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Compassionate St. Augustine Newsletter

Issue #5a, May 10, 2023
Compassionate St. Augustine
Our mission: to influence, inspire and grow a culture of compassion through advocacy, awareness, and action.

Our vision: to inspire the desire for others to affirm the Charter for Compassion, and by word and deed, to help grow and foster sustainable cultures of compassion locally, nationally and globally.
Monthly Compassionate Community Gathering

Please join us Friday for this month's lunchtime community gathering. Guest Speaker Commissioner Henry Dean, delicious meal
and an opportunity to thank Ervin and Warren.
 
Visit the New Compassionate St. Augustine Website
The Compassionate St. Augustine Website has had a facelift and now has
a new look.  we hope that you will take the time to visit
 

and to click on the various links to learn more about Compassionate St. Augustine, our various initiatives (see screen shot below) and learn about the history of
this valuable organization in the Ancient City.

 

 
Click here to visit the Website
There will be information in a future newsletter about the website team.
Beats and Beets Drumming
Please Note, Drumming will not take place on Mother's Day May 14!
Compassionate St. Augustine invites you to Join Into The Rhythm LLC for a fun, family friendly, fully facilitated drum circle in the Lincolnville community garden.  No experience necessary, instruments are provided and beginners are encouraged.  Come discover the joy of community drumming. 

This six-week series is donation based with a share of the proceeds going to Compassionate St. Augustine and the Lincolnville garden project.

Drums on the Commons

intotherhythm.com
Patients not Prisoners
A Day of Compassion
As we continue to countdown the final days before our first major event, "A Day of Compassion", Patients Not Prisoners wants to encourage you to share the love! We are halfway to our goal of packing out the venue and could use your help. 
 
If you have not already ordered tickets for yourself and your family members to experience a day of community support, expert speaks with stellar advice and special prizes that will be auctions off - Register today! We want you and your loved ones to be apart of the conversation and gain as much support we can give. 

Register below by clicking the link to be forwarded to our event page.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-day-of-compassion-tickets-608886344447
 
Follow us on Facebook!
Getting into Good Trouble
Some Good Trouble Actions for May, 2023   Choose what you can do.
 
Timing: May; the earlier the better to encourage others.
ACTION: $50,000 by June 1 Fundraiser for Community Safe Zone at New Mt. Moriah Christian Ministry in West Augustine
Good Trouble actively supports fundraising for a Community Gathering Space at New Mount Moriah. This will make the space safe and welcoming for many community enhancement groups that do very good things in the center of an underserved neighborhood. Please forward and make copies of the  flyer below to share with people and groups you know.

If you have questions about how to make your contribution (check, cash or social media) you can call or text Becky Halkin (904) 551-5514.
 
The gofundme is now active:  https://gofund.me/0a3e5d91
 
More Good Trouble Actions for May, 2023  
 
Timing: After May 5th (end of legislative session)  
TIP: Choose just some of the talking points. Put in your own words.
St. Johns County Schools could lose its #1 ranking.
To: State Sen. Travis Hutson Hutson.Travis@flsenate.gov, (850) 487-5007
How can we remain #1 when we are 60th in pay among FL school districts?
“A teacher quit because he couldn’t afford to raise his family.” –Carey Gustafson, PTA President, Nease H.S.
No wonder we have a teacher shortage emergency!
The Chief of Staff, Michael Degutis, says there is no problem.
 Students get stuck for days in auditoriums watching virtual school.
12 pages of lists of teachers wanting to leave mid-term signals a troubled district. –Save Our Schools
A recent survey found 75% of St. Johns teachers have thought about leaving the district. –Save Our Schools
What will happen to real estate if we lose our #1 ranking?
The St. Johns County Schools Chief of Staff needs to listen to teachers about pay.
 
Timing: First two weeks in May
Leave books on the shelves during review.
To St. Johns County School Board   (Put this in your own words.)
beverly.slough@stjohns.k12.fl.us, anthony.coleman@stjohns.k12.fl.us, kelly.barrera@stjohns.k12.fl.us,
patrick.canan@stjohns.k12.fl.us, jennifer.collins@stjohns.k12.fl.us
I am a resident of St. Johns County.
Books are being pulled off the shelves of our St. Johns County school libraries at an alarming rate.
 There is a procedure for reviewing books. When a complaint is made, leave the book on the shelves during review.
All books that have been pulled from shelves should be re-shelved until they have been formally reviewed.
One parent’s complaint should not bar access to books for other parent’s children.
 
Timing: As soon as possible
Sign up to be on a schools review committee.
Committee to review Library Materials  Dawn Sapp Associate Superintendent (904) 547-7772
Social Studies Review Committee Click on the committee, for how to sign up.  It says the deadline is April 21 but people have signed up after that so there is some wiggle room.
 
Timing: Choose at which Board of County Commissioners (BOCC ) meeting you will speak: May 16, June 6, June 20
Decide to speak in favor of creating a St. Johns Housing Authority during public comment.
BOCC meets on first and third Tuesdays of the month at the County Commission auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View. Be there by 11:15am. 3 minutes max. Some talking points:
State your name, address. I am here to speak for organizing a Housing Authority.
Rents are skyrocketing! Many working families can’t pay. Some become homeless.
We could access rent vouchers for our own residents with a St. Johns Housing Authority.
Now, we must apply through Duval’s Housing Authority. There is a 7,000 person waiting list.
With housing vouchers households only pay up to 1/3 of their income for housing. That makes it possible for our workers to live in St. Johns County.  
Only 1 of 4 residents who desperately need rent assistance, receive it nationally. There is even less access where there are no Housing Authorities.
 
Only 1 of 8 St. Johns County households can afford an entry level house.
Businesses can’t find employees who have to commute from lower cost housing areas in other counties.
Without our own housing authority we miss out on tens of millions of dollars in federal grant opportunities.
A housing authority will help develop a professional, coordinated approach to needed affordable housing.
I urge the Board of County Commissioners to take the steps to create a Housing Authority.
 
Timing: May
We need a binding code of conduct for Supreme Court justices.
To: Rep. John Rutherford (St. Johns),  Michael Waltz (South St. Johns & Flagler)  Rep. Kat Cammack (Putnam)
U.S. House,  Washington, D.C.  20515  Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121  Ask to be connected to congressperson’s office.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio   U.S. Sen. Rick Scott  U.S. Senate,  Washington D.C., 20510  Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121
The U.S. Supreme Court is the only judicial body not governed by a code of ethics. 
Such a code of conduct has been previously supported by members of both parties.  
Please vote for H.R. 926, S. 359, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.
--
Warren Clark, D.Min.,
History Illustrations on  Pintarest, Fine Art America
702 Gerona Road
St. Augustine, FL 32086
904-770-7126 land line, 813-246-2741 c
 
"La paz es fruto de la justicia." (Peace is the fruit of justice.) -old Latin American saying
Compassionate Women News and Information
Compassionate Women met on April 27th and heard Robin Thomas’ amazing journey of resilience and faith. We also learned how the recent legislature had cut funding for disabled persons. Robin works with other people with many disabilities including spinal cord injuries and she reported that the state has cut funding for resources and programs for her clients. She herself had her wheelchair repossessed and only now has one through a friend. We have decided to try to take on this issue through advocacy. If you would like to join us in this please contact Ervin Bullock: ervinbullock@yahoo.com.

The next Compassionate Women’s potluck luncheon will be May 24th from 10-12 at New Mt Moriah and will be led by Ruth Hope. Several of us have been appreciating the New Mt Moriah prayer service from 12-1 after the luncheon. You are always welcome to attend these as well.  
 
Another Organization Coming to Mt. Moriah to serve the Community
Golden Way Films/St. Augustine Film Society
Please join us for a very special event on Sunday May 21st at 7:00 PM at Temple Bet Yam, 2055 Wildwood Dr.. We have been given the opportunity to screen the film "Ghost Mountain" which details the harrowing escape from the killing fields of Cambodia by Bunseng Taing. it is a remarkable story of perseverence and grit during the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge.

Film maker James Taing, Bunseng Taing, and film editor Amy Kalafa will present the film and take questions from the audience.
Support our Partner Epic-Cure
Click here to make a donation to Epic-Cure.
Click on the logos above to visit each of their websites.
CSA's Signs of Our Times
 
Available at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church office
37 Lovett St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
9 AM – 12PM Wednesday




$7 donation helps cover increased printing costs. 
 
You are invited to walk the Labyrinth for Ukraine
at your own convenience, day and/or time.
 
INITIATIVES...INITIATIVES...
 
Compassion in Action
Focused on criminal justice and prison reform, the Compassion In Action Criminal Justice Reform initiative raises awareness, promotes progress, and creates change through education and action. For meeting dates and information: compassionstaugustine@gmail.com.

Compassionate Women
This multi-cultural group brings those of many faiths and cultures together regularly to get to know one another as they promote well being and understanding. Meetings and luncheons are held regularly, For information: Ervin Bullock at compassionatewomen1@gmail.com.

Compassion Through the Eyes of Children
This award-winning multi-phase initiative was originally part of the acclaimed Obelisk Art 450 project created to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the Nation’s Oldest City in 2015. The goal is to engage St. Johns County children, from diverse backgrounds and with wide-ranging aptitudes and exceptionalities, in discussions about freedom, democracy, human rights, compassion, diversity, and artistic expressions of those values. For information: Caren Goldman at compassionstaugustine@gmail.com.
 
Compassionate Youth - an initiative of Compassionate St. Augustine will meet monthly for their Youth Dining and Discourse event.  This will serve as an opportunity for middle, high school and college youth to view meaningful short documentaries, engage in discussion and break bread together. "We are giving voice to young people so that their collective ideas can inspire action and change."

Environmental Justice Initiative
We strive for the well-being of our environment, the Earth, our home, and its ecosystems. As the Earth feeds and nourishes humanity, with food, water, air, shelter, warmth, energy, beauty, and companionship – so we also act as custodians of the Earth. Compassionate Earth-care helps all humanity, especially the poor, who most urgently experience the effects of environmental devastation. For information: Warren Clark at rwc904@gmail.com

The Golden Way
The Golden Way: Films that Make a Difference is an arm of the St. Augustine Film Society and a CSA partner. Their mission is to show films that discuss social themes with the hope of giving attendees a better understanding and appreciation of the differences that make up the human family. For information: Joe Marx at StAugustineFilmSociety@gmail.com
 
Click to Donate to Compassionate St. Augustine

ABOUT US

Compassionate St. Augustine, a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is responsible for the City of St. Augustine's Proclamation and partnership on September 9, 2013 that stated St. Augustine was the first official Compassionate City in Florida and the 20th in the world. St. Augustine and her sister city, Aviles, Spain are the first Compassionate Sister Cities worldwide. Today there are over 450 Compassionate Cities, Countries, and other communities (including all of Australia).  To learn more please contact us: CompassionStAugustine@gmail.com

OUR PARTNERS

Include more than 200 businesses, organizations, and individuals — each of whom have signed the Charter for Compassion and have joined us in our efforts to create cultures of compassion locally, nationally and globally. To learn more about our partners visit our website: https://is.gd/kdV5C5

Compassionate St. Augustine is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization
2210 Vista Cove Rd., St. Augustine, FL 32084
Contact us at: compassionstaugustine@gmail.com
www.compassionstaugustine.com
 






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St. Augustine Initiative For Compassion dba Compassionate St. Augustine · 2210 Vista Cove Rd. · St Augustine, FL 32084 · USA

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