Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action - www.jewishalliance.org. 
18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston, 02108 - tel: 617-227-3000 fax: 617-227-3453

17 Cheshvan 5764                                                                   November 12, 2003

Dear Friends:

JALSA would like to call to your attention two very interesting meetings today, Wednesday,
November 12 in Boston.

At 2:00 p.m. in Great Hall at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the kick-off event will take place
for a series of dialogues on Boston's Ethnic and Racial Diversity. Residents of every Boston
neighborhood will engage in a needed dialogue on the issues and possibilities raised
by our diversity. In the words of Mayor Thomas Menino, this bold initiative will “deal
with the subjects of race and ethnicity proactively, candidly and respectfully and will help heal
old divisions through the unifying power of open communication."
For further information on the Dialogues, see: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000060.htm.
Our JALSA vice president Jeff Stone, policy advocate for the Urban League, has been the
key creator of this process and we are delighted to see the broad community response.
Come and be supportive.

TO PARTICIPATE in the City-Wide Dialogues on Boston's Ethnic & Racial Diversity,
go to: www.BostonDialogues.org.  Further information on the Steering Committee
and cooperating organizations may be found at: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000061.htm.
 

Tonight, at 7:00 p.m. at New Covenant Church, 1500 Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan,
Governor Romney will be meeting with interested people about his recent actions
regarding state Affirmative Action officers. This Town Meeting is being conducted to provide
a forum for the Governor to explain why he has eliminated these positions and for interested
members of the community to ask questions and to respond concerning this action. A panel
consisting of civil rights attorney, Julie Patino and four other panelists will answer questions
by the event moderator. When the Governor arrives, he will be asked some questions about
Affirmative Action and then it is open to the floor.
JALSA has been particularly concerned that the existing Affirmative Action structure in the
commonwealth agencies was eliminated without any description of what plan was to replace
it to safeguard fairness procedures in hiring or job promotion.
There will be a press conference at 6:00 p.m., one hour before the program begins, in the
lot across from New Covenant Church.

Committee on Law and Social Action
Thursday, November 13, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston
Open to all who are interested in public policy

Annual Meeting Leadership Committee Meeting
Honoring Ellen Feingold
Thursday, November 20
8:30 a.m. at CHAPA, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 401, Boston
All are invited who want to make this tribute to Ellen Feingold a great success.
The tribute will be a part of our Annual Meeting on Sunday, December 14.
Come and help plan a great tribute to one of our cherished resources.

JALSA Executive Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 19 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston

Massachusetts Coalition for Equitable Education and Citizens for Public Schools
Brown Bag Lunch Meeting
Thursday, November 20 12:00-1:30pm
CJP, 126 High Street, 9th Floor, Boston
Discussion of Comfort v Lynn School Committee,
the Lynn federal suit on school integration
Guests: Richard Cole, Office of the Attorney General, Senior Counsel for Civil Rights
Jan Birchenough, Lynn Public Schools, Parent Information Center
The federal court has upheld the Lynn assignment plan against a challenge
that demanded that any consideration of race be eliminated. Judge Gertner's
very important decision supporting the consideration of race among other factors
is now being appealed. Richard Cole successfully defended the Lynn assignment plan
and the Massachusetts Racial Imbalance Act. He and Jan Birchenough, a key witness
in the case representing the Parent Information Center, will be our guests.

MCEE Conference Follow-up
Thursday, November 20, 1:30-3:00
Immediately following the meeting on the Lynn Case, members of MCEE and
interested persons will meet to plan the follow-up to the MCEE conference on
education equity.

JALSA Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 10 12:30pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston

JALSA Annual Meeting
Sunday, December 14 10:30 am
Holiday Inn, Brookline
See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000062.htm. . for details

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