In this issue…
12th National Harm Reduction Conference
Rallying for the Right to Know
Katal at Barclays Center: #TIDALXBrooklyn
12th national harm reduction conference
Report from Keith Brown: “From October 17th through 21st, Katal staff members: Donna Hylton, Kenyatta Thompson, Lorenzo Jones, gabriel sayegh, and Keith Brown attended the 12th National Harm Reduction Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. During this biennial conference, some of the most creative minds from across the US and abroad come together to address a myriad of complex issues facing the harm reduction movement and to put an end to the harms and injustices caused by the War on Drugs.
During that period of time spent in Louisiana, we talked about everything from the history of Harm Reduction as a formal movement to shifting the course of the current movement that one that is inclusive and sustaining.”
Read the full reflection discussing the themes that were present throughout the conference from Keith here.
To learn more about our harm reduction work in New York, contact our Director of Health and Harm Reduction, Keith Brown at keith@katalcenter.org or 518.527.6263
To learn more about our harm reduction work in Connecticut, contact our Community Organizer, Kenyatta Thompson at kthompson@katalcenter.org or 860.937.6094
rallying for the right to know
Last week, members of the Katal team attended a rally to mark the implementation of the Right To Know Act. The Right to Know Act is a legislative package to protect the civil and human rights of New Yorkers in everyday encounters with the NYPD by improving transparency and accountability. The effort to pass the Act was led by Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), of which Katal is an organizational member.
At the rally, community members and NYC Council members Jumane Williams, Ben Kallos and Antonio Reynoso joined together to speak out about the need for reforming policing practices in New York City. After a multiyear fight, the Right to Know Act was passed in 2017 and went into effect on October 19th, 2018. The council members who spoke mentioned how pivotal this law being passed is for the everyday person who is stopped and questioned by officers. It equips people with adequate safety measures against the police who attempt to abuse the average person’s lack of understanding of the law. The package of bills will bring greater accountability, transparency, and fairness to policing practices in NYC, and Katal is proud to stand with CPR in this victory!
katal at barclays center: #tidalxbrooklyn
Community Organizer, Valdez Heron, with some of Katal’s members and leaders.
Tuesday evening, Roc Nation presented our team with the opportunity to attend the TIDAL X Brooklyn annual benefit concert with some of our members and leaders at Barclays Center. The concert featured empowering words about continuing the fight for criminal justice reform by Ava DuVernay, Cory Booker, Angela Rye, along with other notable speakers, and amazing performances by Anderson.Paak, Nick Jonas, Black Thought, Lauryn Hill, and more. Our team is truly grateful to TIDAL for having us.
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