I'm an angry man.

I'm serious.

I'm an angry man.

I can thank the Evangelical Lutheran Church for this revelation, confirmed by a personality battery I took about two years ago. It said had problems expressing anger and that I would often try to avoid confrontation if it threatened my sense of personal well-being. Well, they were quite right. But it had more to do than with me being timid, and more with me just getting tired of offending people. Explanation...

I am NOT a quiet soul. I had a habit of stepping, unintentionally, on people's toes and feelings and views because of my unbridled exuberence and joy. Was I arrogant? Well, yeah, a bit. But I also had strong feelings and convictions and when you're trying to actually DO something, well, you have to DO something which means getting the attention of anyone who is doing something else or is doing nothing. Consequently you're easy to see, easy to target, and easy to criticize. I did learn a lot about the importance of listening, of giving others their space, and respecting boundaries in ways that give people room to feel safe, breathe, and grow. It was good.

But that's not why I got shy of confronting people.

I got shy because everytime I'd try worship ideas I'd get some status quo church crony up in arms that I didn't follow the script. Or I'd mention a word like 'beer' when talking to church people and I'd be labeled as a 'risk for our youth'. After years of hearing that kinda swill you just sorta clam up.

But I'm done now. DONE.

My pastor in Geneva, Lusmarina Campos Garcia (www.genevalutheran.ch) helped me to acknowledge and accept my radical nature. I had to accept it. Denying it was making me neurotic and touchy - much like those who were oh-so eager to rub my nose in my own crap while ignoring the mountainous PILES they squeezed through their backsides day-in and day-out. And since, this frustration, this heat, I now know as a pure and brilliant anger - a righteous anger.


-Francisco

Other Blogs?

Here is a link to my personal blog that I just started. It's not that great yet, but maybe it will help with ideas.

If anyone else has blogs or blogs that they are a fan of - post them!

-Alex

Welcome!

Welcome to the IWJ Summer Student Programs Blog! I hope that everyones' first week is going well. The goal of this blog is to keep in touch throughout the summer, to keep each other updated, to inspire each other throughout the summer, and to keep everyone informed about events and workers' stories. Feel free to post any photos you took during orientation week, and photos you take throughout the summer. Social justice-related videos, articles, and stories are also great things to post! Here I've posted a mosaic I created of some photos I took during orientation week - more can be seen at our IWJ FlickR page where everyone else can feel free to post photos as well. Good luck and stay in touch!

-Alex

low wages mean deciding between impossible trade off's: paying this month's health care bill vs. rent bill

Workers and Chicago religious leaders had a chance to sit down together at the AFSCME union office on August 1 for an informal dinner, where the faith leaders could learn about the reality for low wage workers in patient support at Resurrection Hospitals, now the second largest chain in Chicago, as you may recall from our action together in June. The corporation seems to be headed in the opposite direction from its Catholic mission at the moment, and so faith leaders are stepping up to help workers put the pressure on the hospital, such that they can get a union and advocate for what they deserve, without fear of losing their jobs.

When these workers from the laundry, housekeeping and food service departments at these various Chicago hospitals in the Resurrection chain, came together- they found that their experiences were validated by each other in the accompanying branches. These workers might not have met up with each other, if not for the union helping to bring them together, with the goal of getting the managers at the hospital to engage in a dialogue with workers. As workers from all of these various branches of the system compared notes- the emerging threads exposed very similar kinds of injustices- as system-wide ones at Resurrection.

Parents reported that they were burdeoned with the costs associated with the 'in house' health insurance plan offered by Resurrection. They have co-pays for each child at every doctor visit. They have to pay 20% of the costs of any medical care. They already pay $230 out of each pay period- just to receive the Resurrection insurance. This is toally not working for these folks who are getting $9/hour.

The comparison to the salary for a CEO of a Resurrection branch hospital is $500 an hour. The interfaith religious leaders who attended the dinner and listened to the issues the workers are facing, became alarmed. One pastor from the United Church of Christ, Rev. Randall Doubet-King stated, 'Every one of the workers in this room, making these low wages at Resurrection, would without a doubt technically fall below the poverty line, according to the latest report from the Hearltand Alliance that studies basic needs, living wages, and base standards of living in Chicago." The meeting included an analysis by the union of just how far short the wages are for workers at Resurrection. Using self-sufficiency standards of the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, even the highest rate on Resurrection's wage scale for patient support staff, is too low to support even the smallest of families in the Chicago area, such as for a single parent of one school-age child. This exposes the inadequacy of Resurrection's latest move to try to appear to be increasing wages.

Resurrection recently announced that all patient support workers will start at $9/hour (up from $8.50) and will be capped at $13. 50/hr. The increases per year will be about 3%. We learned that miniscule increases can not begin to bring people to a living wage. We heard from one man who has worked for 27 years in patient support at Resurrection's St. Francis hospital, and his bit by bit gradual pay increases over nearly three decades now, mean that he is still not even making $13.50/hr. yet!

The meeting garnered energy among both workers and clergy for a next event to be a public prayer vigil at one of the hospitals. Full time workers providing support to our loved ones who have to go in to a Chicago hospital-- should not have to decide between paying their own health care versus paying the rent. When worker testimonies speak- they mobilize us all. Will post news from our vigil too...

Communication is Vital!!!

Hello Peace People,

It's been a long time - sorry for that. Let's just say that it's been a long/short crazy trip of an experience here in Tejas. Wow, this has all has definitely been interesting. So now, more than ever I am realizing and reinforcing my belief that communication is so vital and crucial. However, in this continuing realization, it's really hard and complicated to communicate with people at times, especially when so much is or can be attached. In the process of communicating we try to find that common ground, that middle page. Finally, I think I am coming to understand that here, but it is definitely difficult and needless to say, a struggle. All in all I wish I had more words for you all now, but I have simply been trying to find the words for myself and process it all. There was a full breakdown of communication, but now is the time to clarify, move on, let go, and keep focused and passionate in this struggle of creating and maintaining a better society, a better world for us all! Thankfully, even when empowering environments are limited or even seem to be, we can still acknowledge and appreciate our similarities, our differences for no one, nothing can strip us of our human connection. We may do things differently, communicate in various ways, but for me, I believe in and appreciate the truth that even with such, we are still doing - we are still active and that's what counts and matters. There is no single, let alone right path, but at least we can walk it (even talk through it) together if we allow ourselves to do so!

Last Tuesday I was fortunate enough to attend a presidential debate at Soldier Field (This is the same one mentioned in the previous entry by Beau). It was for union members and their families only. The focus was "Working Families" and each of the Democratic candidates were present: Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Kucinich, Obama, and Richardson. I was looking forward to going, but I wasn't overly excited. Once I got there though I realized how awesome it was that I was there. I've seen debates on TV but never in person. It was great to be right there where the action was. Unfortunately it was 8000 degrees out, but we survived! There were 17,000 people in attendance - imagine that energy! Some pics from my cell phone:

This is one from before it started with all the candidates up front. I haven't been a huge Hilary fan, but I must admit it was pretty fabulous to see a woman up there! Maybe that will be me someday?!


Here's a pic of Barack Obama on the big screen...


And Kucinich...


If you'd like to watch the debate online or read an article about it, click here....