JP Net connects “people and organizations to build a more equitable, resilient, and fun-filled community.” To learn more and connect to the community, go to jptransition.org. “We incubate projects, hold events, and develop leaders,” said Sarah Byrnes.

The Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School provides pro bono representation to low- and moderate-income individuals with civil legal issues. The Legal Services Center is composed of five clinics — the Veterans Legal Clinic, Consumer Law Clinic, Housing Law Clinic, Family Law/Domestic Violence Clinic and Federal Tax Clinic — and is Harvard Law School’s largest clinical placement site. The Center’s longstanding mission is to educate law students for practice and professional service while simultaneously meeting the critical legal needs of the community. For more information go to www.legalservicescenter.org. [Editor's note: Description added at request of group from information emailed to us.]

The Network LaRed supports survivors of partner abuse. “We work to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender communities, as well as S/M and polyamorous communities,” said Beverly Eugene. “We offer a 24-hour hotline, safe homes, advocacy, and technical assistance. We provide services in English and Spanish.” Go to tnlr.org or call 617-742-4911 (voice) or 617-227-4911 (TTY).

One Egleston Square is an experiential community education and action program bringing together neighbors in and around Egleston Square to co-create a united, sustainable, and just neighborhood. [Editor's note: Item added at group's request from text on its website.]

United for a Fair Economy is aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement, on economic issues specifically. Their workshops, literature, and website educate people through images, in English, and in Spanish. “Education is power,” Jeannette Huezo told the JP news. Learn more at faireconomy.org/economiajusta.org.

Wake up the Earth needs volunteers for next year’s festival.  Sign up at spontaneouscelebrations.org or write to WUTEvolunteers@gmail.com.

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom tries to stop war at its root causes. They oppose drone warfare, nuclear weapons and nuclear power. “We want to redirect our federal dollars from weapons and war making to investment in what Martin Luther King would have called social uplift,” said Virginia Pratt. Their next event is on May 14 from 2-4 p.m. at the Eliot Church of Newton, to help the Syrian refugees. For more information, write to cole@masspeaceaction.org.

Youth United for Animals and the Planet educates young people about animal conservation and the effect of climate change on animals. An event on May 24 will prepare students to present to their school or youth groups. Learn more at yuap.org.

This is a partial list. If your organization was at this year's WUTE and we missed you, please drop a comment below or email us and we'll add you in.

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