March 09, 2010
Great Times at the Rubin
The RBMF would like to thank everyone that attended Friday's Mentor Mixer. Those who joined us at the Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea got a chance to meet Keila Perez (a 2008 Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship awardee), Isaiah and Celeste Sypher (a 2009 RBMS awardee and his lovely mother) and Andrea Hughie (who will be mentoring Nafi Traore, a 2009 RBMS recipient).
A special thanks to Reginald Cociffi-Pointdujour (our current Scholar Selections Coordinator), Julius Pateman (our Communications Associate) and Marie Varghese (our former Scholar Selections Coordinator) for providing remarks during the event and introducing attendees to the work of the Fund. We'd also like to extend our thanks to Terik King for capturing some of the evening's most hilarious moments on film and new RBMF volunteer Phillip Howze for pitching in at his very first RBMF mixer! The evening wouldn't have been possible without your collective contributions!
If you missed the event, don't fret. An opportunity to mix and mingle with the RBMF staff, scholars and supporters is never far away. Add us on Facebook today to keep abreast of the latest developments in the case and all of our nifty programming. We hope to see you soon!
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November 05, 2009
Let's Mix it Up!
The RBMF invites you to mix and mingle with us on Friday, November 13th at the Ruben Museum of Art's ultra-chic K2 Lounge. While there, you can learn more about our current programs and future plans while enjoying 2-for-1 drink specials, breathtaking Himalayan art and Brooklyn's own DJ Tikka Masala on the turntables.
Also, you can purchase your ticket for the 40" Toshiba LCD television we're auctioning off to support the 2010 Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship. How's that for social justice with a twist?!
RSVP today by emailing info@rashawnbrazell.com, our facebook group or just drop by!
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August 28, 2009
Get in the Mix!
The Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund would like to invite you to join us at our first Mentor Mixer. For those who are just being introduced to our work, we’ll be providing a brief overview of our history and initiatives. For those who have supported our work over the past four years, we’ll be unveiling our fall fundraisers and announcing the winners of the 2009 scholarship award. Most importantly, we’ll use the evening to begin transforming talented folks like you from young professionals and agents of change into mentors for the next generation of scholars and activists.
At the event, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the amazing young men and women who have received the seven scholarships we’ve granted since 2006. 2007 scholarship recipient Dashana Payne and her mentor Kemi Ilesanmi will be discussing their experience with our mentoring program, and 2009 recipient Nafissatou Traore (who has not yet been paired with a mentor) will speak briefly about how she’s been inspired by Rashawn’s legacy of selfless service and academic excellence.
We do hope that you’ll join us for this exciting event. Have a drink, bring a friend and learn a little about the role YOU can play in helping us build the New York City that Rashawn wanted to see; a diverse and affirming city free of violent crime.
To RSVP, email us today by clicking here.
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September 05, 2008
How We Brought Justice Home
After garnering coverage in the New York Daily News, August 30th’s memorial march was a success on many fronts. First, we achieved our goal of connecting with Rashawn’s neighbors by flyering his Bushwick neighborhood. Second, we were able to connect with the families of other LGBT people of color who have been the targets of violent crime. And, thanks to the coverage we got on CNBC, we were able to send all of New York a clear message that we will not stop fighting until Rashawn’s killer is brought to justice.
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May 25, 2008
Brighter Days 4: A Huge Success!
As you know, the RBMFs Brighter Days events serve as an annual opportunity to celebrate Rashawn’s life, distinguishing his vibrant legacy from the bleak shadow cast by his death. This year’s event came in the form of an awards banquet that honored community leaders and organizations that are leading the efforts to end violence against LGBT people of color.
(All images courtesy of Rod Patrick Risbrook)
As New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn received her award, she shared how she’d been deeply moved by Desire Brazell’s commitment to justice and pledged to support the RBMF in our future endeavors. Members of the Audre Lorde Project’s “Safe OUTside the System” Collective shared an original poem when accepting their award. A memorable moment in the evening came when Dashana Payne, our 2007 scholarship recipient, discussed the impact that receiving the $1500 scholarship had on her first year at St Joseph College and what she plans to do to further his legacy.
Though immensely thankful for the thousands of dollars we raised, we are equally appreciative to have had the opportunity to share our gratitude with the network of bloggers, activists, artists, scholars and community members who have made invaluable contributions to our work throughout the years.
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May 09, 2008
Brighter Days 4: The Awards Banquet and Afterparty
Dear friends,
It's hard to believe that we've been fighting for justice in the case of Rashawn Brazell for three years now. But the facts cannot lie: It's been three full years since 19 year-old Rashawn's dismembered body parts were found strewn though Brooklyn's subways. And three years later, the murder that America's Most Wanted has called one of the most gruesome in New York's history remains unsolved.
Luckily, there's good news. Since the inception of the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship in 2005, we've been blessed to have people like you in our corner pledging time, resources, sympathy and support for our ongoing fight against racism, homophobia and hate violence. This year, we are elated to have the opportunity to thank each of your for the myriad ways in which you've made it possible to offer a sustainable tribute to Rashawn's memory. To this end, we hope that you'll join us at our awards dinner on May 22nd. Because the evening's purpose is to show our gratitude for the unwavering support of community members like you, it simply wouldn't be complete without... you!
Hosted at the LGBT Community Center in Manhattan, this year’s Brighter Days celebration will honor New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Letitia James and the Audre Lorde Project's SOS Collective for their respective efforts to end violence against LGBT people of color in our community. Additionally, we'll be recognizing the network of bloggers, activists, artists and scholars who have made invaluable contributions to our work throughout the years.
So, click here to RSVP today and let us show you our appreciation!
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August 19, 2007
RBMF Helps to Launch SAFEPARTY program
On Saturday August 18th the RBMF helped celebrate the launch of the Safe OUTside the System (S.O.S.) Collective's SAFEPARTY program. The program, created by LGBT people of color to stop violence against our communities, provided free rides home to partygoers living in certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn, as well as volunteers to walk people to nearby public transportation.
In addition to ensuring that all attendees arrived and departed safely, the event collected donations for the New Jersey 4 and Justice for Erika Keels Organizing.
The event was co-sponsored by the following organizatins:
The New York City Anti-Violence Project
Center for Anti-Violence Education
FIERCE
Justice Committee
Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund
Reflect Connect Move
RightRides
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Continue reading "RBMF Helps to Launch SAFEPARTY program" »
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August 09, 2007
Safe OUTside the System Collective Presents: A Celebration of Living Against Violence
Shuga Khane Entertainment's SWEAT!
&
Safe OUTside the System (S.O.S.) Collective
present ...
A Celebration of Living Against Violence
The Official After Party to ALP's Chillin and Grillin
Saturday August 18th 8pm
at
Outpost
DJ Sojal & DJ Asere
$7 at the door.
Proceeds to benefit the S.O.S. Collective.
In collaboration with other fundraising activities donations will be collected for the New Jersey 4 and Justice for Erika Keels Organizing.
No one will be turned away because of lack of funds.
Directions:
1014 Fulton St. b/w Classon & Grand
Train: C or A when local to Franklin
Bus: B25/B26 to Classon
Celebrate the launch of the S.O.S. Collective's SAFEPARTY program. A
program created by LGBTSTGNC people of color to stop violence against our communities. All SAFEPARTIES will provide free rides home to partygoers living in certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn, as well as volunteers willing to walk people to nearby public transportation.
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June 22, 2007
RBMF Honored at City Council Pride Celebration
On Wednesday, June 20th over 500 people filled the City Council chamber for a celebration of "LGBT Pride and the Journey to End Violence and Hate." Among those honored were the RBMF, NYPD Detective Kevin Czartoryski and the Gay-Straight Alliance at Port Richmond High School in Staten Island.
Tony-winning actor Stephen Spinella opened the evening, and Speaker Christine Quinn, the first openly lesbian or gay leader of the Council, flanked in the front row by her partner, Kim Catullo, and her father Lawrence, recalled the city's decades-long struggle to achieve gay rights.
Remarks were given by Council Member Rosie Mendez, the chamber's other out lesbian member, and a music performance was provided by Lavender Light, The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir.
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June 12, 2007
Beyond Fierce: RBMF Partners with Noted Photographer to Launch (Re)Vision Series
Delphine Fawundu-Buford has been a photographer for over 15 years and is among the 'young lions' of Black photography. Her work has been exhibited and collected nationally and internationally by institutions like Museum of Contemporary Art of University of São Paulo, the International Center of Photography, the Anacostia Museum in Washington, DC and most notably the Brooklyn Museum of Art where her photograph, Patiently Waiting, graced the cover of the catalog-book of the "Committed to the Image" exhibition.
She recently partnered with the RBMF on her "Beyond Fierce" exhibition. Read our exclusive interview with her below and check out pictures from the show's opening.
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June 15, 2006
Anti-Hate March and Rally
March and Rally this Saturday
Raise Your Voice Against Anti-LGBT Hate in Our Neighborhoods
When: Saturday, June 17, 2006
Where: Gather at NE Corner of 14th Street and First Avenue at 2PM;
March at 3PM to Christopher Park (Christopher & West 4th Streets)
Why: In the last week a number of hate incidents have impacted our community
Saturday, June 10, 12:30 AM - East Village, Manhattan
On his way home, Kevin Aviance is brutally attacked by a group of men yelling anti-gay slurs
Saturday, June 10, 1:10 AM - Astoria, Queens
A group of three friends are attacked by a larger group yelling anti-gay and racist epithets and wielding a baseball bat
Sunday, June 11, 5:45 AM - Astoria, Queens
A man is followed off of an "N" train by another man who harassed him with anti-gay language, pushed him down elevated platform exit stairs to the street, and kicked and punched repeatedly.
Make your voice heard...
We will not be targeted even as we celebrate our History, our Pride and our Survival...
Community Partners in this Effort include: the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, Daniel Dromm, Empire State Pride Agenda, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Gay Men of African Descent, Hedda Lettuce, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, the Latino Commission on AIDS, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, mano a mano, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, New York State Black Gay Network, NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, NYS Assembly Member Deborah Glick, NYS Assembly Member Sylvia Friedman, NYS Senator Tom Duane, People of Color in Crisis, Unity Fellowship Church of Christ, the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund list in formation
Click here for more information and safety tips.
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April 17, 2006
Rashawn's Memorial March: A Success!
Anger, pain and tears mingled with determination for justice at the Rashawn Brazell Memorial March.
Chanting "Justice for Rashawn!" from the train station where his partial remains were found to the 79th precinct where the investigation of his murder has lulled, we gathered on April 15th not only to honor Rashawn’s memory, but also to support his mother, Desire Brazell, in her tireless fight to ensure that the NYPD devote the maximum amount of resources to finding her son’s killer.
Alongside representatives from the RBMF, City Councilmember Leticia James spoke out on Rashawn’s behalf, issuing the angry message that “homophobia kills!” Among the 200+ attendees were representatives from the Audre Lorde Project, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the New York City Anti-Violence Project, People of Color in Crisis, the Reverend Ralph "Chaz" Crowder, and Eric Adams of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement.
In a particularly moving moment, a close friend of Rashawn’s vowed that she would march every weekend if she had to. Another told an anecdote about Rashawn’s selfless nature and the unwavering support he offered his close friends. Some were unable to speak at all, overcome by the loss of their friend and the failure of the NYPD to prioritize the investigation.
The Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund thanks everyone who came out to support Desire Brazell’s plea for justice. It was an honor to assist in realizing the community’s goal of ensuring that neither the NYPD nor the general public allow this case to remain unsolved and underreported and a joy to be reminded how many people stand in support of our organizing.
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February 27, 2006
Bloggers Review Princeton Panel
We are proud to report that last week's panel discussion "Intolerance, Injustice and Intersectional Identity" was a huge success. We extend special thanks to our panelists Kim Pearson, Clarence Patton, Rashad Robinson and Kwame Anthony Appiah as well as the Black Graduate Caucus of Princeton University, who organized the event.
For details about Wednesday's discussion, visit
Steven G. Fullwood, founder of the Black Gay and Lesbian Archive and manuscripts librarian at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Kim Pearson, magazine writer and Assistant Professor of journalism at The College of New Jersey
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February 10, 2006
"Injustice, Intolerance and Intersectional Identity"
The RBMF is proud to support Princeton University's upcoming panel discussion, "Injustice, Intolerance and Intersectional Identity". The panel will address, amongst other things, the circumstances surrounding the murder of Rashawn Brazell.
"Drawing upon political philosophy, black feminist thought and queer theory, this panel discussion will bring together prominent activists and academicians to examine the ways in which our society enables and normalizes violence against individuals that stand at the intersection of marginal identities. To do so, we turn to the unsolved murder of 19 year-old Rashawn Brazell."
Invited panelists include:
• Clarence Patton, Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project
• Rashad Robinson, Director of Regional Media for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
• Kwame Anthony Appiah, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University
• Desire Brazell, Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund Scholar Selections Advisor
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at McCormick 101 on the Princeton University campus, Wednesday, February 22, 2006 from 6pm - 7:30pm. For additional details contact the Black Graduate Caucus at BGC@princeton.edu.
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August 08, 2005
You're Invited: the RBMS launch party
Join us on Sunday, August 28th as we celebrate the life and legacy of our brother and friend Rashawn Brazell. Luke and Leroy, one of Rashawn’s favorite places to party, will proudly host “Brighter Days”, the official launch party for the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship. The requested donation is a mere ten dollars, every cent of which will be used to support the college education of a New York City student committed to the fight against racism, sexism and homophobia.
For more information, sponsorship details or to make a tax-deductible donation, contact:
The Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 211
New York, New York 10037-9998
E-mail: RBScholars@aol.com
Fax/Voicemail: 206-339-5449
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July 12, 2005
Rashawn-Related Art Exhibition: Open Call
The Rashawn Brazell Collective (RBCollcetive@yahoogroups.com) is organizing an innovative art exhibition (not yet titled) in New York that deals with the murder of Rashawn Brazell. The mission of the art exhibition is to create further awareness of the senseless and brutal murder of Rashawn Brazell (whose body parts are still missing), and to bring healing to the community. This is an Open Call to all artists that have created art around the murder of Rashawn Brazell. Art forms/mediums can include (but not limited to): Paintings, Drawings, Photography, Mixed-Media, Creative Writing (poetry, short story, journals), Digital Art, Spoken Word, Performance Art, and Video.
Initially, we were thinking of having the exhibition around Pride In the City in New York (Aug 5), but we will have to postpone to an appropriate date in the fall. This allows time to plan, receive inquiries and art, promote and find a suitable exhibition venue.
While the primary focus of the exhibition is Rashawn Brazell, we will be accepting art that also deals with other hate crimes in the Black LGBT community.
If you are interested in participating in the exhibition, please send your name, contact info, and discipline to spiritus1@aol.com. At the subject heading, please put RASHAWN ART EXHIBITION. Also, if you know anyone that might be interested in participating, please feel free to forward this and other related emails. Submission guidelines will be sent out to those interested artists, as well as the address in which to submit your work.
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June 06, 2005
RBCollective Meeting
The next meeting of the Rashawn Brazell Collective is scheduled for next Monday, June 13th 6pm-8pm at the following address:
Community Resource Exchange 39 Broadway, 10th Floor New York, NY 10006
At this meeting, we will be discussing the mission of the Collective as well as ongoing projects and important updates.
Directions:
Take the 1 or the 9 to Rector Street; cross Trinity Place and walk one block west to Broadway.
Take the 2 or the 3 to Wall Street; walk two blocks west on Wall St. to Broadway and then walk two blocks south to 39.
Take the 4 or the 5 to Wall Street and walk two blocks south on Broadway.
Take the A or the C to Fulton St. and walk approximately seven blocks south on Broadway.
Take the J or M to Broad Street; walk one block west on Wall St. to Broadway and then walk two blocks south to 39.
Take the N or R to Rector Street; Trinity Place and walk west one block to Broadway.
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April 26, 2005
Meeting
The Rashawn Brazell Collective, an assemblage of concerned citizens, civil leaders and representatives from several community-based organizations, will meet to review their mission statement and operational procedures, hear reports from their sub-committees and discuss upcoming events. All are welcome to attend this meeting.
Click here to join the Rashawn Brazell Collective listserv.
Where: The Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch (Youth Programs Conference Room). ( 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza or Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum of Art station, or Q to 7th Avenue.)
When: Saturday, April 30th 12p.m. to 3p.m.
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March 30, 2005
Town Hall Meeting Scheduled
The Rashawn Brazell Collective invites all interested citizens to attend a Town Hall Meeting to discuss how the community at large might begin to translate their sorrow and anger about the murder of Rashawn Brazell into dialogue and action. Local politicians, law enforcement officials and representatives from several community-based organizations will be in attendance.
Where: Brooklyn’s Borrough Hall (209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY).
When: Monday, April 4th 2005, 7pm-9pm
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March 24, 2005
Vigil In Memory of Rashawn Brazell
Community Vigil for Rashawn Brazell
Friday, March 25, 2005
6:30pm
Nostrand Ave Station (A/C Train)
This Friday, March 25th, 2005 there will be a candle light vigil held for the remembrance of Rashawn Brazell who was brutally murdered in February here in New York City.
The vigil is open to all who wish to attend and will be held at Nostrand Avenue Subway entrance at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, eastern standard time. No special speakers are expected or slated to be there, and nothing is required for those that want to be there and share in remembering Rashawn Brazell.
Our prayers and thoughts and positive actions are in the hopes that we this may never again happen to any one, no matter who they are, at any time.
We propose at that time, to light one candle, in Rashawn Brazell’s memory and saw a few words as we think about and offer hope to a better day and change in the way we live and how we live in our different but linked communities.
Please stop by and show your support in recognizing this one life ended due to violence and hatred in our world. You and your prayers can change things if we each of us come together as one.
For more information, email troynotorious@yahoo.com or rashawn@nysbgn.org.
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