FIRST YEAR KASAMA REP APPLICATION
Want to be a First Year KasamaRep? This application is open to all first year and transfer students! You will work with the Director of Membership, the other KasamaReps, and the rest of E-board! You will have the opportunity to cultivate your leadership skills and make new friends in Kasamahan, be a voice and offer a different perspective, plan social events for your class, and much more! Apply today by clicking below!
Applications are due October 9th at 11:59 pm pt.
KATE PROGRAM!
Need a role model? Need a new best friend in college? Need an older sibling figure? Need someone to goon with you on zoom hangouts? Need someone who will binge all the shows with you? Need someone who’s just as foolish as you? Need someone to help you through the zoom fatigue?
Look no further! Join the KATE program! Applications are open now! Ates, Kuyas, Kapatids, and Adings can fill out the form below or click to find more information!
Any questions? Please contact Emily Estrada, Director of Membership. (usfkamembership@gmail.com)
FIRST AND SECOND GENERAL MEETING RECAP!
Thanks for coming out to our First and Second General Meetings! We will be releasing the slides from our meeting in our upcoming newsletter. If you missed First Gen or Second Gen make sure you’re signed up below.
KATE COMMITTEE APPLICATION
Join KATE Committee and work with the Director of Membership to pair adings with their Kuya/Ate/Kapatid. Help new Kasamas find a home to help them navigate through their college experiences.
The KATE Program serves as a foundation for the connections made in Kasamahan. This Committee is imperative to selecting each special pairing. Those who apply for KATE Committee must NOT be picking up during the season.
For any questions email Emily Estrada, our Director of Membership, (usfkamembership@gmail.com). Want to know more about what KATE is or check out the pictures from last semester? Check out our KATE page here. It can also be found under the social tab in the menu.
KASAMAHAN SURVEY
With the announcement of remote learning, some of our events will need to undergo certain alternatives to fit a virtual platform. We understand that with this change, the experience you want from Kasamahan may be different. So to understand how to better curate an experience for you at this time, please fill out this survey.
RESOURCES ON THE JUNK TERROR BILL
Anti-Terror Law
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the bill into Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, designated as Republic Act No. 11479, on July 3 2020 and effectively replaced the Human Security Act of 2007 on July 18, 2020.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE ANTI-TERROR LAW
What is the Philippine Human Rights Act?
The Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA) calls on the United States “to suspend US security assistance to PH until human rights violations by PH security officials have ceased and responsible state forces are held accountable.” The PHRA would have the U.S. veto loans and halt military aid to the Philippine government. This would push for more accountability of the Philippine administration and protect journalists, unionists, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, farmers, and activists. While the act has garnered some support from a handful of representatives, it still has yet to be introduced to Congress.
Show public support and read more on the Philippine Human Rights Act website.
Sign the petition to Cut U.S. Military Aid to the Philippines and Support the PHRA here.
RESOURCES FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER
STAY UPDATED
WHERE YOU CAN SUPPORT
- George Floyd Memorial Fund: Created by George Floyd’s brother, Philonise, to help the family cover funeral expenses and support the Floyd family as they seek justice for George Floyd. Some of the funds will also go to his children to support their education.
- I Run With Maud Fundraiser: Created by Ahmaud Arbery’s best friend, Akeen Baker, to financially support Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Ms. Wanda Cooper-Jones, and his family as they seek justice for Ahmaud.
- Black Visions Collective: Minnesota-based organization advocating for ALL Black lives (including trans and queer people) through campaigns. https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
- Reclaim the Block: Organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to reallocate money from the police department to other areas of the city’s budget that invest in community health and safety. https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home
- Northstar Health Collective: Works with mainstream anti-authoritarian organizations to create safe events such as trainings, continuing education and other community events. https://www.northstarhealthcollective.org/
- The Bail Project: Critical tool to preventing incarceration and combating racial and economic disparities in the bail system. https://bailproject.org/
- Minnesota Freedom Fund: Works with the National Lawyers Guild and Legal Rights Center to provide monetary support by paying criminal bails and immigration bonds. https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
- Learn about the movement: Black Lives Matter
- Ways You Can Help
- Anti-Racism Reading List (@changingwomxn)
PETITIONS YOU CAN SIGN
- Justice for Big Floyd
- Justice for George Floyd
- Justice for Tony McDade
- I Run With Maud Petition
- Justice for Breonna Taylor
- Defund the Minneapolis Police Department
Image from @sainthoax on Instagram of the names of “black men and women who have been murdered by the police in recent years. The names in yellow were 21 and under.“
A letter from our Executive Director and Community Affairs Co-Directors:
On Monday, May 25, George Floyd fell victim to another act of anti-black police brutality. With one of his final sentences being “I can’t breathe,” George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, who was violently kneeling on Floyd’s neck to hold him down. George Floyd was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead. A police statement cited that Floyd appeared to be in “medical distress”, not mentioning how George Floyd was pinned to the ground by the police officer, compressing his airway.
There have been numbers of incidents regarding police brutality and systematic dehumanization towards the Black community throughout American history. These continuous acts are forms of oppression that are cruel and unacceptable. And we must recognize that silence is never a way to face such injustices.
We, the members of Kasamahan at the University of San Francisco, stand in solidarity with the Black community and condemn the atrocities brought against them. As non-black people of color, we will not be able to fully understand the traumas and struggles the Black community faces. Therefore, we must be allies by uplifting, listening to, and respecting the voices of the Black community. Addressing the ongoing injustices within the Black community is the first step in overcoming the discord between our communities. Standing in solidarity with the Black community is a step to dismantle our prejudices and break the cycle of oppression.
Being a part of the Asian-American community, it is imperative to address the harm caused by the myth of Asians being labeled as the “model minority.” We cannot highlight our experiences as Asian Americans without acknowledging the history of anti-blackness within our community. This myth only deepens the divide between Asians and Black people. We must recognize these issues within our community as it heavily impacts the struggles of the Black community.
Silence and neutrality only perpetuate injustice – we must stand in solidarity with our Black siblings and take action to support them.
- What you can do to show your support
- Stay educated:
- Learn about the BLM movement https://blacklivesmatter.com/
- Learn about all the innocent lives taken away without justice
- REMEMBER THEIR NAMES!
- Recognize your privilege, raise awareness:
- Analyze your own internalized, implicit biases and learned anti-blackness
- Uplift the voices of the Black community, use your platform to speak up, help educate others
- Take action:
- Donate to Black-serving organizations (See last slide for more information)
- Sign petitions, visit www.justiceforbigfloyd.com
- Text “FLOYD” to 55156
- Stay involved:
- Challenge the model minority myth
- Educate your family and friends on the injustices black people face
- Call out racism when you see it
To show our support for those affected, as an organization, we will be signing petitions and spreading awareness through our social media platforms. In addition, Kasamahan will be donating to the TGI Justice Project, Minnesota Freedom Fund, and George Floyd Memorial Fund.
In solidarity,
Frances Capupus
Executive Director
Frances Nicole Talino & Krystel Salvador
Community Affairs Co-Directors
QUICK LINKS
We have a page that is updated with new links and resources. Go to USFKasamahan.carrd.co for these quick links or click the button above.
MORE INFORMATION SOON TO COME.
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FEEDBACK FORM
This year we are continuing the use of the anonymous feedback form for anyone to drop E-board with any compliments, comments or concerns for anything at any time! Like our newsletter? Hate it? Enjoy one of our events? See an area for improvement? Let us know so that we can better cater to you!
