My role and feelings with the Hunger Banquet are very positive, unfortunately I was unable to attend but the feedback and reviews that I saw and read were all very positive. It was interesting listening to the young who may have not experienced hunger in one way or another and to listen to their testimony about the broth that they were given to eat was very heartening.
Another student stated that she recieved a ticket out of the box to sit at the upper class table and when seated there and saw the other students sitting at the middle and lower class tables, she couldn't eat at all and felt guilty because of the others and what they were eating. I was very touched by listening to the different testimonies and very inspired to continue my fight for justice and peace. The young people in class, were even motivated to play a larger part in life to fight for those with hunger issues. We were sharecroppers growing up and many times we without and the memories still haunt me today, but have made me a stronger person.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Blog 3, Post 7 - Extra Credit {Reflection Paper} Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In reflecting upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I was unaware of this particular declaration and if enforced it would definitely help all people in the United States. Focusing on rights to shelter and to nutrition and why those rights exist or don't exist is a very good question.
Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or
international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be
independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
In this Article, the declaration states that we have all these rights no matter what race, creed , political or opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status and more. Growing up as a young Native American, I never enjoyed any of these rights and to this day I still have struggle for what is mine.
Article 17
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Interestingly enough, I find this one very interesting also, maybe everyone does have the right to own property, but where? There are some neighborhoods where people of color still cannot live in or own property. Yes if you look at the ambiguity of the declaration, they can still own a property, interesting.
Article 25
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of
himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and
necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment,
sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances
beyond his control.
Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children,
whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Article 25 really confuses me, I recall in class that as a project we were trying to data in the number of homeless in our designated city that we were all assigned and when putting our efforts forth to get more data, it was like working on a top secret project. Why the the rights don't exist; I would have to say greed, everything is all about the money. I like the principle of the declaration and maybe it was meant to do more than it does, I have gone to Washington D.C. and have seen many of those bills and amendments, and some can take forever to read. I can imagine investigating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, not that I wont.
Article 2
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or
international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be
independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
In this Article, the declaration states that we have all these rights no matter what race, creed , political or opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status and more. Growing up as a young Native American, I never enjoyed any of these rights and to this day I still have struggle for what is mine.
Article 17
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Interestingly enough, I find this one very interesting also, maybe everyone does have the right to own property, but where? There are some neighborhoods where people of color still cannot live in or own property. Yes if you look at the ambiguity of the declaration, they can still own a property, interesting.
Article 25
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of
himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and
necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment,
sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances
beyond his control.
Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children,
whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Article 25 really confuses me, I recall in class that as a project we were trying to data in the number of homeless in our designated city that we were all assigned and when putting our efforts forth to get more data, it was like working on a top secret project. Why the the rights don't exist; I would have to say greed, everything is all about the money. I like the principle of the declaration and maybe it was meant to do more than it does, I have gone to Washington D.C. and have seen many of those bills and amendments, and some can take forever to read. I can imagine investigating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, not that I wont.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Blog# 3, Post 4 - Ehrenreich Text - Living Wage
"Nickel and Dimed", by Barbara Ehrenreich; Ms. Ehrenreich was a good well educated woman and wanted to find out what was really going on in the real world. The Chapter that I felt comfortable in writing about was 2, Scrubbing in Maine. Barbara, looked around for some reasonable housing in this area and decided on the Blue Maven Hotel on Route 1 for $120.00 a week with a bed/living area with a kitchen, linens and a t.v. that has cable temporarily till they turn it off. She gets a job at anursing home making $7.00 an hour and another job as a maid making $6.65 an hour.
According to the living wage calculater, she is on survival mode for one adult, with both jobs she is making $13.65 an hour working to jobs just to survive. I feel that her experiences and the odd jobs that she takes to see how the other half works is quite disheartning and her research and the abuse that is experienced to prove something of living wages that is going on today, only now we don't even have manufacturing companies anymore.
According to the living wage calculater, she is on survival mode for one adult, with both jobs she is making $13.65 an hour working to jobs just to survive. I feel that her experiences and the odd jobs that she takes to see how the other half works is quite disheartning and her research and the abuse that is experienced to prove something of living wages that is going on today, only now we don't even have manufacturing companies anymore.
Living Wage Calculation for Old Orchard Beach CDP, York County, Maine
displaying_results The living wage shown is the hourly rate that an individual must earn to support their family, if they are the sole provider and are working full-time (2080 hours per year). The state minimum wage is the same for all individuals, regardless of how many dependents they may have. The poverty rate is typically quoted as gross annual income. We have converted it to an hourly wage for the sake of comparison. Wages that are less than the living wage are shown in red.| Hourly Wages | 1 Adult | 1 Adult, 1 Child | 1 Adult, 2 Children | 1 Adult, 3 Children | 2 Adults | 2 Adults, 1 Child | 2 Adults, 2 Children | 2 Adults, 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Wage | $10.03 | $22.65 | $27.13 | $33.54 | $15.66 | $19.93 | $21.37 | $25.05 |
| Poverty Wage | $5.21 | $7.00 | $8.80 | $10.60 | $7.00 | $8.80 | $10.60 | $12.40 |
| Minimum Wage | $7.50 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $7.50 |
Typical Expenses
These figures show the individual expenses that went into the living wage estimate. Their values vary by family size, composition, and the current location.| Monthly Expenses | 1 Adult | 1 Adult, 1 Child | 1 Adult, 2 Children | 1 Adult, 3 Children | 2 Adults | 2 Adults, 1 Child | 2 Adults, 2 Children | 2 Adults, 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food | $242 | $357 | $536 | $749 | $444 | $553 | $713 | $904 |
| Child Care | $0 | $638 | $958 | $1,279 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Medical | $135 | $447 | $462 | $446 | $306 | $437 | $419 | $427 |
| Housing | $721 | $1,109 | $1,109 | $1,397 | $856 | $1,109 | $1,109 | $1,397 |
| Transportation | $262 | $509 | $587 | $629 | $509 | $587 | $629 | $640 |
| Other | $79 | $189 | $240 | $311 | $131 | $173 | $195 | $225 |
| Required monthly income after taxes | $1,439 | $3,249 | $3,892 | $4,811 | $2,246 | $2,859 | $3,065 | $3,593 |
| Required annual income after taxes | $17,268 | $38,988 | $46,704 | $57,732 | $26,952 | $34,308 | $36,780 | $43,116 |
| Annual taxes | $3,600 | $8,127 | $9,736 | $12,035 | $5,618 | $7,152 | $7,667 | $8,988 |
| Required annual income before taxes | $20,868 | $47,115 | $56,440 | $69,767 | $32,570 | $41,460 | $44,447 | $52,104 |
Typical Hourly Wages
These are the typical hourly rates for various professions in this location. Wages that are below the living wage for one adult supporting one child are marked in red.| Occupational Area | Typical Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Management | $33.85 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $25.23 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $28.46 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $28.94 |
| Life, Physical and social Science | $23.68 |
| Community and Social Services | $17.51 |
| Legal | $26.86 |
| Education, Training and Library | $18.97 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media | $15.52 |
| Healthcare Practitioner and Technical | $27.45 |
| Healthcare Support | $11.74 |
| Protective Service | $15.76 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $9.05 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and maintenance | $11.59 |
| Personal care and Services | $10.17 |
| Sales and Related | $11.19 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $14.02 |
| Farming, Fishing and Forestry | $14.15 |
| Construction and Extraction | $17.38 |
| Installation, Maintenance and Repair | $18.68 |
| Production | $15.56 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $13.33 |
Blog 3 - Post 1, Future Directions-Rank
"What can one Person Do" is the selection I would make to end poverty, Rank lists in this particular chapter.
Many times when others are involved and not sincere in assisting or helping in a sincere way it can do more
harm than good. Paul Rogat Loeb, notes in his book," Soul of a Citizen, Our actions don't always transform
institutions directly. Change comes, to be sure, when we shift corporate or governmental policies, elect more
accountable leaders, or create effective institutional alternatives. But it also comes when we stir the hearts of
previously uninvolved citizens and help them take their own moral stands, It comes when we set motion
chains of concern that eventually help alter history. (1999: 101-102)"
Many people today unfortunately are affected by the social ills of todays society and are not capable of doing
for their selves, and there are those that prey amoungst them to do them economic or bodily harm, this is
wrong. In today's society many so called leaders of great responsibility are leaving those people behind and
only doing for themselves. Some of these individuals have so much money and their only goal is to acquire
more and push more laws that hurt those that don't have any.
Unfortunately, many times we must start alone and set an example so that others may observe and learn; I
don't know if you would call this being a martyr but helping those that can't help themselves has to start
somewhere. Can we ever end poverty, it would be nice.
Many times when others are involved and not sincere in assisting or helping in a sincere way it can do more
harm than good. Paul Rogat Loeb, notes in his book," Soul of a Citizen, Our actions don't always transform
institutions directly. Change comes, to be sure, when we shift corporate or governmental policies, elect more
accountable leaders, or create effective institutional alternatives. But it also comes when we stir the hearts of
previously uninvolved citizens and help them take their own moral stands, It comes when we set motion
chains of concern that eventually help alter history. (1999: 101-102)"
Many people today unfortunately are affected by the social ills of todays society and are not capable of doing
for their selves, and there are those that prey amoungst them to do them economic or bodily harm, this is
wrong. In today's society many so called leaders of great responsibility are leaving those people behind and
only doing for themselves. Some of these individuals have so much money and their only goal is to acquire
more and push more laws that hurt those that don't have any.
Unfortunately, many times we must start alone and set an example so that others may observe and learn; I
don't know if you would call this being a martyr but helping those that can't help themselves has to start
somewhere. Can we ever end poverty, it would be nice.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Blog Assignment # 3 Post 2B, Critique of 2 students
In this blog, Omer describes what his experience was like sitting on the floor and receiving water and chicken broth that tasted like water. He shared his experience that 80% of the students were with him on the floor and wrote about how it must really be like for those that are without food in the real world. His point in making a recommendation that the university should be there to share a day of huger with the general population was a very good idea and I believe should be commended. I like to read and hear about how others share an experience and hopefully learn from it so that they may one day go out and spread good will amoung the population that need their help.
These two blogs were two different extremes and I just felt that these were the ones to share, one who had it all and didn't want to eat because of her feelings for the others and the other describing to us what he was given to eat and described it only as water the substinance of life. Behold the truth of the hungry and those that really care, I was very touched...
These two blogs were two different extremes and I just felt that these were the ones to share, one who had it all and didn't want to eat because of her feelings for the others and the other describing to us what he was given to eat and described it only as water the substinance of life. Behold the truth of the hungry and those that really care, I was very touched...
Blog Assignment #3 - Post 2A, Critique of 2 students
In sharing the reading of classmates blogs, I read the blog of Ms. Crystal G. and found the argument of the Hunger Banquet quite touching and could understand the sentimental direction involved in receiving a table beautifully decorated and the option of eating as you like while the others sat and watch. This paradigm of hunger unfortunately is exactly how it really is in the real world and having to sit in the sidelines and watch as those who and those who do not have, fight for the right to feed their families or their children. In my work with youth there are many who don't have to eat and either steal or have to hustle for a meal in order to eat. The jobs have been scarce and many of the youth are unemployable and have to suffer for the mistakes that they have made in life. Justice to me is a learning and caring behavior for everyone not just a collective few, I thank Ms. Crystal G. for her fine example of putting others first in her heart and wanting to share with others, Orale!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Blog #3 - Post 5, Reflection Paper, Inequality in the Chicago Area
http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-muckrakers/2011/02/second-city-or-dead-last-income-apartheid-in-chicago/
, February 28, 2011 at 8:24 am
When I see news print or television reveiws like this particular article, it insults my intellegence and that of all of us, "Second City or Dead Last? Income Apartheid in Chicago" what really gets me is this article was written in the year 2011 and now the Apatheidsphere is beyond comprehension to those of us who are merely looking for employment to pick our selves up or feed our families, this particular article is only speaking about the African American Community mind you. Well guess what were all in this stratosphere of inequality in Chicago and everywhere else.
In Chicago as one of the largest cities in the world continues inequality at an alarming rate that people are going hungry, losing their homes, families getting seperated and no jobs to boot. All of the manufacturing jobs have disappeared and empty factory buildings now scatered all over the state and the city that it starts to look like a ghost town in many ways, foreclosed homes everywhere you look. People hustling against each other for a bigger slice of the pie and know one is getting ahead, but the politicians and the rich, inequality.
"According to data from the 2009 American Community Survey, the average white person in Chicago makes an income of $63,625 a year. Not rich, for sure, but doing pretty well. The average black person is pulling in $28,725 a year, about 45 percent of what the average white person makes. "
As I said, if this statistic is true from it's time, imagine where we are today and in a technical age not to many people can afford the perks that go along with this economy and yes inequality in Chicago is greater than.
, February 28, 2011 at 8:24 am
When I see news print or television reveiws like this particular article, it insults my intellegence and that of all of us, "Second City or Dead Last? Income Apartheid in Chicago" what really gets me is this article was written in the year 2011 and now the Apatheidsphere is beyond comprehension to those of us who are merely looking for employment to pick our selves up or feed our families, this particular article is only speaking about the African American Community mind you. Well guess what were all in this stratosphere of inequality in Chicago and everywhere else.
In Chicago as one of the largest cities in the world continues inequality at an alarming rate that people are going hungry, losing their homes, families getting seperated and no jobs to boot. All of the manufacturing jobs have disappeared and empty factory buildings now scatered all over the state and the city that it starts to look like a ghost town in many ways, foreclosed homes everywhere you look. People hustling against each other for a bigger slice of the pie and know one is getting ahead, but the politicians and the rich, inequality.
"According to data from the 2009 American Community Survey, the average white person in Chicago makes an income of $63,625 a year. Not rich, for sure, but doing pretty well. The average black person is pulling in $28,725 a year, about 45 percent of what the average white person makes. "
As I said, if this statistic is true from it's time, imagine where we are today and in a technical age not to many people can afford the perks that go along with this economy and yes inequality in Chicago is greater than.
Blog Assignment #3- Post 3, Service Project
My volunteer work for the Jose Rizal Center was to assist Phillipino Americans at this particular agency. The hours consisted of many opportunities of different levels of assistance, I danced with seniors, helped distribute food to those who came for it, office services work such as filing and answering the phones. There was always something to do; setting up for workshops and traing, assisting with the catering and ballroom parties. The center has alot of work and very few volunteers, right now they are going through a restructuring process and alot of help is needed and the demand for help is great. I enjoyed my time as being part of a family in this community based organization and was very much rewarded in helping this Phillipino Community, I felt very blessed and look forward to the future with them at the, FILIPINO AMERICAN COUNCIL OF GREATER CHICAGO, INC. Attached please find a letter from the gentleman who guided and assisted me in all that I did for this center.
FILIPINO AMERICAN COUNCIL OF GREATER CHICAGO, INC
RIZAL HERITAGE CENTER
1332 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, II. 60613
November 19, 2012
To Whom It May Concern:
This is to certify that ROBERTO GONZALES has rendered volunteer work at the
RIZAL HERITAGE CENTER totaling twenty (20) hours as follows:
1.0 Maintenance engineering work (janitorialand maintenance work) - Six (6) Hrs.
2.0 Worked as coordinator for, waiter and beverageDistribution during social activities- Six (6) Hrs.
3.0 Clerical/administrative work - Five (5) Hrs.
4.0 Miscellaneous Jobs - Three (3) Hrs.
Should you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to
give the undersigned a call at 773-524-9798.
Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Bobby Luna
Administrator
Jose P. Rizal Heritage Center, there are groups who are presently utilizing its facilities, and there are individuals who come to the Center for some of the services it provides. However, this hasn't been enough reason for the Center to keep easily accessible hours. The current open hours are down to a third of what they used to be. After all, most organizations wouldn't meet during working hours, and from past experiences they don't often meet right after the weekend, either.
The true reason behind the hours cut is a common one – lack of money. Money is needed to keep the electricity on during those open hours, and to staff someone to overlook the facility. The whole building needs to be heated during the frigidly cold Chicago winters, while money needs to be raised to provide air conditioning to the second floor for the blistering hot Chicago summers. Thankfully, the Rizal Center is completely paid off and has no mortgage, while the non-profit status keeps it exempt from taxes.
These aren't enough breaks though. The building has a high monthly maintenance bill, partly due to the fact that the building itself is old. The pipe system is about fifty years old, and it incorporates none of the modern-day energy saving equipment or architecture. Center head Rene Abella has been working with local Pilipino handymen to get things upgraded, but that still requires cash.
The Center gets paid via various means. As mentioned before, room rentals and periodic pageants bring in money, as do the review classes the Center hosts. Probably the income channel hit hardest in recent times is membership dues. That number has dwindled over time for a variety of reasons.
First, differing ideologies and personalities have caused rifts and separations in the Pilipino community here. The Filipino American Council of Chicago (FACC), which runs the center, used to overlook over a hundred Chicago Pilipino organizations. Over time internal fighting and disagreements occurred, to the point where there are four (soon to be five) similar but separate Chicago Pilipino groups, each with their own agendas. This has split the community so much that each group insists on having their own Philippine Independence Day events.
Secondly, the center itself can't accommodate as many people as it should. The auditorium can hold only under 160 people, while the parking lot holds even fewer. Access via public transportation, while possible, is difficult.
Probably the most important factor in the decreased usage of the Center by the community are the geographic shifts. The Center is in a part of Chicago that used to be home to a very centralized Pilipino population. Immigrants used to live in this area when first arriving, then move out to the suburbs thirty miles away to raise a family. Now, these immigrants usually move to the suburbs straight away. Meanwhile, the generations of Pilipino Americans who were or are raised in the suburbs have no prior connection with the Center. Of that generation, those who do move to the city look for proximity to work and activity, and not for an exclusively Pilipino community (myself included).
While the Rizal Center does play an important role in the nearby community, year by year it loses its relevance with the up-and-coming Chicago Pilipino American generations. Abella recognizes this shift, and has a plan to save the Center. It surely won’t be a popular plan, but it may be the only one left available.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Blog 1 - Post 7: Entry 2, Illinois sees more people living in poverty.
September 20, 2012|By Antonio Olivo, Chicago Tribune reporter
This particular article " Illinois sees more people living in poverty" took me back a bit by these facts and statistics. there are so many Ann Gadon's today who is at the age of 51 and was employed as a sales representative for a sales distribution comapany. Ms. Gadon's pay was cut by 25% and now she was eventually let go from her sales position. She presently gets help from her parents to make ends meet, .
New census data indicatesa very rough road for tens of thousands of people in Illinois. We are all waiting to kick start the economy, an estimated 1.9 million people in the state are living below the federal poverty guideline rates, a 150,000 more than in 2010.
White collar jobs are taking lower paying work when they are able to get it. the median household income in Chicago was $43,628.00 less than in 2009 and part of a steady decline over the past three years. Chicago and all of the United States is out of control and the people who need jobs cannot get them because the one's who were in higher positions are now taking those jobs that the lower paying people had and are left without anything, but poverty. Trade jobs will always be needed, but the competition for the jobs becomes more competitive and only the strong survive and downsizing plat's a big part in this field
This particular article " Illinois sees more people living in poverty" took me back a bit by these facts and statistics. there are so many Ann Gadon's today who is at the age of 51 and was employed as a sales representative for a sales distribution comapany. Ms. Gadon's pay was cut by 25% and now she was eventually let go from her sales position. She presently gets help from her parents to make ends meet, .
New census data indicatesa very rough road for tens of thousands of people in Illinois. We are all waiting to kick start the economy, an estimated 1.9 million people in the state are living below the federal poverty guideline rates, a 150,000 more than in 2010.
White collar jobs are taking lower paying work when they are able to get it. the median household income in Chicago was $43,628.00 less than in 2009 and part of a steady decline over the past three years. Chicago and all of the United States is out of control and the people who need jobs cannot get them because the one's who were in higher positions are now taking those jobs that the lower paying people had and are left without anything, but poverty. Trade jobs will always be needed, but the competition for the jobs becomes more competitive and only the strong survive and downsizing plat's a big part in this field
Blog 1 Post 7: Entry 1- My Own Choosing Poverty in Chicago
By Pat Garofalo, Travis Waldron and Jeff Spross on Sep 11, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Poverty In Chicago Schools
I read an article " Going to School In Chicago: High Poverty, Short School Days, Crumbling Buildings" Chicago teacher's were on strike and continued a standoff with the Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel; 350, 000 children were missing class over the performace and condition of the school facilities for our children.It is critical that the teachers and the city are able to come to a mutual agreement for everyone involved, and keeping in mind that the children's future are at stake. "Enough is Enough" Let's get our teachers back to work so they can get on with teaching our children.
These are some of the issues in question:
1.) 31% of children were in poverty in 2010
2.) Chicago has shorter school terms than most of the national average.
3.) The lowest performing schools are crumbling.
4.) 42% of Chicago Elementary schools lack serious funding
Based upon these facts and the empiracal evidence that we experience in our daily lives and in our homes, both the parents and the children are suffering.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Blog 2 - Post 2 entry 1: Part 2; In Our Self Interest
A Cause for Concern
In this section of our reading , Rank discusses these three points in depth:.
1.) Poverty Argument, self interest of Americans, (Poverty drains us both indidually and as a community and society. A very high price to pay.
2.) Reducing Poverty, this is consistent with two core sets of values held in high esteem by the majority of Americans (if we truly believe in such values and principles, then the reduction of poverty is highly consistent with and in fact critical, to their realization.
3.) As members of communities, larger than ourselves we have a shared obligation and responsibility to alleviate greivious ills, such as poverty. This is based on such obligations becoming binding when it can be demonstrated that a specific problem like poverty is largely the product of strutural inequities within the system.
The contention that interested me was "The Question of Welfare Use" it seems to me that he is basing the premiss of the argument on what (Gillens, 1999; Horan and Austin, 1974; Kluegal and Smith, 1986; Macleod and speer, 1999; Tropman, 1998). Gillens writes, "In large measure Americans hate welfare because they view it as a program that rewards the undeserving poor." He states, that "we have seen that a majority of Americans will face the experience of poverty. In kind programs provide specific resources such as Food Stamp, Housing Assistance Programs and Medicaid. Cash programs include those that provide therecipient with a monthly check, such as Aid to Families with Dependant Children (AFDC), which has been replaced by the 1996 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and General Assistance.
Rank, wants to show in the time table; that a welfare recipient receives welfare benefit by age, gender ,sex and family. He states that" the use of welfare falls outside the mainstream American experience
Rank, wants to show in the time table; that a welfare recipient receives welfare benefit by age, gender ,sex and family. He states that" the use of welfare falls outside the mainstream American experience
Blog 2 - Post 2 entry 2: Part 2, In Our Self Interest
In this contention of who gets welfare and who doesn't, kind of hits the nail on the head, I find it interesting. In all my years of working in Civil Rights and in the Communities of the undocumented it was always a challenge to make certain that they were not denied benefits in one way or another and Mr. Rank, is a sharp fellow, but looking at the real world and not through a glass cage are two different matters. there are all kinds of illegal and illicit activities that have many undocumented statistics and that was always what I have represented most of my life. I have been doing this for many years from Texas, California and now Illinois and yes it's all the same no numbers. These people need the same help as the other poverty categories and unfortunately we cannot get that assistance and many times the only place to get assistance is through a church if that. Please don't ever let anyone be forgotten no matter what theyr'e circumstances be, Rank proposes a good show for what he does, but lets not forget that there are more out there. My prayer is we have the poverty and the forgotten, so let's really put it together so no one gets left behind..
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Blog 2 - Post 5, Poverty in the city presentation
The name of the city, that our group introduced was Seattle, Washington and the number of homeless families and the number of homeless individuals increased over the past year. Among homeless adults, 58% were severely mentally ill, 24% were physically disabled, 15% were veterans, 14% were victims of domestic violence and 10% were employed. Homeless shelters had to turn away both homeless families and individuals. To accommodate an increase in demand for shelter; shelters have had to increase the number of persons or families that can sleep in a single room and distribute vouchers for hotel or motel stays because shelter beds were not available.
For the next year, city officials expect the number of homeless families to increase substantially, the number of homeless individuals will increase moderately, and resources to provide emergency shelter to decrease moderately according to the Mayor's Report.
In reviewing the Mayors report the request for emergency food assistance increased by 2% over the past which sounds very interesting, and among persons requesting food assistance, 41% were in families and 27% were elderly these statistics from the city of Seattle fall short of reality, I believe. 18% of the demand for emergency food assistance is estimated to have gone unmet. For the next year city officials expect requests for food assistance to increase moderately and resources to provide food assistance. They see providing adequate amounts of food with decreased resources in communities of need as the biggest challenge they will face during the year. They note that Seattle food banks have experienced an increase in visits from immigrants and refugees, particularly those from Somali, Burma and Bhutan, and that food banks are learning about culturally appropriate food for their households through locally sponsored workshops.
My prayer is that with the population of 608,660 and unemployment at 8.3% not to mention that they are well below the poverty y line 12.2% that their statistical information is accurate. When I see numbers like this it always reminds of when Mayor Richard Daley openly claimed that there were only 27 homeless people in the city of Chicago?
For the next year, city officials expect the number of homeless families to increase substantially, the number of homeless individuals will increase moderately, and resources to provide emergency shelter to decrease moderately according to the Mayor's Report.
In reviewing the Mayors report the request for emergency food assistance increased by 2% over the past which sounds very interesting, and among persons requesting food assistance, 41% were in families and 27% were elderly these statistics from the city of Seattle fall short of reality, I believe. 18% of the demand for emergency food assistance is estimated to have gone unmet. For the next year city officials expect requests for food assistance to increase moderately and resources to provide food assistance. They see providing adequate amounts of food with decreased resources in communities of need as the biggest challenge they will face during the year. They note that Seattle food banks have experienced an increase in visits from immigrants and refugees, particularly those from Somali, Burma and Bhutan, and that food banks are learning about culturally appropriate food for their households through locally sponsored workshops.
My prayer is that with the population of 608,660 and unemployment at 8.3% not to mention that they are well below the poverty y line 12.2% that their statistical information is accurate. When I see numbers like this it always reminds of when Mayor Richard Daley openly claimed that there were only 27 homeless people in the city of Chicago?
Blog 2 - Post 6, Hunger Issues
Hunger issues in the United States and all over the world really get me upset! People are always complaining about the issue, and but never do anything to help those in need or themselves. As technology has created video games, computers and these new smart phones no one has time to really care about those in need. Technology to me has become that wall in society that Ronald Reagan had once told Mr. Gorbachev to "Tear Down That wall, Mr. Gorbachev!" and to set the people free. Our hungry are getting hungrier and the price of food is getting costlier and costlier to no avail. The food is made with more preservatives and other chemicals. Is it only the people that are hungry with no food or shelter that are suffering? Everyone is paying for the consequences of the greed that large corporations and big brothers actions by what the are doing to all of us, as Moses said, to Pharaoh, "Let my people go" Help us don't hurt us; feed the needy and help the poor..
Monday, October 22, 2012
Blog 2 - Post 3 entry 2 Review two students Blog
Blog 1, Entry 3 read October 23rd at 11:15 A.M. by Ms Zamira, I found her blog to be very interesting and makes a determinant that education is a vital instrument to keep a population of people at bay from poverty and the quality of a moral education is the basics for economic flexibility. "To make sure that academic is a success, all students need to open doors to opportunities that education supports, with focus on loss students. Evidence shows education models coupled with family supports and to health care learning potential, prepares
us for future Choices. Foundational resources that help families, crises and invest in future opportunities such as education or start your own company." great job!
us for future Choices. Foundational resources that help families, crises and invest in future opportunities such as education or start your own company." great job!
Blog 2 - Post 3 - Entry 1, Review two students Blogs
I reviewed the blog of Ms. Crystal on the 23rd of October at 10:40 A.M., The name of the Blog is, "Our Mission". Crystal gives a link to services that are provided by," The Chicago Anti Hunger Federation" help in hunger issues in the Chicago land area. It helps to educate people on what is actually going on but it gives people a change to help. Good job! ( There are two Crystals and I was afraid to mention the last name)
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Blog 2 - Post 4, Service Project Details
I will be working alone on this project: The Project , that I have chosen is to volunteer for the Jose Rizal Center, located at 1332 W. Irving Park Rd. in Chicago, Illinois. The Jose Rizal Center assists the Philippine Community as a food shelter and a recreation center for the elderly and classes for nursing. They have been struggling for sometime now to stay in operation. The link will give an overview of what the mission and purpose is of the center.
http://www.bakitwhy.com/articles/look-chicagos-jose-rizal-center-part-5-future
http://www.bakitwhy.com/articles/look-chicagos-jose-rizal-center-part-5-future
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Blog Assignment 2- Post 1 entry 2
I would say that his concept "A Structural Vulnerability Explanation of Poverty" and the three contentions are intellectually interesting. Growing up in poverty and living a life of crime to survive in society is another path that many individuals find to be very lucrative and becomes a career path for many individuals, crime and passion. Yes, he is correct in saying and showing his findings like having a job, family break up and ill health; in the streets it is survival and many people of color are in the survival mode because of their families that are drug addicts or alcoholics and just don't care about them or even sexually abusing them and just have to get away because no one hears their cry for help.
The acquisition of human capital, yes it can be acquired in many ways not just with a good education or coming from a wealthy family (upper crust) that would normally deny one of this so called human capital, depending on whether you live in a rural area or the city. Those that live in poverty or struggling to make ends meet usually get involved in drugs and alcohol and some may sell the contraband or bootleg to make a living and support their habit. In the Inner City success is Rap, drugs and prostitution this brings in millions of human capital and feeds our society by using the courts, fines, attorneys and penal institutions.
Ranks, could probably do a study about individuals in the rural and inner city structural vulnerability of poverty, and have very interesting findings about this stratosphere of a society and the musical chairs that encompass this other structure that is another means of prosperity and many are led to this path that are even considered affluent. I seriously believe that the psychological stability of an individual must play a very important role in an individuals path to limit the heightened risk of economic vulnerability.
In the Spanish community a soap opera program (novella)"Pablo Escobar" is a mega hit series about the biggest leader in the drug cartel who kills people sells drugs all over the world and runs one of the most sophisticated operations in the world, he is ruthless and barbarous sadly enough this is a family show for the children, mom and dad get together and watch this together. Everybody wants to be like Pablo Escobar, sadly enough.
The acquisition of human capital, yes it can be acquired in many ways not just with a good education or coming from a wealthy family (upper crust) that would normally deny one of this so called human capital, depending on whether you live in a rural area or the city. Those that live in poverty or struggling to make ends meet usually get involved in drugs and alcohol and some may sell the contraband or bootleg to make a living and support their habit. In the Inner City success is Rap, drugs and prostitution this brings in millions of human capital and feeds our society by using the courts, fines, attorneys and penal institutions.
Ranks, could probably do a study about individuals in the rural and inner city structural vulnerability of poverty, and have very interesting findings about this stratosphere of a society and the musical chairs that encompass this other structure that is another means of prosperity and many are led to this path that are even considered affluent. I seriously believe that the psychological stability of an individual must play a very important role in an individuals path to limit the heightened risk of economic vulnerability.
In the Spanish community a soap opera program (novella)"Pablo Escobar" is a mega hit series about the biggest leader in the drug cartel who kills people sells drugs all over the world and runs one of the most sophisticated operations in the world, he is ruthless and barbarous sadly enough this is a family show for the children, mom and dad get together and watch this together. Everybody wants to be like Pablo Escobar, sadly enough.
Blog Assignment 2 - Post 1. entry 1: Rank Chapter 3
A Structural Vulnerability Explanation of Poverty
Mark Robert Rank :
Supports this contention by defining three premisses of structural vulnerability of poverty:
1.) He discusses the particular characteristics, such as the lack of human capital, tend to place individuals in
a state of vulnerability when detrimental events and crisis occur, an example of this is, not having a job or loss of a job, Family break up and ill health all are often the result of poverty.
Rank states that lack of human capital also increases the likelihood that such that such events will occur (particularly in the labor market). Human capital characteristics help to explain who in the population is likely to encounter poverty more frequently and for longer periods of time.
2.) The acquisition of human capital is strongly influenced by the impact of social class in the process. The ones who grow up in working-class or lower-income homes face greater obstacles in their attempts to acquire marketable educations and skills during their lifetime. Additional background characteristics also play a role in the acquisition of human capital, including race, gender and particular innate abilities.
3.) Individual characteristics help to explain who loses out at the economic game, the structural forces described ensure that there will be losers in the first place. The dynamics of poverty can be described as a game of musical chairs in which those with the least advantageous characteristics are likely to find themselves without a chair and therefore left standing, with a heightened risk of economic vulnerability.
Given that poverty is largely rooted in the structure of American society, how might we better understand the specific patterns of poverty and how they plat themselves out on a daily basis.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Blog 1 - Post 6 entry 2 Rank, Part 1 "Defend your Stance"
Mr. Rank, has some very good points, and I like the way that he analyzes the poverty model and
dissects it to make something concrete for one to understand what poverty really is, His
Fundamental questions, 1. Conditions of poverty and the reason that underlie it, 2. Judeo, Christian
efforts, and 3. American Civic Values. He explains the landscape of American poverty and what
he believes it is and how it works. I believe that as an American Indian here in this country that this
American dream was the same for us, but it has not worked that way for us and many others born in
this country. The way I have seen it, many new immigrants come here from another country and
seem to start off alot better off than how we and others have.
I don't believe that this is fair! Yes, I believe in hard work ethic and doing your share in life but
unfortunately that is not how it always works. When we did our research study work about the cities
of the United States; almost so much detail about the true numbers that aren't there and of those people that are homeless
without to eat it. It seemed like there statistical numbers didn't even exist. The study that the
class did in our"Hunger and Homeless class" and what Mr. Rank talks about I feel are two differen things.
Therefore, we that are homeless and listening to Woodie Gutherie and his songs about this land, must
understand that there is a seperate reality to all this debunking of our good people who have been
here from the beginning and find ourselves homeless and lost with no place to go.
dissects it to make something concrete for one to understand what poverty really is, His
Fundamental questions, 1. Conditions of poverty and the reason that underlie it, 2. Judeo, Christian
efforts, and 3. American Civic Values. He explains the landscape of American poverty and what
he believes it is and how it works. I believe that as an American Indian here in this country that this
American dream was the same for us, but it has not worked that way for us and many others born in
this country. The way I have seen it, many new immigrants come here from another country and
seem to start off alot better off than how we and others have.
I don't believe that this is fair! Yes, I believe in hard work ethic and doing your share in life but
unfortunately that is not how it always works. When we did our research study work about the cities
of the United States; almost so much detail about the true numbers that aren't there and of those people that are homeless
without to eat it. It seemed like there statistical numbers didn't even exist. The study that the
class did in our"Hunger and Homeless class" and what Mr. Rank talks about I feel are two differen things.
Therefore, we that are homeless and listening to Woodie Gutherie and his songs about this land, must
understand that there is a seperate reality to all this debunking of our good people who have been
here from the beginning and find ourselves homeless and lost with no place to go.
Blog 1 - Post 6 entry 1 Rank, Part 1, One Nation Underprivileged
I think that Rank has some valid points about poverty and explains the breakdown of how he comes
to his conclusions of how poverty exists in the United States. His contention on Individualism is that
he believes that individuals have the ability to take care of theirselves and family without depending
on others tov help them using the frontier past as an example, and using" Poor Richards Almanac,"
God helps them to help themselves." his belief is that individuals are to be responsible for their own
well being including getting out of their own hardship situation.
The United States is considered the land of milk and honey and is a land where opportunities exist
everywhere in this country for those who strive for it and that virtue, talent and hardwork can
overshadow the constraints of disadvantage with enough individual effort, literally anything is
possible. The American dream is Alive and that this result can be veiwed as the result of individual
failings that can only be overcome be an individual effort.
The diversity in characteristic natures of our society has worked against seeing our connections with
others and their problems. A defining heterogenous nature of the United States is it's racial and
ethnic composition. Races that have these characteristics according to research have shown less
empathy and concern toward the plight of the disadvantaged.
Therefore, according to this vision you have no one to blame but yourself.
"Was a big wall there, that tried to stop me
Was a great big sign that said Private Property.
But on the other side, it didn't say nothin'.
That side was made for you and me.
One bright sunny morning, in the shadow of the steeple,
By the relief office, I saw my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there wondering , if
This land was made for you and me.
pp. 11, 12 and 13
pp. 5 This Land is Your Land
to his conclusions of how poverty exists in the United States. His contention on Individualism is that
he believes that individuals have the ability to take care of theirselves and family without depending
on others tov help them using the frontier past as an example, and using" Poor Richards Almanac,"
God helps them to help themselves." his belief is that individuals are to be responsible for their own
well being including getting out of their own hardship situation.
The United States is considered the land of milk and honey and is a land where opportunities exist
everywhere in this country for those who strive for it and that virtue, talent and hardwork can
overshadow the constraints of disadvantage with enough individual effort, literally anything is
possible. The American dream is Alive and that this result can be veiwed as the result of individual
failings that can only be overcome be an individual effort.
The diversity in characteristic natures of our society has worked against seeing our connections with
others and their problems. A defining heterogenous nature of the United States is it's racial and
ethnic composition. Races that have these characteristics according to research have shown less
empathy and concern toward the plight of the disadvantaged.
Therefore, according to this vision you have no one to blame but yourself.
"Was a big wall there, that tried to stop me
Was a great big sign that said Private Property.
But on the other side, it didn't say nothin'.
That side was made for you and me.
One bright sunny morning, in the shadow of the steeple,
By the relief office, I saw my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there wondering , if
This land was made for you and me.
pp. 11, 12 and 13
pp. 5 This Land is Your Land
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Blog 2 - Post 7 entry 1 Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Charles Austin is a counselor for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Charles specialty is working as an advocate for prisoner reform, to assure that conditions for ex cons or felons are also given the same rights and treatment as other people. Charles also lobbies and speaks out on their behalf to make certain that this population is not forgotten. He also shared his personal life experiences and visits schools and wherever needed to share the hard work that he is accomplishing to make this a better world for this population. Charles and Charles are doing a great job letting us know about what is really going on and what we can do to help.
Blog 2 - Post 7 entry 2 Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, visit to class at NEIU
I really enjoyed the visit that was given to our class for Justice Studies, Hunger and Homelessness, we had two guest speakers to come and share the topic of being homeless today and their personal life experiences of their personal journey that brought them to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. The first speaker was Charles and he shared his experiences of being an athlete in school and excelling in football and other sports and coming from a large family that were always there for one another. He stated that he became addicted to drugs and it had taken him on a road of despair and the years of hardship to put his life together to be a better person. Today he shares his life experiences and represents the Chicago Coalition for the homeless.
Under his direction, he lobbies for the homeless where needed to make certain that the homeless population is fairly represented and continues to visit schools or wherever he is needed to spread the work that must be done to represent the homeless, another associate that works closely with him is also named Charles.
Under his direction, he lobbies for the homeless where needed to make certain that the homeless population is fairly represented and continues to visit schools or wherever he is needed to spread the work that must be done to represent the homeless, another associate that works closely with him is also named Charles.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Blog 2 - Post 1 entry 2, Defend my stance, Chapter 3
We are doing a survey on racism for our Race and Ethnicity class and a question we are asking those taking the survey, " What race do you think are getting that most welfare in the United States, whites, blacks, latino, asian or middle Eastern? The answer is white and I was quite surprised at the response that we got, the majority of people so far have said, black.
I wish, Mr. Rank could do an analogy of what it is that we really are going through as people of color and poor, yes he explains alot that is very true. The mechanisms that keep us in poverty. Drugs, crime and prostitution are one way out, but I really don't believe anyone deserves that option if I can help it.
Blog 2 - Post 1 entry 1, Chapter 3: Two Levels of Understanding Poverty
Two Levels of Understanding Poverty
This is the third component that Mr. Rank discusses of understanding impoverishment he states, that who is more likely to identify the impact of human capital (money) or we can look at why poverty occursby looking at the structural failings. He uses his musical chair analogy of basically who gets the chair and who doesn't and that the losers will be those in an unfavorable position when the music stops, those who are less agile, slower and so on. I f we focus on the game of musical chairs of life the causes of poverty change from the lack of skills or education to the fact that the economy produces unemployment.
Rank, suggests that there are two ways of understanding individual vulnerability to poverty. Paths A and B deal with the question of who is at risk of poverty in America, while paths C and D focus on the question of why poverty exists in America. The bulk of empirical research pertaing to poverty in America focuses on path A. Path B suggests that several background characteristics determine who's lacking in human capital. Those lacking are more likely to have their acquisition of human capital truncated. Paths A and B therefore explain who in America faces the greatest risk of experiencing poverty during their lives. Rank states, that figure 3.1 is an incomplete and misleading account. C and D explains why so many Americans are at an elevated risk of poverty. In summary, poverty is viewed as failing at the structural level.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Blog 1, Post 5 Poverty in the City of Seattle
Our presentation will be on Seattle, Washington we will do a power point presentation showing statistics and facts as we are able to provide them accordingly. Our goal is to show the class and instructor the profile of hunger and homelessness in Seattle. The presentation will have a group of 4 speakers discussing various topics about Seattle and one will present an overview of the Mayor's Report in detail about the population and what the city of Seattle is doing to help those in need. We presented a power point presentation and were able to discuss the facts and statistics as allowed, overall I feel the presentation was excellent.
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 | Seattle, Washington (WA) Poverty Rate Data - Information about poor and low income residents
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