Dear Friend,

On September 4, we celebrated our Workers Circle 120th anniversary. When our founders organized the Workers Circle in 1900, it was to give their community of Eastern European immigrants a powerful voice and a community of support as they took on the many challenges of transitioning into American life. We carry on that spirit of inclusion today by welcoming and celebrating the diversity of life in America.

The beginning of a new year is a traditional time of reflection and renewal, and this year we look back on a year full of challenges. Covid-19 has upended the world as we know it, creating a new normal that continues to change and challenge our community. In the midst of this pandemic, worker rights are being threatened; millions of people have become unemployed; and immigrants, many of whom make up our essential workforce, are being excluded from critical Covid-19 relief and protections. 

Today’s Workers Circle community continues our founders’ tradition of resilience and strategic and powerful activism for what is right even in the face of great challenge and hardship. This year, our community has called on lawmakers to pass a comprehensive Covid-19 relief bill that includes everyone, regardless of immigration status. We have urged NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign a law to keep ICE out of NY courts and make it unlawful for ICE to make civil arrests while someone is going into court. And we stand with the Movement for Black Lives and Black Lives Matter to examine, reflect, and dismantle the systemic racist institutions that have been the underbelly of this country far too long.

We still have much more work to do in 2020. In the coming weeks, you will hear from us about a new voting rights campaign and many other opportunities to act on critical issues. It is important that everyone is registered to vote and able to make their voices heard this November and beyond.

We wish you, your families, and friends a sweet and meaningful New Year. We hope you have a peaceful holiday, and that you will join us in our new year to continue taking action  for workers and immigrants, and to build a country that is safe, welcoming, and fair to everyone who calls it home.

Ann Toback,
CEO

Update on our social justice work

The Workers Circle is continuing to build our activist community online! Supporters like you are acting with us on critical issues like Covid-19 relief for essential workers, protecting the USPS, and pushing back against the public charge rule. Our youth activist programs, Youth Stand Up for Justice and the Workers Circle College Network are building virtual communities with regular meetings and conversations around strategic economic and racial justice activism. And we recently launched our new Action Team initiative to deepen our connection to our Workers Circle network of activists with small group trainings, followed by online meetings with elected officials and decision makers on issues of concern. Interested in joining one of our youth activist groups or Action Teams? Email info@circle.org.

Jumpstart Justice

This fall we are hosting a new activist program series designed to educate and provide opportunities to act on critical issues in just 15 minutes. Our first Jumpstart Justice looked at the discriminatory public charge rule, which has been used in immigration law to keep out asylum seekers or refugees deemed “public charges” due to their socioeconomic status. We called our senators and urged them to suspend the rule during the Covid-19 pandemic. Watch the recording here. Upcoming sessions will look at voter suppression, and how we can protect farmworkers during the Covid-19 crisis. Register here for Jumpstart Justice.

Registration is open for the
fall 2020 Yiddish semester

Hot off the heels of a sold-out Trip to Yiddishland Online, registration is open for our fall 2020 Yiddish semester! This fall, all classes will be held online through Zoom. We have a number of beginner level classes (regular, conversational, and intensive) as well as conversation classes for all levels. We are also pleased to offer new Yiddish song and Klezmer workshops open to all, regardless of familiarity with Yiddish. Whatever your experience with the language, take this opportunity to learn and practice Yiddish online, from your home or office, with the best Yiddish teachers across the globe.

KinderKlub: Global Jewish Cultural Experiences for Children and Families 

Join the Workers Circle community and celebrate Jewish holidays with other families with children from pre-K to 5th grade through music, crafts, drama, cooking, and more. Leading educators and performers from across the country build on our love of Yiddish and Jewish culture to create memorable experiences. We will be celebrating the holidays of Sukkot, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah in this interactive event series.  Learn more and register here.

Join the Workers Circle Community as we Celebrate Rosh Hashone and Yom Kippur!

Our tradition of gathering as an engaged and welcoming community at the start of the new year continues — now on Zoom! Previously our in-person Rosh Hashone and Yom Kippur events were only available to people in the NYC area, but this year you can join from wherever you are since we are holding these programs online. Join us at noon (EDT) on Saturday September 19 for Rosh Hashone and a joyous musical celebration of our community, cultural heritage, and solidarity, and on Monday, September 28 as we reflect on the past year at our Yom Kippur gathering.

Share your birthday with the Workers Circle!

Do you have an upcoming birthday in 2020 or early 2021? Then consider donating it to the Workers Circle! In honor of our 120th Anniversary this year, we are asking members of our community to donate their birthday to the Workers Circle by creating a Facebook fundraiser to support our work. You may have seen your family and friends create Facebook fundraisers for causes they believe in, now this is your opportunity! Simply click here and follow the step-by-step instructions to set up your fundraiser. Thanks to the members of our community who have already created Birthday fundraisers on Facebook, we have raised more than $1,000 in donations to support our mission. Help us continue this momentum and donate your birthday to the Workers Circle!

Thanks to our members, allies and supporters.

And thanks to the following foundations for your contributions to the Workers Circle: And special thanks to the following foundations for their contributions to the Workers Circle: Atran Foundation, Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation, Inc., The Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation, The Slomo & Cindy Silvian Foundation, Chaim Schwartz Foundation, Merle S. Cahn Foundation, Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, The Jewish Education Project/UJA Federation of New York, Jewish Social Justice Roundtable/UJA Federation of New York, Sidney S. Stern Memorial Trust, R&S Strauss Family Foundation, and Sonya Staff Foundation. 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser