Building Community.  Supporting Justice.

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget

about progress and prosperity for our community.”  ~Cesar Chavez

The following events were coordinated or co-coordinated by Regina Valdez on behalf of Buddhist Global Relief or Compassion NYC.

Student participating in the Youth Climate Strike march carrying a sign saying 'There is no Planet B.'
Dorotea Mendoza begins the silent meditation contemplation for the planet. She is about to strike a tibetan meditation gong.
Member of Brooklyn Zen Center meditates before Youth Climate March
Group shot of multiple Buddhist groups participating in the Buddhist Action Coalition pre-march meditation in front of fountain at Foley Square
GreenFaith Member Oluwatosin at the Youth Climate Strike in New York City
Nene of GreenFaith at the Climate Strike Rally. Muslim woman wearing hat outside at the Youth Climate Strike Rally in NYC
Members of New York Insight at Youth Climate Strike Rally

Youth Climate Strike

Compassion NYC joined multiple faith contingents to participate in the New York City Youth Climate Strike. 

 

buddhist cymbals
End Family Separation
Zen Priest at rally
Protester holding sign Buddhist Action Coalition

Rally to End Family Separation

Compassion NYC organized a Buddhist contingent to join the rally in New York’s Foley Park protesting the administrations Zero Tolerance immigration policy.

 

 

Buddhists at the March for our Lives
Zen Buddhists at the March for our Lives

Buddhist Coalition Joins the March for Our Lives

Compassion NYC and Buddhist Action Coalition joined forces to organize a Buddhist contingent to join in the March for Our Lives.

bhante discussion
Sebene Salassie at Union

Formation of Buddhist Action Coalition

On February 3rd, 2018, over 200 Buddhists attended a congress at Union Theological Seminary in New York City to form the Buddhist Action Coalition, a progressive Buddhist moral action group.

 

 

Man Standing with Goat
Young man with a goat stuffed animal over shoulder
group standing in front of green barn
Girls hugging pig
Boy Standing with goat

Catskill Animal Sanctuary

The Catskill Animal Sanctuary is a 148 acre refuge for animals who have suffered cruelty, neglect and abandonment.  Fifteen volunteers joined Compassion NYC to spend the day working at the refuge to ensure a clean, safe environment for the animals.

close up of sealing a pack of lentils
Volunteers packing meals for hunger
close up of volunteer weighing pack of lentils for hungry
Group shot of volunteers at 911 volunteer day

9/11 Day of Service

Buddhist Global Relief joined the 9/11 Day of Service to help pack 1,000,000 meals for hungry New Yorkers.  As community outreach coordinator for Buddhist Global Relief, I helped ensure a large presence at the annual event.

Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees

In response to the great migration of refugees fleeing war in Syria, Heart to Heart International hosted an emergency event to pack needed humanitarian supplies.  Buddhist Global Relief joined the Multi-faith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, FedEx and over 1,000 other volunteers to pack aid for immediate shipment to refugees in camps in Turkey, Greece and Serbia.