Jake Allen -- At-Large Member

This is Jake’s second year as a member of Council.  He is an organizer with SEIU Local 200 United and a member of Rochester Red & Black. Jake has been an organizer in a variety of social movements since he was in high school. He is currently active in the Housing is a Human Right Committee.

Metro Justice’s Council is elected yearly by the membership to govern the organization and supervise its staff members, who are responsible for the day-to-day operations. On January 25th, MJ members vote on the council slate at the Annual Meeting and learn about the organization's plans for the new year.  For more details or RSVP, click here.

Aaron Micheau--2014 Secretary

Aaron has been a member of Metro Justice since 2003 and has served as Secretary and Personnel Chairperson during those years.  He helped to draft contracts and assisted with the incorporation of the 501(c)(4).

John Keevert--2014 Treasurer  

John is a retired photographic scientist who has been a member of Metro Justice since the 1970’s.  He has served several stints as Treasurer in the past.  His interests include promoting fair trade-not free trade, environmental justice, and Ciudad Hermana.  He is currently active in the Dignified Retirement Campaign.

Denise Young, 2014 Vice President

Denise’s experience with community organizing is extensive, and includes involvement with MetroAct.  She has been active within the labor movement through 1199 SEIU and the NYS Public Employees Federation.  She is an adjunct faculty member in the Cornell ILR Labor Extension program and represents the United Steelworkers on the Rochester Labor Council Executive Board.  Denise is a proud co-founder of the Band of Rebels.

Meet Luis Torres, 2014 Council President

Since joining Council in 2009, Luis has served as Vice-President, Chair of the Social Action Committee, and Treasurer.  As President, he looks forward to supporting Metro Justice members’ great work.  His experience includes organizing for Workers United, Rural and Migrant Ministry, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.  Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he currently balances his time as Social Justice Coordinator for First Unitarian Church and being a stay-at-home dad.

In this video Elizabeth Warren raises an incredibly important question, and it isn't simply the question of raising the minimum wage. She says that over the years, if you were to index the minimum wage to productivity it would now be $22. So where did the other $14.75 go? Well, productivity is the dollar value produced per hour by a worker's labor. Much of what doesn't go to the worker becomes profit. This is precisely why there is a massive and growing wealth divide in this country.

Conversations about education in the United States are often totally baseless. This video talks about 5 myths that are perpetuated in reform conversations that fall apart completely when we look at the actual evidence.

We are so excited for the Alternative Fair tomorrow!  We have many different great vendors who will be selling and/or sharing information on what they do!  

As always, the MJ table will showcase great items that are great gifts for the whole family!  Non-competitive board games, candles, ornaments, and much more!

And don't forget the food!  We will have lasagna, lentil soup, and delicious desserts on Friday.  On Saturday, we will have fresh baked bagels from Balsam Bagels for breakfast and more lasagna!

The Alternative Fair is Friday, December 6th from 5pm to 9pm and Saturday, December 7th from 10 am to 2pm.  Admission to the fair is $3.  For more information, check out our calendar pages here.

For a complete listing of our vendors, click *read more*

On Black Friday, Metro Justice members went to Walmart in Chili to express their opposition to the poverty wages given to Walmart workers despite their massive profits.

Throughout the country, there were protests at over 1,500 Walmart locations. In Rochester alone, 3 different stores saw protests led by local activists and unions. Along with the Rochester and Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, United Food and Commercial Workers, and Service Employees International Union Local 200 United, we coordinated protests in Chili, Henrietta, and Webster on Black Friday.

At each location, there were discussions with hundreds of customers and many workers with the hope to build the self-organizing activist of Walmart workers that has been happening in many other parts of the country. On Black Friday, Walmart workers in many parts of the country went out on strike demanding fair pay, decent benefits, and a union. 

MJ member Ken Traub's letter to the editor was printed in November 16th, 2013's Democrat and Chronicle.

The Republicans’ and some misguided Democrats’ focus on “fixing” Social Security’s projected 2033 deficit by reducing benefits or increasing the retirement age is an affront to people’s intelligence. The Congressional Budget Office examined dozens of ways to extend the present Social Security surplus beyond 75 years, and the highest revenue-yielding approach without decreasing benefits is simply to eliminate the cap on income that is taxed for the program (currently $113,700 a year).

Upper-middle-class and wealthy people should be happy that they are fortunate enough to be able to pay their fair share at the same percentage rate as their less fortunate fellow citizens. Why won’t Congress simply eliminate the cap? They won’t because Republicans place their highest priority on protecting the rich, and not the less fortunate and elderly in our society.

(D & C)

If you are interested in becoming active in MJ's Dignified Retirement Committee, click here to sign up!