WRL Local Chapters, Affiliates and Contacts
LISTED BY STATE
ALABAMA
North Alabama Committee for Nonviolent Action (NACNVA) (Affiliate)
Contact: Peter Engstrom
112 Redwood Dr.
Madison, AL 33758
256.325.7300
pengstrom@knology.net
www.napn.org/NACNVA.htm
CALIFORNIA
Southern California WRL (Local)
The Southern California chapter of WRL has been active since the early eighties. At various times, the group has organized and taken part in tax day demonstrations, anti-war and anti-military speak-outs and teach-ins, and held regular WRL meetings for nonviolent, radical action. This local distributes WRL materials and tables at LA events.
Contact: Joe Maizlish
2436 Armstrong Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
323.660.4992
goodwork@igc.org
WRL West (Local)
c/o Bob Meola
2335 Acton Street
Berkeley, CA 94702-2107
510.644.1102
bobmeola@mindspring.com
Mendocino Coast Peace & Justice Center (Local)
PO Box 1113
Mendocino, CA 95460
Carol Jahnkow (Contact)
PO Box 15307
San Diego, CA 92175
619.263.9301
prcsandiego@igc.org
Salinas Action League (Affiliate)
contact: MacGregor Eddy
PO Box 5789
Salinas, CA 93915
831.206.5043
youthrightssal@gmail.com
COLORADO
John Kefalas (Contact)
604 Sycamore St.
Fort Collins, CO 80521
johnk@verinet.com
Evan Weissman (Contact)
70 W. Byers Pl #3
Denver, CO 80223
720.837.3279
e_weissman@hotmail.com
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut YouthPeace (Local)
c/o WRL New England
PO Box 1093
Norwich, CT 06360
860.639.8834
wrlne@peoplepc.com
Donnelly/Colt (Affiliate)
Kate Donnelly and Clay Colt
Station Road
Hampton, CT 06247
860-455-9621
claycolt@gmail.com
War Resisters League New England (Local)
Contact: Joanne Sheehan and Rick Gaumer, Staff
War Resisters League / New England
PO Box 1093 Norwich, CT 06360
860.639.8834
wrlne@peoplepc.com
DELAWARE
War Resisters League of Delaware (Local)
302.478.9239
wrl.delaware@yahoo.com
www.wrl-delaware.tk
ILLINOIS
WRL Chicago (Local)
c/o Charles Paidock
3211 S. Union Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
IOWA
Eastern Iowa Peace Alliance (Local)
PO Box 2906
Iowa City, IA 52244
319.337.5187
WRL of Iowa City (Local)
PO Box 572
Iowa City, IA 52244
319.341.5144
Iowa Peace Network (Affiliate)
Nancy and Gary T. Guthrie
4211 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50312
515.274.4851
MAINE
ROSC (Resources for Organizing and Social Change) (Local)
ROSC (formerly INVERT) was founded in 1977 by people who wanted an organization to promote nonviolence and social change through mechanisms of education, training, and organizing. ROSC's mission is "to build and support a movement for nonviolent social change that will educate, activate, and empower all Maine people through grassroots community organizing."
161 Stovepipe Alley
Monroe, ME 04951
Contact: Larry Dansinger
207.525.7776
rosc@psouth.net
MARYLAND
Ellen Barfield (Contact)
814 Powers St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
410.243.5876
Ellene4pj@yahoo.com
MASSACHUSETTS
Bread and Roses Affinity Group (Local)
PO Box 43
Lawrence, MA 01842
978.688.3569
Becky Pierce (Contact)
c/o New England War Tax Resistance
41a Brent St.
Dorchester, MA 02124
617.282.3783
Susan & Rene Theberge (Contact)
250 Shutesbury Rd.
Amherst, MA 01002
413.253.2161
reneandsusan@comcast.net
MICHIGAN
Detroit WRL (Local)
This local has been active in a broad range of non-violent and social justice issues since the mid-1980s. While past involvement in campaigns against both apartheid in South Africa and U.S. military aid to contras in Central America has demonstrated this group's concern with national and international issues, it is currently trying to improve its focus and address more local and regional issues. WRL literature is used extensively in this local's organizing work.
4105 Avery Street
Detroit, MI 48208
Contact: Eugene V.D. Perrin
313.833.3197
profgene@aol.com
Bruce and Char Sanderson (Contact)
The Sandersons have been involved in the peace movement for quite sometime. Members of Veterans for Peace and founding members of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in their area, these seasoned activists are available for advice and help with programs and campaigns for locals.
2790 Sanderson Road
East Jordan, MI 49727
231.582.7592
bsanderson@bignetnorth.net
MINNESOTA
Sister Rita Steinhagan Minnesota WRL (Local)
c/o Marv Davidov
2615 Park Ave. Apt 404
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612.874.7715
NEVADA
Jim Haber (Contact)
1420 W. Bartlett Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
415.828.2506
haber.jim@gmail.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Tom Jackson (Contact)
163 Court Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603.430.2886
coffeeanon@yahoo.com
NEW JERSEY
Root and Branch Collective (Local)
This New Jersey local formed in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf Massacre and took affiliation membership in WRL and Fellowship of Reconciliation. The local is famous for its coffee house, The Root and Branch Café, which is a clearinghouse for progressive social ideas in an atmosphere of live entertainment, including: open mikes, poetry readings, videos, speakers, art exhibits, and, of course, folk music. In addition, the collective has organized tax day and Hiroshima/Nagasaki Day actions, hosted a WRL National Committee meeting, and participated in various civil disobedience actions.www.nonviolence.org/rbc
PO Box 571
Park Ridge, NJ 07656
Contact: Adrianna Coe
201.930.0631
bob.weiss@verizon.net
NEW MEXICO
Socorro War Resisters League (Local)
Socorro, a small town with a small university (New Mexico Tech, strongly connected to military research), is the nearest town to White Sands Missile Testing Range. In 2001 several people began a weekly peace vigil. Then during the planning of the first anniversary of 9/11 we talked about forming a WRL local. In October 2002 we organized Socorro's first ever teach-in with 14 speakers from throughout New Mexico, attracting about 120 people. By the end of the teach-in, 45 people had signed the WRL pledge so we became a WRL local. We continue to hold a vigil every Friday at 4:30 on the plaza — attended by 6 to 12 folks from the community; in addition, we've organized one film night with plans for more, provided speakers for a teach-in at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, organized a movement to get the City Council to re-affirm the Bill of Rights, written letters to the local papers, send out a weekly update local peace and justice activities. About 15 people attend twice-monthly meetings. Though this is conservative town, we are encouraged by positive responses from many who pass us at our vigil. We have affiliated as a sponsor of Puerto Seguro, the local drop-in shelter for the needy in this area, starting with a drive to collect warm clothing and to provide volunteers to keep the shelter open. Our experience is that people are concerned and in opposition to war — the wars that we now sponsor and ones that may shortly ensue.
P.O. Box 635
Socorro, NM 87801
Contact: Richard Epstein
575.835.2517
rle@advancedreasoningforum.org
NEW YORK
New York City (Local)
Formed in 2002 as an outgrowth of a weekly vigil (co-sponsored with Park Slope Greens) held in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn against the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We also were heavily involved in the organizing civil disobedience at the August 2004 Republican National Convention in Manhattan. Current organizing includes actions against the continuing occupation of Iraq, as well as counter-recruitment and war tax resistance issues. For information on upcoming meetings, go to www.warresisters.org/WRL-local-events.
NYC WRL Local Group
c/o WRL
339 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10012
nycwrl@att.net
East End War Resisters League (Local)
Since its formation in 1994, this local has been busy following through with its commitment to educate children about nonviolence, support the struggle for safe, affordable housing on the East End of Long Island, safeguard the rights of the disabled, and promote alternatives to prison sentences in the criminal justice system. The group sometimes works in cooperation with other social justice organizations, hosts speakers at its meetings, and leaflets at local grocery stores and movie theaters.
207 Accabonic Rd. E.
Hampton, NY 11937
Contact: Gerry Mooney
631.329.1533
Westchester People's Action Coalition (WESPAC) (Affiliate)
For the past 16 years, this affiliate of WRL has been a vital resource for peace and social justice organizations of Westchester County. Groups that work with WESPAC include CALC, NOW, WILPF, Westchester Women for Peace, Rainbow Coalition, Local Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Harbor, Westchester Comm. On Africa and CASA/Westchester. WESPAC coordinates local participation in every major demonstration and depends on volunteers and donations to run its resource center and library, which provide free leaflets and literature; slides, films, and videotapes; books and periodicals; posters and sales items; speaker's bureau; workshops, training and conferences; and monthly rent parties on subjects which provide opportunities to learn about issues and meet people not otherwise available.
255 Grove Street - Box 488
White Plains, NY 10602
914.682.0488
wespac.org
info@wespac.org
NORTH CAROLINA
Asheville WRL (Local)
Established in 1999, WRL Asheville began by organizing the gathering,
"Honoring our Elders, Joining the Generations," bringing together long-time WRL elders and a new generation of activists fresh from the "Battle of Seattle." WRL Asheville members have long been on the ground in the Southeast working with many allied groups and issues. In recent months, we have been refocusing and revitalizing our Chapter providing nonviolence trainings for local and national actions, participating in the WRL national conversation through the Organizing Task Force and National Committee. By sponsoring speakers and organizing events, collaborating with other local and regional groups to build alliances, we are working to build a strong WRL presence on the ground, not only in the Carolinas, but throughout the entire Southeast. By confronting all forms of war and human exploitation, we are keeping faith with WRL's original mission.
PO Box 2551
Asheville, NC 28802-2551
Contact: Coleman Smith
828.301.6683
csmoakes@msn.com
War Resisters League Asheville Blog
http://warresistersleagueasheville.wordpress.com/
L. Russel Herman, Jr. (Contact)
L. Russel Herman, Jr. serves as a WRL contact in the North Carolina area. His goals are to prepare people and organizations to guide human society in directions that are good for everyone, a society with no exploitation, oppression or violence; to strengthen cooperation among organizations and individuals whose goals are compatible with these directions; to help leaders improve their leadership and learn to develop many other good leaders; and to spread effective methods for organizing, for nonviolence and for hope. He interviews activists to collect information on strategies and methods of organizing, and provides consultations and trainings. If you would like to help you may contact him for leadership training, recommend him to others, put him on your group's mailing list, offer him a meal or a place to stay when he's in your part of the state, volunteer your time (transcribing interviews, stuffing envelops, assisting with trainings, and fundraising), or offer a financial contribution.
2624 Kilgore Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27607-7265
919.834.2693
OHIO
Larry Gara (Contact)
Author of A Few Small Candles and long time War Resisters League Activist, Larry Gara is available for speaking and training events in the area. He is a member of Fellowship of Reconciliation and has written articles for WRL's Nonviolent Activist and helped with WRL's Peace Calendar.
21 Faculty Place
Wilmington, OH 45177
937.382.3569
larry_gara@wilmington.edu
OREGON
Portland War Resisters League (Local)
Conscientious resistance to war, whether by seeking alternatives to military service or by refusing to pay for militarism, is a unifying element between two groups now united as War Resisters League, Portland Chapter. The Military and Draft Counseling Project provides civilian advocacy for military personnel and those considering enlistment; and Oregon Community for War Tax Resistance provides community support for persons conscientiously refusing to pay for war. OCWTR maintains the Oregon Community Peace Fund, which uses refused taxes as a basis for grants and loans to activist organizations.
2000 NE 42nd #224
Portland, OR 97213
503.238.0605
huntwork@teleport.com; contact@wrlpdx.org
Eugene Peace Works (Local)
454 Willamette St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541.343.8548
eugpeace@efn.org
www.eugenepeaceworks.org
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia WRL/WTR (Local)
Philadelphia War Resisters League has been for the past year or so (2003-2004) actively involved in doing street actions and in organizing speaking engagements for the Merchants of Death Speaking Tour. Before that, for many years -- since 1969! -- we operated an Alternative Fund, composed of resisted war taxes. We are reorganizing that fund. We welcome all who would like to be involved in some way in "radical nonviolent action." Currently Sachio Ko-Yin and Steve Gulick are the co-coordinators. www.phillywrl.net
2211 Bainbridge St.
Philadelphia, PA 19146
215.732.8137
www.phillywrl.net
Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern (LEPOCO) (Affiliate)
Founded in 1965 to oppose the war in Vietnam, this WRL affiliate supports drastic cuts in military spending; nuclear disarmament; and end to the violence of poverty, guns, hate and hopelessness; war tax resistance; counter recruitment; an end to support for repressive governments; development of non-exploitive economic relationships with other countries; and environmental security. These issues are addressed by public actions such as leafleting, study groups, nonviolence training, a lending library of materials related to peace and social justice, a resource center which provides information about draft registration and military recruitment, sales of buttons, bumper stickers and cards, and networks with other organizations such as Fellowship of Reconciliation. The LEPOCO Peace Center office is staffed and open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10 am to 5 pm and Tuesday and Thursday from Noon to 6 pm.
313 West Fourth Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610.691.8730
Bob Witkowski (Contact)
326 E. Northhampton St
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18072
570.829.5788
Lancaster Students for a Democratic Society (Affiliate)
lancastersds@gmail.com
www.newsds.org/lancaster
TENNESSEE
Nashville Greenlands WRL (Local)
2407 Heiman St.
Nashville, TN 37208
615-322-9523
karlmeyerng@hotmail.com
TEXAS
Houston Nonviolent Action/WRL (Local)
Affiliated with WRL since 1983 (before that it had been an independent organization), this local is especially active in the Youth Peace Program, with activities related to counter-recruitment, a youth film series and Students for Social Responsibility. WRL literature and nonviolence training are among the resources available through this local group.
Bob Henschen
850 Jaquet Drive
Bellaire, TX 77401
713.661.9889
bhenschen@msn.com
Peace Farm (Affiliate)
This local group with a strong history of nuclear weapons protest, has been affiliated with WRL since the mid-1980s. Nonviolence training, a disarmament task force, publications and activities carried out in cooperation with other area peace groups forms the cornerstone of their program.
PO Box 4130
Amarillo, TX 79116-4130
peacemaker@peacefarm.us
peacefarm.us
VERMONT
Jack Caroli (Contact)
PO Box 321
Manchester, VT 05254
802-362-2986
jackcaroli@yahoo.com
VIRGINIA
Norfolk OffBase (Affiliate)
Tom Palumbo
P.O. Box 5533
Virginia Beach, VA 23471
757.470.9797
norfolkoffbase@gmail.com
WASHINGTON
Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia (NACC) (Local)
The Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia is a Seattle-based organization which uses nonviolent action to create political and social change. NACC acts to interrupt and transform militarism and other forms of violence, and to build a society based upon community, economic justice, environmental awareness, personal empowerment, and feminist, queer-positive, and anti-racist principles. NACC uses creative nonviolent direct action, war tax resistance, public education and coalition-building towards these ends, creating community and developing empowerment and conflict-resolution skills in the process. NACC activities have included a Listening Project on Youth and Militarism and counter-recruitment organizing; coalitions to support Haitian grassroots democratic groups opposing the U.S. occupation of Haiti, and to defend the life of U.S. political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal; war tax resistence counseling; workshops to build community organizing skills; and removal of signs that enforce Seattle's infamous "no sitting" anti-homeless ordinance. NACC still administers the CMTC Escrow Account, one of the largest funds of resisted tax dollars in the U.S. Escrow Account money is reinvested in socially responsible projects. In addition, NACC publishes a quarterly newsletter, Nonviolent Action, and meets for general meetings every three weeks NACC makes decisions by consensus, and shares leadership roles. http://seanacc.org
P.O. Box 85541
Seattle, WA 98145
206.547.0952
nacc@drizzle.com
www.seanacc.org
Washington Truth in Recruiting (Affiliate)
Marion Ward
P.O. Box 40073
Bellevue, WA 98015
206.855.6761