Last week, the United States agreed to extend nuclear talks with Iran for an additional seven months.

Congress should support that decision and refrain from passing any new sanctions that would encourage Iran to resume its uranium enrichment program.

The initial deal reached last November resulted in the dilution of Iran’s stockpile of uranium that could be easily converted into weapons-grade fuel, and an agreement that they would not install any new centrifuges.

Last week’s extension is proof that the process is working. To give into the John McCain’s of the U.S. Senate now would be a grave mistake.

Send a message to the U.S. Senate telling your senators that you support a diplomatic approach to disabusing Iran of their nuclear ambitions.

The purpose of sanctions was always to open the door to negotiations with Iran — now that we’re making progress it would be counterproductive to ratchet up the punitive measures even further.

And if it turns out that Iran is not serious about the talks, there’s always time to revisit sanctions.

During President Obama’s first campaign, he pledged to enter into a dialogue with Iran about halting their nuclear ambitions.

He’s done that … and it’s working.

Thanks for making your voice heard,

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran & Chairman
VoteVets.org

Right now, hundreds people are gathered outside the Supreme Court because they believe no woman should have to choose between her job and the health of her pregnancy.

I’m at the Supreme Court today too, but this morning I’ll be inside the building, listening to oral arguments in Young v. UPS. The question the Court is taking on is whether UPS violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act when it refused to let pregnant delivery driver Peggy Young follow her health care provider’s orders to avoid heavy lifting — even though UPS gave a break to other workers who had similar limitations, but who weren’t pregnant.

Share this graphic on Facebook to show your support for Peggy Young — and everyone who’s just trying to do her job while pregnant.

When Peggy Young found out she was pregnant, her midwife recommended she avoid lifting more than 20 pounds. But UPS refused her request for “light duty” — even though the company provided accommodations to people with disabilities or on-the-job injuries, and even though it gave breaks to delivery drivers who had lost their drivers’ licenses as a result of DUI convictions.

Peggy was pushed onto unpaid leave for the duration of her pregnancy, and lost her employer-provided health care.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Young v. UPS will impact working women across the country. And because many families rely on mothers’ earnings, when pregnant women are forced off the job and lose their paychecks and health care, their families suffer as well.

Stand with Peggy and pregnant workers — because no one should have to choose between her job and the health of her pregnancy.

Thank you for all you do for women and their families.

Sincerely,
Emily J. Martin
Vice President and General Counsel
National Women’s Law Center

We at The Black Institute want to thank all of those that were able to join us for the launch of our first book, “All Races, All Faces: A Guide to New York City’s Immigrant Communities.” We had a great evening celebrating the diversity of our great City and hearing from many of the communities who will be positively impacted by this book.

Our book launch event brought together those who feel the urgency of these ever present issues, including Senators Jeffrey Klein and Diane Savino, Assemblymember Mark Gjonaj and Joy-Reid, Host at the Reid Report, MSNBC, who all spoke eloquently on the issue of immigration in the United States.  As our speakers mentioned, this directory will become a handy resource for government officials, educators, community organizers, immigrants, and all others who have personal or professional interest in the diversity of our City.

The Black Institute has printed and distributed the first publishing of the Immigrant Integration project, but we need your help to make sure it’s not the last.

Please click here to donate $25, $50, $100, or $250 to allow us to continue printing this important educational resource.

Today’s immigrants are facing major challenges, from the threat of deportation for the undocumented to anti-immigrant bias and barriers to economic integration that affect even many naturalized citizens.  The Black Institute has been at work to address this problem through a strategy of increasing the visibility of smaller and medium-size immigrant communities and helping them acquire their own voice in the immigration debate, thus advancing their integration into the wider society.

Your support will allow us to conduct the highest levels of academic research, develop leadership in Black communities throughout the United States and implement strategies and tactics for issue-based campaigns.  Please click here and make an end of year tax-deductible contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to working with you on future endeavors,

Bertha Lewis and The Black Institute

P.S. – In case you missed it, check out these videos from a group of diverse immigrants as they talk about why our new guide “All Races, All Faces” is so important to them.