MEET NEW ORGANIZER CARLTON HUFF / METRO JUSTICE ANTI WAR HISTORY
METRO JUSTICE REDEFINES ORGANIZER ROLE FOR TRUMP ERA
Through intense discussions during the past two months on Metro Justice leadership needs in the chaos of Trump's authoritarianism, Council decided to follow through on its plan to change the focus of the sole staff position we are able to support at our current funding level, widening it from focusing chiefly on the Rochester for Energy Democracy campaign to providing support and training at a less intensive level to leaders of multiple campaigns, keeping us more nimble to respond on more fronts. Council also made the difficult decision to say farewell to Michi Wenderlich, the RED organizer for the past four years and sole organizer for 2025 - an extremely difficult role. We are grateful for the work Michi has done for Metro Justice as organizer for the RED campaign. Their deep policy knowledge, multilayered grasp of public power transition strategies used around the country, creativity in mobilization and sheer tenacity have brought public power in Rochester from a pie in the sky vision to a fully defined and winnable goal. The RED Campaign will continue to grow and will remain a key campaign in our shared agenda. Michi also worked with council leadership through issues of expectations, communications and supervision that have led to growth in vision and capacity that Luis Torres, Council President, described in a tribute at the Annual Meeting in January. Michi hopes to remain in Rochester and continue to work with coalition partners for public power and other climate goals.
MEET CARLTON HUFF - NEW METRO JUSTICE ORGANIZER
Now we are very excited to introduce Carlton Huff as our new Organizer! Carlton (he/him) joined Metro Justice as a volunteer for the Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) campaign in 2023 before becoming Metro Justice’s Organizer in 2026. For his role in organizing wholesale retail workers, Carlton was named the Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation’s Apprentice Organizer of the Year in 2023. As part of the Steering Committee of the RED campaign, he helped lead canvassing days, new volunteer orientations, strategic planning, and more. Carlton strives to create a big tent for the working class that can challenge the domination of our lives by corporate interests. Carlton’s priorities include helping Metro Justice establish clarity of vision and communication, basebuilding using existing social infrastructure like unions, and working in solidarity with those most impacted by our struggles.
He is inspired by the concepts of collective liberation and liberation theology, as well as the countless examples of people everywhere across identities fighting for a better world. Outside of organizing, Carlton is an active musician, lover of the outdoors, and a frequent moviegoer. If you want to give him a rousing welcome he has a special request - get the day off next Tuesday, 3/10 and join him and fellow immigration and climate activists on a bus trip to lobby our Albany representatives to pass NY4ALL (the bill protecting NY immigrants), and support our state climate goals. Sign up here!
Read Carlton's own letter of introduction here
HISTORY OF ANTI-WAR ORGANIZING AT METRO JUSTICE
Already since Flynn posted fascinating glimpses of the history of anti-war organizing at Metro Justice just last Friday, there have been horrific military developments in our own day. Trump and his co-conspirator Netanyahu have, without consulting other branches of their respective governments, declared war, assassinated the head of a sovereign state, and are working to achieve their unilateral vision of "peace" through military might, ignoring all calls for diplomacy and statesmanship and offering no coherent plan or strategy for next steps. Already last October the Rochester Beacon reported that an estimated 10,000 people showed up for the 10/25 “No Kings” protest, and the urgency and timeliness of antiwar organizing is drawing into ever sharper focus. What can new Metro Justice activists learn from their predecessors, about local participation in national peace efforts? Read Flynn's interesting article here!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, March 4, 8pm May Day Strong network is building for a national strike - no work, no school, no shopping - for this May 1st. Register for the national call to learn more about our demands and support our strike infrastructure.
Thursday, March 5, 6-7:30 pm virtual public meeting to introduce Rochester's new draft food plan (see more under desktop actions below!)
Friday, March 6, 12-1:30 pm virtual public meeting to introduce Rochester's new draft food plan (see more under desktop actions below!)
Tuesday, March 10, 5 am-8 pm Join a huge cross-movement action at the New York State Capitol supporting immigrant rights, housing, and climate action. RSVP here if you can help represent Rochester! Free bus transportation and lunch provided.
Thursday, March 12, 7-8:30 pm Town Hall discussion of healthcare issues and the New York Health Act at the Smith Opera House in Geneva, NY. Click here to sign up for a carpool leaving Rochester at 6 pm.
Sunday, March 15, 12:30-2 pm Metro Justice new member orientation in the Metro Justice office and on zoom. Learn more about how Metro Justice works, and how you can plug in to help!
Monday, March 16, 7-9 pm March Council meeting at the Metro Justice office
Tuesday, March 17, all day Huge healthcare coalition Lobby Day in Albany for the New York Health Act! Please sign up by March 11. Bus or carpool seats will be provided.
Saturday, March 21, 9am-4pm at East High School, the Rochester Urban Agriculture Working Group is holding the 2026 Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference, a day of learning and connections featuring interactive workshops, community knowledge sharing, Fruition's Gift of Seed Experience, gardening tables and displays, and more! Click here to register! Please make sure to select what workshops you are interested in attending so we can place them in appropriately sized rooms
Saturday, March 21, 6-9pm Fundraiser concert in Newfield, NY with 100% of proceeds going to legal fees to oppose an AI Data Center on Cayuga Lake.
Saturday, May 9, 5-8 pm Metro Justice Annual Dinner, AFSCME Hall, 1956 Lyell Ave (just east of 390 Lyell Ave. exit)
DESKTOP ACTIONS
New! Check out Rochester's new draft food system plan! Click here to check out the draft, provide feedback, and sign up for a virtual public meeting to learn more.
Can’t support immigrant rights by heading to Albany? Tell Governor Hochul to pass NY4All another way with this one-click email tool. And call her office regularly at (518) 474-8390. NY4All would prohibit both formal and informal collusion between local police and ICE/CBP in perpetuity. Hochul has proposed her own legislation which only covers formal collusion for the next 3 years: Hochul’s proposal is weak and irrelevant, New York must pass NY4All into law.
The Campaign for New York Health is doing ongoing work with collaborators to push for passage of the New York Health Act, the best response our state could make to the disastrous healthcare cuts by the Trump administration. Sign our petition to legislative leadership here, and use this tool to email your Senator and Assemblymember.
Governor Hochul wants to roll back critical parts of NY’s climate law. But you can’t change the rules because you’re losing the game. We know that weakening the law will undermine our climate commitments and force New Yorkers to pay higher and higher energy costs. NY Renews has provided a 1-click letter to State Senate and Assembly leadership demanding that they hold firm in protecting the climate law and New York communities!
Do you know where your birth certificate is? Three voter suppression bills (the SAVE Act) in the federal House and Senate would force Americans to present a passport, birth certificate, or other citizenship papers in order to register to vote in federal elections, and are clearly designed to deter millions of people from casting their ballot in our democracy. Click here to send an email to your federal representatives.