Announcements & Information

Baseline Working Agreements

  • One mic – One person speaks at a time, no side conversations, everyone is listening while one person is speaking.
  • Lean in, Lean in – If you are someone who tends to talk all of the time, lean in to actively listening. If you are someone who tends to stay out of the conversation, lean in to participating, be part of the conversation, let your voice be heard.
  • Everyone participates, No one dominates – This is a space where all voices have value. We want to be sure that everyone has a chance to be heard and share their thoughts, ideas, comments and suggestions.
  • Land the plane – As we want to be sure to respect the time of each other and our time together, let us also get to the point when talking and allow time for others to speak. Don’t circle the runway. Land the plane. 🙂
  • Stories Stay, Lessons Leave – Regardless of the meeting or workshop, we tackle very personal issues and often people share their personal stories. Those personal stories should stay in this room. The lessons that we learn from them should be carried with us and be part of future conversations outside of this room.
  • Free to BE – People in this space may have responsibilities outside of here, including but not limited to children or other caregiving roles. Checking phones or taking calls may be necessary to BE in this space. We also want to take care of ourselves to BE fully participating. Be aware of where the bathrooms are, snacks, and drinks, etc. Pee, share great moments on social media, get a snack, stand and stretch, but also BE aware of the space you take up and don’t disturb others.
  • Lead with Loving Intention – When harmed, people are often encouraged to find the good intentions of the person who caused harm, putting the onus and work on the person experiencing the harm, instead of asking the person who has caused harm to be mindful of their behavior. In these spaces, we ask that each individual takes ownership of the way they show up and participate in this space, ensuring that their words and actions align with an environment that fosters supportive learning and building. 
  • Keep it in the “I” – Use “I” statements when sharing. Refrain as best you can from generalizing groups of any kind.
  • Progressive Stack – Outside in the world every day, there is a hierarchy that exists, one where certain people have access and opportunity to be heard and believed. At the top of the hierarchy are cis-gender, heterosexual, wealthy white men. At the bottom of the hierarchy are Black women and Women of Color. We could add to the intersections and include people who are transgender, disabled, immigrant, etc. In the spaces that we hold, we flip that hierarchy on its head. That doesn’t mean that white men don’t get to speak. It means white men don’t get to speak first. It is the role of the facilitator to balance not just progressive stack but also the other working agreements. (Lean in, Lean in; 1,2,3 Me; Everyone participates, no one dominates; etc.) We are working to create equity and unity in a working and learning space. 

Happy Hour! Saturday, July 17 | 4pm

What’s Justice Works without Happy Hour? An opportunity to connect with activists, organizers, union leaders, progressive elected officials and community leaders from across the state. We’ll have standing breakout rooms where you can pop in and out and chat with each other, while DJ Will C from Rochester holds it down in the main space. You can also take advantage of the networking features in Pheedloop to chat one-on-one with other conference attendees.

Happy Hour Cocktail & Mocktail Recipes

The Che-Volution

TYPE: Cocktail 

cocktail created in honour of Che Guevara, famous for his role in the Cuban Revolution. A sweet and tropical drink that smells as good as it tastes!

INGREDIENTS

  • 60ml light rum
  • 60ml fresh pineapple juice
  • 15ml maple syrup
  • 6 mint leaves
  • Small sprig of mint – to garnish
  • Ice

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Muddle the mint leaves in a cocktail shaker with some ice cubes
  • Add the rum, pineapple juice, and maple syrup
  • Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass
  • Garnish with a small sprig of mint

Alinsky Method

TYPE: Whiskey Sour | Mocktail OR Cocktail

  • 2 ounces Ritual whiskey alternative
  • 3/4 ounce lemon juice
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup
  • 1 egg white (optional)
  • Lemon wedge for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake until frothy.
  • Strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with a lemon wedge.
  • (Want to make it vegan? Swap the egg white for two tablespoons of chickpea juice.)

P.O.P

Type: Margarita | Mocktail OR Cocktail

  • 2 ounces Grove 42 (a distilled non-alcoholic spirit)
  • 1 tablespoon agave syrup
  • 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
  • Flaky margarita salt (optional)
  • Lime wedge

INSTRUCTIONS

  • If you want a salt rim, prepare a rocks glass: Rub a lime wedge along the rim of the glass, then then dunk it in a shallow dish of salt. Allow to dry for 30 seconds, and tap to dislodge excess salt.
  • Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Shake for 30 seconds, then strain over fresh ice in the prepared rocks glass.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge.

The M.O.C.H.A

Type: Cocktail

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 fl oz whole milk (or non-dairy substitute)
  • 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
  • 2 fl oz chilled espresso
  • 2 fl oz Kahlua or coffee liqueur of choice
  • 1/2 cup whipped cream (or non-dairy substitute)
  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Stir the milk and syrup together in a shaker.
  • Fill shaker three-quarters full with ice (about 1 3/4 cups, depending on the size of your shaker).
  • Add espresso and Kahlua. Shake well to combine.
  • Strain into a cocktail glass filled halfway with ice.
  • Garnish with whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.

Happy Hour Ice Breakers!

Fun

  • What are your favorite songs from your teenage years that you jam out to when no one is around?
  • What is our cellphone wallpaper?
  • What is your best scar story?
  • You can have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what is it?
  • What is your favorite thing about the place where you live?
  • If you were the captain of a pirate ship, what would the name of it be?
  • What was in your high school locker?

Deep 

  • A genie grants you 3 wishes but none of them can directly benefit you. What would those wishes be?
  • Who taught you to cook? And what was the first meal you ever prepared?
  • What job would you never want?
  • What is the first thing you think about in the morning?
  • When was the last time you turned your phone off?
  • You have to wear a T-shirt with one word on it for a year. Which word do you choose?
  • Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button on your life?
  • What failure have you learned the most from?

Political

  • Who is your favorite revolutionary leader, and why?
  • Is this your first Justice Works?
  • How did you get active in the movement?
  • What issue are you most passionate about and why?
  • What law or policy would you change?
  • What historical, political event inspires you the most?

What’s Cooking?

Saturday | 5pm | Al-amin Muhammad, We Rise Above the Streets

Food brings us together. It binds communities and helps us to build the bigger we. What’s Cooking at Citizen Action is a series where you can cook alongside Co-Executive Director Rosemary Rivera & Deputy Executive Director Charlie Albanetti. Grab your favorite sandwich ingredients and join us and special guest Al-Amin Muhammad, founder of We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach Saturday to recreate the famous Sandwich Saturday and discuss homelessness, food insecurity & more!

Sunday | 10am | Rosemary Rivera & Charlie Albanetti

Join What’s Cooking with Citizen Action hosts Rosemary Rivera & Charlie Albanetti to make their favorite egg recipes and sides. We invite you to grab ingredients for your favorite breakfast dishes and cook alongside while discussing sustainability and power in the movement.

In-person after party locations

Albany: 7pm @ 288 Savoy Taproom | 288 Lark St, Albany, NY 12210

Binghamton: 7pm @ Home of Mary Clark | 24 Laurel Ave, Binghamton, NY 13905

Buffalo: 6pm @ Backyard home of Barbara Miller Williams | 236 Clinton St (near Hickory), Buffalo, NY 14204

Kingston: 7pm @ Beverly Lounge | 224 Foxhall Ave, Kingston, NY 12401

NYC: 7pm @ 4th Ave Pub | 76 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Rochester: All day! @ 39 Beekman Place, Brighton, NY 14620

Utica: 5pm @ Cornerstone Community Church | 500 Plant St | sandwich making during What’s Cooking?
7pm @ Swifty’s | 257 Genesee St, Utica, NY 13501 | drinks and socializing

Sunday Morning Non-denominational Prayer Service 

Sunday | 9:00am | Leslie Bishop

Join us for a non-denominational prayer service. We’ll come together as a community and lift our spirits, hearts, and voices, so that the power of our collective intention may give us the strength and the courage we need to sustain our movement for justice and liberation.

Sunday Morning Movement

Sunday | 9:30am | Sparkle Anthony

Join us for Morning Movement with Sparkle Anthony, our Justice Works spiritual guide and community healer. We’ll welcome the energy of the new day with intentional breathing and light stretches. No matter your age, ability, or flexibility, you will feel welcome in this space. Join us. Your body will thank you!

Story Collection

Our stories are some of the most powerful tools we have to inspire and connect with others. Stories are good for making an emotional connection to the issues we’re talking about, and having stories people can relate to directly is often key to getting more people to take action, In other words, stories are a great tool for building the bigger we, for building our power for justice and collective liberation. 

Stop by our Storytelling Booth where our summer fellows will be waiting to help you turn your story into your power on a one-to-one basis! If you come with your story ready to share, the fellows will simply record it for you. If not, the fellows will provide some coaching and they even have guiding questions to help generate ideas.

Storytelling Booths are open on Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 1:45pm.