Extra Credit: Reflection Paper - Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 25 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, "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" (pg.98). However, the rights to shelter and nutrition do not exist in the United States due to our excessive debt and economic instability. The government’s priorities are focused elsewhere, such as, funding wars and government waste. For instance, The Hertiage Foundation Leadership For America offers 10 examples of government waste responsible for this instability:

1) The Missing $25 Billion - The government knows that $25 billion was spent by someone, somewhere, on something, but auditors do not know who spent it, where it was spent, or on what it was spent.

2) Unused Flight Tickets Totaling $100 Million - The Defense Department purchased and then left unused approximately 270,000 commercial airline tickets at a total cost of $100 million. Even worse, the Pentagon never bothered to get a refund for these fully refundable tickets.

3) Embezzled Funds at the Department of Agriculture - Employees of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) diverted millions of dollars to personal purchases through their government-issued credit cards.

4) Credit Card Abuse at the Department of Defense - Over one recent 18-month period, Air Force and Navy personnel used government-funded credit cards to charge at least $102,400 for admission to entertainment events, $48,250 for gambling, $69,300 for cruises, and $73,950 for exotic dance clubs and prostitutes.

5) Medicare Overspending - Medicare wastes more money than any other federal program, yet its strong public support leaves lawmakers hesitant to address program efficiencies, which cost taxpayers and Medicare recipients billions of dollars annually. For example, Medicare pays as much as eight times what other federal agencies pay for the same drugs and medical supplies.

6) Funding Fictitious Colleges and Students - $21.8 billion worth of student loans are in default, and too many cases of fraud are left undetected.

7) Manipulating Data to Encourage Spending - The Washington Post, and several private organizations have found that Corps studies routinely contain dozens of basic arithmetic errors, computer errors, and ridiculous economic assumptions that artificially inflate the benefits of water projects by as much as 300 percent.

8) State Abuse of Medicaid Funding Formulas - The GAO and the HHS Inspector General have uncovered some states' practice of recovering improper payments, retaining the funds, and then spending them on unrelated programs-a practice that costs the federal government well over $2 billion per year.

9) Earned Income Tax Credit Overpayments - The earned income tax credit (EITC) provides $31 billion in refundable tax credits to 19 million low-income families. The IRS estimates that $8.5 billion to $9.9 billion of this amount-nearly one-third-is wasted in overpayments.

10) Redundancy Piled on Redundancy - Government's layering of new programs on top of old ones inherently creates duplication. Having several agencies perform similar duties is wasteful and confuses program beneficiaries who must navigate each program's distinct rules and requirements.

*You can view the entire article at this website:

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2005/04/top-10-examples-of-government-waste

These are fundamental reasons why America fails to provide the rights to shelter and nutrition. As soon as the government reevaluates their priorities and fixes the many governmental spending flaws and negligence, only then we may finally evolve into a nation that provides help to those that need it the most.

Hunger Banquet

I arrived at the Hunger Banquet with somewhat of an idea of what to expect, however, I was not aware of the reality of the experience. The random choosing of individuals in low class, middle class, and high class created an interesting and unbiased environment. I handpicked a piece of paper out of a small cup that read "Lower" and I immediately knew it was going to be an interesting day. As I walked into the room to join the lower class students on the floor, the first thing that caught my eye was those seated at the high class table and the delicious food that was laid out for all to see. I then noticed the abundance of lower class individuals and could not help but think about the reality of this situation, as I listen to my stomach grumbling from hunger staring at the fresh salad and shiny silverware on the high-class table in front of us. Embarrassment hit me when I caught the eye of a student seated at the high-class table, catching the hunger in my stare. However, as their waiter began to serve their full course meals I found myself shamelessly glaring at them with envy and in a somewhat angry manner, while I sip on my bland greasy broth.

I learned that poverty is more than the definition of poor and underprivileged. Although I was aware that it was merely a demonstration, the feeling of weakness and helplessness was difficult to ignore. I honestly began to understand the desperation of panhandling and stealing to survive. Furthermore, the reality in this exercise is addressed when video and statistics were presented to us revealing that the annual income worldwide is about $12,000. This opened my eyes to the incredible difference of what we consider to be poor in America and how we should appreciate what we have. Some people do not even have the option of hot broth to eat, let alone anything at all. Their demonstration of moving people around from one class to another revealed the ease of falling into poverty in one missed paycheck. Someone also explained Mark Robert Rank’s idea that poverty is a form of musical chairs in which the system is designed where someone is destined to fall into a life of poverty. My only hope is that others have also walked away with the same understanding and knowledge that I have had the pleasure of learning throughout this experience.

Ehrenreich Text

Barbara Ehrenreich's experience in her Walmart job in Minnesota seemed unpleasant and frustrating. Nevertheless, she appeared to maintain her strength and sanity, remaining aware of her surroundings. She describes Walmart’s orientation video, containing compelling and positive incentives with a feeling of family and great customer /employee relations, as a reflection of the grandeur scale of a successful corporation. However, her first day on the job, Barbara immediately became aware of many contradictions in the orientation’s message. Her fellow employees showed evidence of bitterness, exhaustion, and lack of fulfillment in their work. The endless wave of customers destroying the order and cleanliness of the store that took the employees hours of hard work, slowly begin to extinguish the message of great customer/employee relations. Yet, while contemplating whether to eat or buy new clothes, hauling around her laptop and portions of food in her car through various whether conditions, Barbara struggles to start her day with a positive attitude finding ways to manage her spending and escape her situation through any form of entertainment. Her daily concerns consist of finding ways to manage her money while struggling to maintain a healthy level of hygiene.

She had the opportunity to work at Menards for supposedly $10 an hour but as she states "unforeseen physiological reasons" came into play and she somehow ended up taking the job at Walmart for $7 an hour (Nickel and Dimed, pg. 143). According to the Poverty in America: Living Wage Calculator (http://www.livingwage.geog.psu.edu/places/2704343198), the living wage in Minnesota for a single adult is $6.97 an hour, the poverty wage is $5.04 an hour, and the minimum wage being $7.25 an hour with monthly expenses for food and housing totaling about $650. The average hourly wages in Minnesota place Barbara Ehrenreich’s earnings of $7.00 an hour at Walmart slightly below the required minimum wage, yet, keeping her just above the poverty line. The annual income before taxes that is required to be considered earning a living wage in Minnesota is $14,494. In my personal opinion, Barbara's struggle of bearing the decision of whether to eat or maintain a sensible form of hygiene should be considered living within the poverty range and must obtain the required level of assistance to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Article from reliable source, addressing food insecurity in Chicago or Cook County

"New Study Provides Food Insecurity Rates For Cook County"

Author: Aaron Krager

Date of publication: Wednesday September 21st, 2011, 2:39pm
 
Source: Greater Chicago Food Depository

This article provides a first time look into the existence of hunger and food insecurity in the suburbs and the city of Chicago revealing profound differences. According to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, "Citywide, a staggering 20.6 percent of the population suffers from food insecurity, which is defined as reduced quality, variety or desirability in a diet that leads to disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake"(Krager, 2011). A map by the GCFD shows that the rates in Cook County suburbs are much lower, with a percentage of 15.4. However, the GCFD map displays Ford Heights at 55.5 percent, Robbins at 45 percent, and Dixmoor at 38.7 percent, revealing the highest amounts of poverty in the 119 communities of Cook County. Due to the subsiding economy this number will continue to rise and more and more families will plunge into the cycle of food insecurity. The Greater Chicago Food Depository states, “Roughly 11 percent of Chicago is currently unemployed and there is a large number of city residents who are either working part-time or no longer seeking work. More than one third of all food insecure individuals live in a household earning more than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, meaning they do not qualify for assistance programs like SNAP or WIC” (Krager, 2011).     

Similarly, Ranks ideas in “Why American Poverty Affects Us All” and the Greater Chicago Food Depository map, both address the issue of poverty with the purpose of creating positive change in the world. Rank covers the nature of ‘American poverty’ through discussing contrasts between the words and poverty as a structural failure. He also offers cause for concern in terms of our own self-interests and essence of citizenship, along with creating fundamental change through presenting ideas of new paradigms and future directions. Both Rank and the GCFD's purpose is to cause awareness through making public, the existence of family suffering by revealing the rates of food insecurity in the Chicago area and reporting the global issues of poverty. Rank provides solutions and explanations to hunger and homelessness in society and the GCFD provides the facts, both offering up the possibility for any form of assistance along with addressing the need for improvement and action.

Reflection Paper: "Broadway Youth Center" speakers

We had the pleasure of listening to four speakers from the fear advocate program on Broadway and Belmont in Chicago, IL called the "Broadway Youth Center". Their names were Muffin, who prefers to switch pronouns based on how she feels, Blade and Victor using male pronouns, and Robert who uses she pronouns. This LBGTQ facility, funded by Howard Brown, private donations, and social service organizations, serves 40+ youth (ages 13-24) a day in a revolving door form of assistance. They offer aftercare, a clinic with free testing, assistance in ID retrieval, link cards, GED's, food pantry, case management, and much more. They discussed many issues such as, the stereotypes and profile of a homeless individual pertaining to appearance and hygiene, harm reduction, what it means to be 'homefree' as oppose to 'homeless', community agreements in terms of a safe space discussion, and brief descriptions of their life experiences. They handed out multiple surveys to the audience and requested we express our honest opinions and beliefs on the subject of homelessness. Many discussions arose pertaining to the idea of what we feel the face of homelessness looks like with debates of its truth, as well as, why condoms are handed out in boystown and not in other areas.

I found their discussion of the difference between the definition of 'homefree' as oppose to 'homeless' extremely interesting and controversial. In my personal opinion, their nonchalant descriptions displayed a presence of sensitivity and shielding of their true emotions. I agree with their belief of homefree as a matter of choice and homeless as forced and a form of displacement. However, Robert describing his homefree situation in a positive light is an example of a defense mechanism. He described his homefree status as a choice that is enriching and a great way to rid yourself of bills and responsibility. The consciousness of him holding back from his true feelings is difficult to ignore. They each agreed with his explanation and did not display any form of support or argument in the reality of the issue of homelessness. It honestly looks as if each of them still have a few complications to work out in their personal lives in order for them to grow. To create positive representation of the organization it is vital that they display a sense of maturity and experience throughout their lives. They must have the ability to educate those who have no real life experience with homelessness, generating awareness and understanding that is capable of eliminating the existence of poverty itself. Nevertheless, it was a pleasure listening to their stories and I appreciate their courage for coming out and sharing their lives with us.

Service Project - What did you do for your project?

A.     October 26, 2011 (9:30am – 5:30pm)

Helped develop, rewrite, and organize The Night Ministry’s media book. Found new contacts in major newspapers throughout the U.S., magazines, radio stations, and television stations that focus mainly on hunger and homelessness pertaining to youth and health related organizations.

I organized welcome packets for clients and potential sponsors, cleaned up and disposed of outdated donations, and made notes of previous donations before 2005 in funding files. Lastly, I engaged in and observed conversations with staff members, calls, and walk-in donators that trickle in every few hours.

Some of the staff was extremely nice and welcoming. They work after hours and meet at certain shelters to further lend a helping hand to those in need. They ordered food for the staff and discussed leftover food being given to those in the shelter.

November 2, 2011 (8:50am – 3:30pm)

Continued to organize and find editors and writers to add to their media book from the Washington Post, The Sun Times, and the New York Times. Developed a template for their media contact binder and e-mailed it to my Night Ministry supervisor.

Re-boxed welcome bags containing items such as mugs, key chains, and pamphlets with The Night Ministry logo and explanation of their mission.

I cut and stapled thank you messages to pins for those that were willing to donate to the organizations in the month of November in preparation for mailing while discussing stories of how employees reading thank you notes from clients are the most rewarding part of their jobs and the reason why they love their career choice.

I developed binders for a potential sponsor seminar, created labels, designed cover sheets with The Night Ministry logo, and ensuring topics of their mission are properly displayed, such as important dates, introduction of board of directors, types of programs offered, etc.

I then hole punched all items that are to be placed into the bonders and organized them in the order of labeled sections and placed them into each binder.

November 12, 2011 (9:05am – 2:35pm)

Took part in volunteer training that began with introductions and why each of us chose to be there. We had the opportunity to get to know fellow volunteers, along with gaining an insight of where each of us are from and where we grew up.

We then watched a video on The Night Ministry and gained an idea of the organizations mission and funding, along with what programs they have to offer. We then broke up into groups and discussed our own cultures and our personal experiences with other cultures throughout our lifetime. I learned that even though we grew up in different neighborhoods and socialized in different cultures, we all had the desire to be part of the greater good and take part in offering our assistance to those in need in our community.

We were then given an assignment to come up with numerous reasons we feel homeless individuals are privileged and how they are underprivileged. We then listened to a presentation from a longtime volunteer and a representative named Gail Bernoff re-explaining the types of assistance The Night Ministry offers with the purpose of deciding which program we may choose to provide our fulltime assistance.

Lastly, they divided us into groups by our program choice and spoke to professionals, delivering a deeper understanding of the area we chose. They handed out information packets with pamphlets and fliers welcoming us to the agency and provided us with further details of what we must do in order to complete our background check to become a fulltime volunteer.

B.     Kirstin Hill and Wiktoria Bosco attended this site as well, however, I only was able to work a few hours with Wiktoria on October 26, 2011 from about 3:30 to 5:30 pm. I cleaned up and organized the contribution files while she shredded and disposed of outdated donations that piled up throughout the day. Lastly, we both conversed with staff members and observed conversations with calls and walk-in donators.

Critique of Mehjabeen P.'s blog "Only if poverty was an issue of the past…" November 25, 2011

Mehjabeen’s blog is well laid out with a great introduction to the beginning of her blog. She introduces herself and presents a few personal facts about her place of employment along with her choice of major and why, then proceeds to briefly describe the overall subject of her blog. The ideas and facts she offers the audience on the subject of poverty is well written, however, lacks a form of complexity and passion. Her expressions of opinion is somewhat delicate, however, she delivers personal and genuine views of the issue of poverty through her own words, presenting a logic of honesty and truth. Her blog presents a great sense of knowledge in the subject of poverty and maintains the reader’s attention through her sincere awareness of the fact that poverty is indeed a serious and unrelenting presence throughout society. She did a very good job!
 

Critique of Mary I.'s blog "Going Hungry: Life of the Homeless" November 24, 2011

Mary's blog is passionate and honest about the ideas and facts she is presenting. As oppose to the use of professional grammar to express an opinion, she delivers her own realistic views of the subject of poverty without the use of sugar coating. Through this, she creates an appreciation for the issue of poverty and retains the interest of the reader through the curiosity and desire to further explore her views in the multiple areas of hunger and homelessness. However, in some areas the enthusiasm is lost because it seems as if her ideas are rushed and overzealous. For example, in the 'The many definitions of poverty: According to Me' section loses its passion through brief definitions with an lack of explanation and opinion. Although I agree with her multiple definitions, I find myself left with a need for a reason for such ideas. Yet, her overall blog demonstrates a deep sense of knowledge and passion in the subject of poverty and I feel she did a great job.

Mark Robert Rank's, "Why American Poverty Affects Us All" Chapter 8, Future Directions

       One of Rank's strategies to ending poverty pertains to creating adequately paying jobs because he believes this inefficiency is one of the main reasons for the existence of poverty in America today. Rank states, “up to one third of the household heads in the labor market cannot raise their families out of poverty or near poverty through their job earnings (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 195). He feels we will break free from the cycle of poverty through raising the minimum wage and with earned income tax credit, while guaranteeing there is an adequate amount of jobs available for those that need it the most. Earned income tax credits to low-income workers is extremely beneficially to families with children. Rank feels that for this to become more efficient, “its benefits should be expanded so that they provide greater assistance to low-income workers without children (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 201). The absence of appreciating hardworking individuals plays a major role in inadequate earnings and until we find value in our workforce, we may never escape the cycle of poverty.

       I believe that Rank’s strategy in creating adequately paying jobs to eliminate poverty would work because, although raising the minimum wage comes with many misconceptions and concerns, such as, causing employers to hire less workers and its ineffectiveness due to the assumption that those working for minimum wage are minors, making little to no impact on low-income families, Rank states “the positive impact of tying the minimum wage to the poverty level for a family of three and then indexing it to the rate of inflation would be substantial” (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 198). Raising the minimum wage would create a sensible established income for a full-time employee and make it capable for a worker to support a family of three above the poverty line. It will also reinforce the value of labor, eliminate political arguing from minimum wage dispute, and publicize the growing wage imbalances among CEO’s and their average salaried labor force.  Secondly, I agree that Rank’s strategy of an establishing earned tax credit income will work because it will provide economic assistance to the low-income workforce and offer a strong work incentive. According to Rank, “EITC has helped to reduce the distance between their household income and the poverty line…appeals to both liberals and conservatives” (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 198). The combination of the EITC and the raising of the minimum wage, along with creating enough jobs to assist those in need, will significantly help underprivileged individuals escape the life of poverty.  


 

Peace Presentation - Reflection Paper

"Food Not Bombs"
Keith McHenry
22 Sept 11

Keith McHenry is the founder of an organization called "Food Not Bombs", dedicated to providing food for the needy around the world through promoting the spending of the majority of taxpayer’s money on healthcare and food rather than towards the United States Military. He was raised in a military family and took part in protests against nuclear power in the 1980’s. He then obtained a job as a produce worker and eventually became an Organics expert in which he was responsible for disposing of undesired food in which he decided to give to the needy rather than letting it go to waste. Keith McHenry eventually decided to quit his job as an Organics expert and dedicate his life to providing food to those in need and educate people on the issues of the world through literature and street theatre.

He then began to feed protests against bombs around the United States and on August 15, 1988 he was part of a 9 arrest protest which marked the beginning of the era of the organization, “Food Not Bombs”. These arrests were published in the newspapers and Keith McHenry’s dedication was heard around the U.S. and more members appeared as more arrests followed. It seems that these protests were seen as “Political statements” and deemed as a threat, in which police, as well as the government, believed were grounds for arrest. The “Food Not Bombs” organization was simply responsible for providing free food for those in need and felt they were not doing any harm in their existence, therefore, their movement continued. Waves of arrests inspired the beginning of chapters all over the world. Due to his drive and relentless attitude, promoting his belief that the United States government must help those in need rather than the Military, Keith McHenry is now on the FBI’s terrorist watch list and considered one of the top 100 terrorists in the United States. However, “Food Not Bombs” was the main disaster food relief for 8 months for hurricane Katrina victims and continues to inspire those willing to provide support for the needy around the world. Keith McHenry has dedicated 26 years of his life to peace and Anti-war movements and shows no sign of stopping!

Hunger Issue content : "Hunger, Poverty On The Rise in Chicago Area"

Original posting date: Sunday, October 23, 2011 4:28 PM

Author: Kristina Betinis
Published: 1 July 2009

Economic deficiencies in Illinois have had an adverse effect on the working class, along with the unemployed, elderly, and disabled. Unemployment continues to rise in Illinois and working people are gradually beginning to plunge into poverty. According to Betinis, "The Heartland Alliance's Illinois report found that poverty was worsening in many areas in the state even before the current economic crisis officially began, rising in 58 of 102 counties. In 2007, nearly 12 percent of Illinois residents, or 1.5 million people, were living in poverty" (Hunger, Poverty on the Rise in Chicago Area, 2009). However, because the Heartland Alliance's report reflects the 2007 census count, before the economic crisis began, it is deemed inaccurate and unreliable. The government's definition of poverty for a family of four in 2009 is living with an income of less than $22,050 and extreme poverty at less than $11,025. Betinis states, "It is estimated that 253,000 more Chicago residents have become poor since 2007, bringing Chicago's impoverished population to 11.3 percent...In 2008 over 10,600 Chicago Public School students were homeless, an increase of 35 percent over five years." (Hunger, Poverty On The Rise In Chicago Area, 2009). The Lakeview Pantry experiencing a 20 percent increase in demand within this year does not compare to the skyrocketing demand for emergency food aid across the city. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that over 9 percent of Illinois families suffer sustenance uncertainty, along with a 14 percent increase in housing and food prices. Suburbs in the Chicago are experiencing a major increase in poverty and hunger as well, and residents are beginning to "move in to the outlying areas around Chicago in search of cheaper rents...or forced out by closures of public housing facilities"(Hunger, Poverty On The Rise In Chicago Area, 2009). Midwest Chicago reports a loss of over 676,000 jobs due to massive layoffs with a poverty rate of 12.3 percent. It is now deemed one of the 20 poorest cities in the United States!

Review of Kyle M.'s blog, "Falling Between the Cracks"

Original posting date: Friday, October 21, 2011 7:47 AM

"Falling Between the Cracks"
By: Kyle M.
20 Oct 11
http://fallinbetweencracks.blogspot.com/

Kyle’s blog is well laid out and informative, however, his style of writing seems to present an angry and passive quality. I love the enthusiasm, but it threw me off a little because it seemed as if he was arguing with a friend rather than providing feedback and understanding of the subject of poverty to a significant audience. On the other hand, I do agree with his definition of poverty “that there is a fundamental lack of resources to be distributed to meet the demand for them”. He not only defines poverty, he provides critical insight of the subject and what should be done to eliminate it! Great read!

Review of Michael K.'s blog, "Poverty To Support the Starving Elite"

Original posting date: Friday, October 21, 2011 7:30 AM

"Poverty To Support the Starving Elite"
By : Michael K.
18 Oct 11
http://povertykamysm.blogspot.com/

Michael's blog was somewhat difficult to read due to the black font and dark brown background, however, he writes extremely well and provided great insight to the topic of poverty. He writes extremely well and puts plenty of thought into each entry. You can tell that he is passionate about the subject of poverty and as I continued to read his blog, I found myself sharing the same passion as well, due to his strong, yet, critical point of views. Great Job! I Loved it!

Poverty in the City of Boston

Original posting date: Thursday, October 20, 2011 1:40 PM

The Annual Census Report for 2008-2009 in Boston show the number of homeless men, women, and children totaling 7,562

However, Mayor Thomas M. Menino's Homeless Census for 2010 illustrates:

       Unsheltered homeless adults counted on the streets = 182

       Homeless families sheltered in motels = 163

       Homeless families on the streets = 1,343

       Homeless adults in emergency shelters = 1,365

*The lowest figure for the unsheltered count since 1997!

The 2010 Mayor's Report for Boston, report the number of beds and units available for homeless persons during the last year:

Total number of beds in emergency shelter = 3584
                                      transitional housing = 1513
                    permanent supportive housing = 4319

*The profile for homelessness in the 2010 Mayor's Report records a 2% decrease in the use of emergency shelters in the past year.

Furthermore, according to the 2010 Mayor's Report, "Homeless shelters had to provide vouchers for motels and hotels when beds were no longer available...there has been an 18% unmet need for emergency shelters" (Hunger and Homelessness Survey, pg. 35).

The city of Boston does not provide enough services for those in need, because cuts in social services and income supports are present due to the constant criminalizing of homelessness. Many homeless people today feel the need to defend their right to live in public areas of the city. The government develops "safe zones" for the homeless in order to divert the responsibility of the homeless to the state, thus, resulting in lack of resources, and an unsafe environment for those seeking help. "Homeless people depend on local services, usually provided through charitable organizations which rely on community donations and good will to survive. It's fairly painless for a federal judge to pass a ruling requiring outdoor "safe zones," leaving responsibility for homelessness to the city, the level of government with the fewest resources to respond" (Boston Review, 1993).

I feel the criminalization of homelessness plays a major role in the quality and quantity of services available to the needy and those that have the ability to help fail to find personal impacts on the effect of poverty itself. Until the effects of poverty are felt on a personal level only then may we find a way to provide the adequate resources for those in impoverished positions and eliminate its existence, in not only Boston, but also poverty throughout the world.

 

Action Project Details

Original posting date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 12:21 PM

I am currently working on my own and the agency I chose to work with is The Night Ministry located in Chicago, IL on 4711 N. Ravenswood Ave. The Night Ministry, from their Health Outreach Bus and Youth Outreach van, provides services through listening and building relationships and helps people “of all age, races, religions, sexual orientations, economic and educational backgrounds” (http://www.thenightministry.org/, 2006). Their main goal is to serve and help others while connecting with people spiritually and emotionally, and they are willing to do all they can to provide support for those who are in need and “empower them to change their lives for the better. The basis for all their programs includes non-judgmental listening, caring support, and connecting people with resources to empower them to change their lives for the better” (http://www.thenightministry.org/, 2006). The Night Ministry staff consists of committed social workers, trained ministers, and volunteers. They follow a variety of beliefs and spiritual backgrounds and are not associated with any particular ‘congregation, denomination, or religion’. According to The Night Ministry staff “We recognize that we are all part of the human community. Each person is important and of value. We believe that supportive relationships can build dignity, confidence and a foundation for self-empowerment. We hope that the goods, services, and resources we offer will help people improve their daily lives.”

I believe I will help with their media room, sorting and organized in a way that makes sense to them in order to meet some of their needs. I will go through old photos and articles and organizing them accordingly. I will also work on building a media list booklet to build an understanding of how their organization is run and understand the impact The Night Ministry has had throughout the city of Chicago through the media’s eyes. I will apply to become a volunteer so I may be able to travel to different neighborhoods from 7pm to 11pm Monday thru Saturday on a Health Outreach Bus or Youth Outreach van and provide hospitality services to the nurses and pass out a few helpful resources such as, coffee, hygiene kits, new socks, warm winter wear, cookies, cocoa, condoms, and more. I will then observe The Night Ministry staffs encounters with the needy through advising and listening, building connections with those who need it the most. Thursday evening, if time will allow, I will also visit the Breaking Bread Ministry’s evening café to serve the homeless and I will have the opportunity to take part in serving and observing the staff as well as having a personal account on the impact it has on those in need.

Mark Robert Rank's, "Why American Poverty Affects Us All" Part 2, Entry 2

Original posting date: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 1:45 PM

I agree with Rank's idea of the impact of race, education, and gender on the long-term risk of poverty. Due to the white male-dominant society we live in today, it is difficult to disagree with Rank's idea that white males with high quality education are the least at risk for experiencing poverty. According to the table provided by Rank called "The Cumulative Percent of Americans Who Experience Poverty by Race, Education, and Gender", the risk of poverty is dramatically altered by the combination of race and education. However, the long-term risk of poverty due to gender, presents identical experiences. I also agree with Rank's idea that "Race seems to be the most influential of the three characteristics in affecting the probability of poverty. By comparing individuals with similar gender and educational background, we can see the magnitude of this racial effect" (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 98). For instance, the issue of race persistently affects African American males that obtain the same quality education as white males. Their non-white status continues to be a factor, consequently, remaining at a higher risk of experiencing poverty throughout their lifetime. It is sad to admit that racial oppression still exists today and the struggle with finding equality in a white-male dominant society has been prevalent throughout history.

Mark Robert Rank's, "Why American Poverty Affects Us All" Part 2, Entry 1

Original posting date : Monday, October 17, 2011 11:31 AM

 

One of Rank's contentions is about the impact of race, education, and gender on the long-term risk of poverty. According to Rank, "...these three factors exert considerable influence on patterns of income inequality, social stratification, and economic life chances within the U.S." (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 95). He believes that low quality educated nonwhites and women, suffer considerably more through poverty than higher educated white-males. He supports his argument through presenting a table called "The Cumulative Percent of Americans Who Experience Poverty by Race, Education, and Gender." It provides evidence that "By age 28, the black population will have exceeded the cumulative level of lifetime poverty that the white population reaches by age 75" (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 96). Furthermore, the correlation between poverty and education, according to the table, shows that those with twelve or more years of education and white are less likely to experience poverty than African Americans and those with less than twelve years of education. Lastly, the connection between poverty and gender shows that women are more likely to experience poverty than men. However, Rank concludes, "The effect of gender on the probability of experiencing poverty for the first time is actually quite small" (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 97).

Mark Robert Rank's, "Why American Poverty Affects Us All" Chapter 3, Entry 2

Original posting date: Sunday, October 16, 2011 11:16 AM

I agree with Mark Robert Rank's two levels of understanding poverty through focusing on those suffering through poverty and poverty alone. Although his explanation concentrates on a negative view of the disadvantaged, he takes into consideration those that have fallen into poverty due to the inefficiencies within the structure itself. For instance, in association with the musical chairs analogy, he states, “In all likelihood, the losers will be those in an unfavorable position…those who are somewhat slower, less agile, and so on…However, if we focus on the game itself…even if every player were suddenly to double his or her speed and agility, there would still be two losers” (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 75). This correlation between the musical chairs game and what is occurring in America today in an economic, social, and political standpoint, I feel, is a suitable method in understanding how poverty affects us all. If we fail to become aware of this connection, we may never escape the rise of poverty and by no means achieve modification of societal inadequacies. Therefore, I believe that full understanding of the issue of poverty “must” derive from knowledge of both points of views. Understanding those in underprivileged situations and awareness of the structure of poverty itself will follow positive results through consciousness, action, and reformation.
 

Mark Robert Rank's, "Why American Poverty Affects Us All" Chapter 3, Entry 1

Original posting date: Friday, October 14, 2011 12:53 PM

One of Rank's contentions in Chapter 3 pertain to two levels of understanding poverty, identifying "who is more likely to experience poverty by understanding the impact that human capital has on individual economic vulnerability" and "we can ascertain why poverty occurs in the first place by looking at the structural failings" (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 75). He believes that we can understand poverty through choosing to analyze those in underprivileged situations or analyzing the cycle of poverty itself. Rank supports his belief by applying the idea of musical chairs as an example of the structure of poverty. For instance, as music starts to play 8 people begin to circle around 10 chairs, and as the music stops we can either focus on the people who fail to find a chair or focus on the game itself. If we center our attention on the players "we will find that some combination of luck and skill will be involved...the loser will be those in an unfavorable position when the music stops"(Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 75). Rank believes that focusing on the players themselves means that those who lose are persons lacking the expertise and education to adequately compete against those who have acquired the knowledge for success. Concentrating on the game itself, you will find that regardless of proficiency and agility two players are intended to lose. Rank argues that this analogy can be used to understand what is occurring in America today, “…economically, socially, and politically” (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 75). Unemployment can be interpreted as a shortage of jobs, mass production of low-paying and non-beneficial jobs, a rise in communities affected by the economic reformation, lack of adequate help for the needy and those unable to contribute to the economy due to illness, and insufficient childcare. Rank is also certain that if we focus on the game itself, the main reason that people are poor in this country is that “the economy produces unemployment, creates low paying jobs, bypasses low income communities, offers few social supports and protection, and does not provide for those who can no longer participate economically due to illness” (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg. 76).

Blog 1, section 2: Reflection Paper about the Peace Conference

"A Peace of My Mind" photo exhibit - Northeastern Illinois University

"A Peace of My Mind" photo exhibit by a photographer named John Noltner, displayed on the second floor of the Student Union building at Northeastern Illinois University was an extremely moving and inspiring display. The exhibit consisted of pictures of people from different races and cultures around the world. These pictures came with each and every individual’s definition of peace, their personal encounters with the struggles for peace, and how they feel it should be carried out within their lives. The overall idea of this exhibit's message consisted of, the more we speak and share our thoughts about peace the more likely we are to achieve it.

Particularly, a woman named Kim Smith (depicted above), a writer, a poet, and a rapper, states "Peace in my life would be the state of oneness with everything, that sense of no conflict, no stress, and no strife. Complete ease." She feels that we do not really trust one another and once we begin to build that trust, only then we may begin to fully listen to one another and eliminate stereotypes and respond with Love. "The ongoing goal of “A Peace of My Mind” is to create an environment wherever it is shown in which people can share their thoughts about peace, as well as to create a body of work that can help us understand one another a little bit better" (NEIU, 2011).

Blog 1, section 7: Entry 2 - Pertaining to poverty in Chicago within the last year

"1 in 5 Chicagoans Uncertain About Next Meal"

Author: FOX Chicago News

Published : 22 Sep 2011

FOX Chicago News Reports

Chicago - "A new study found that about one in five people who live in Chicago are uncertain where they will find their next meal. The survey by the Greater Chicago Food Depository showed that the highest rates of food insecurity are in the Riverdale, Washington Park, Englewood, and North Lawndale neighborhoods" (myFOXchicago.com, 2011) The Greater Chicago Food Depository will use these new results to assist in increasing their ‘food distribution and program outreach’ to those that require the most assistance.

According to the Chicago Tribune “Amid a still struggling economy, more Americans fell below the poverty line last year, according to new census data released Tuesday…The nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1 percent in 2010, its highest level since 1993. About 46.2 million people are considered in need” (Nation's Poverty Rate Climbs To 15.1%, Highest in 18 years, 2011)

Blog 1, section 6: Mark Robert Rank's, "Why American Poverty Affects Us All" part 1 Entry 2

I agree with Robert Rank's use of applying the multiplier of 3 to create a real sense of the official poverty line for a family or an individual. However, when inflation is not accounted for and the difference in the cost of living within each state is ignored, the multiplier of 3 quickly becomes ineffective. For instance, Washington has the second highest cost for housing in the nation and the multiplier of 3 within Washington will have to account for increased taxes, higher rent and utilities, and raised food prices. If inflation is indeed accounted for, Rank’s multiplier of 3 may be an efficient approach in eliminating the existence of poverty. This method controls spending out of incomes and creates responsibility and management for a family and an individual’s well being. In my opinion, measuring the poverty rate within this process is necessary because not being able to provide your family with a healthy and safe environment should be considered below the poverty rate because assistance is needed.

Blog 1, section 6: Mark Robert Rank's, "Why American Poverty Affects Us All" part 1 Entry 1

One of Rank's contentions on his view of the definition of poverty, he states, is "poverty is partially in the eye of the beholder...the devil lies in the details" (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg.21). He believes that the multiplier of 3 needs to be applied in order to create a real sense of the official poverty line for a family or an individual. Rank supports this belief by presenting examples of the wage rate a family of four must meet to live just above the poverty line and maintain an essential diet. He states, "A family of four would need to spend $6,130.67 to purchase such a diet in 2002. This figure is then multiplied by 3 (in the sample case $6,130.67 x 3 = $18,392), which constitutes the official poverty rate for a family of four" (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg.22). He believes that 1/3 of a family's income is spent on food and the residual 2/3 of the income is spent on clothing and utilities. Due to this reasoning, $6,130.67 is just enough money to provide for a family of four while sustaining the basic needs of survival. He also states that “For a family of 4 -- $18,392…comes out to $118 a week, $16.86 a day…assuming that family members eat 3 meals a day…” the remaining “$12,261—provides our family with $263 per week for other expenses” (Why American Poverty Affects Us All, pg.23). Lastly, he supports his argument by applying the average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment along with the expenses they may have left for the week to keep up with the necessary requirements to maintain a healthy environment for their family. 

Blog 1, section 7: Entry 1 - Pertaining to poverty in Chicago within the last year

"Chicago Housing Initiative Questions CHA's Vacant Public Housing Units"

Author: Joanie Lum, FOX Chicago News
Published: 20 Sep 2011

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/chicago-housing-initiative-protest-vacant--public-housing-units-cha-20110920?CMP=201109_emailshare

Chicago - "Protesters plan to call out the Chicago Housing Authority over public housing Tuesday" (Lum, 2011). Chicago poverty is on the rise and there is great requirement for housing within the Chicago area because of the growing number of individuals living in poor quality conditions. “The Chicago Housing Initiative stated that 68,000 families are in line for suitable housing in the city. The group will hold a news conference and demonstration at Clybourn and Leavitt Tuesday morning September 20, 2011 at 9 a.m” (Lum, 2011).

The protesters’ agenda is to make light of the details that The Chicago Housing Authority has “21,900 units available, but it is only providing housing for 15,760 families. That means more than 6,000 units are unaccounted for. The program plans to meet with The Chicago Housing Authority, and demand that they reach full occupancy in the year 2012" (Lum, 2011). The idea that help is essential and The Chicago Housing Authority has the audacity to withhold available sources for the needy is difficult to comprehend and protestors are demanding an explanation for their actions this very instant.

Blog 1, section 4: What I think 'should be' the legal definition of poverty

The legal definition of poverty, in my personal opinion, should be ‘the inability to meet the basic needs to survive due to their lack of income due to governmental deficiencies, layoffs, and health related obligations’. These conditions should be considered extreme poverty and help should be provided above all else. Failing to obtain help from the government within these defined extreme poverty conditions, when aid is considered necessary, I feel, is the reason for our nation’s rise in poverty. The inability to escape from this underprivileged standard of living and provide themselves and their family with a safe and healthy environment requires considerable attention. Without assistance, breaking free from the cycle of poverty, and lowering the poverty rate itself may be an impossible task.

Blog 1, section 4: My personal definition of poverty

My personal definition of poverty is an individual or family that is unable to meet the basic needs to survive, not having the ability to perform basic tasks, and not capable of maintaining an effective way of life in society due to their lack of income. Falling short of providing their family or themselves with the essentials to maintain an adequate diet, obtain a quality education, access to healthcare, and having a roof over your head, I personally feel, should be considered underprivileged and living in poverty. Children’s exposure to poor quality conditions should be considered a tremendous problem and must have access to local or government assistance.  

Blog 1, section 5: City in the Poverty - Boston, Massachusetts

According to the 2010 Mayors report, in Boston, Massachusetts, 34,355,671 pounds of food were distributed to food pantries and emergency kitchens over the last year. The total quantity of food distributed increased by 4% over the last year, the total budget for emergency food assistance this year totaled $11,270,000, and Boston’s overall budget for emergency food purchases decreased by 4% over the last yearAn article on openmediaboston.org called “As Poverty Grows in Boston, Progressive Solutions Are Lacking”, believes poverty is on the rise! Jobs are being cut monthly and “salary increase is trailing inflation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.” In 2007, "1 in 5 Boston individuals and families continue to live below the federal poverty threshold. Almost twice that many live in economic hardship (defined as 200% of poverty). Almost half of all adults living in poverty worked full or part-time jobs in 2007." Boston has continuously experiences racial and gender gaps in income and poverty and “Residents of Latino, Asian and African-American heritage are much more likely to live in poverty than White residents."
The article also states that “the local middle class (and working class) in Boston is fading, leaving a small number of upper class households on top of the local income distribution and a growing number of poor households on the bottom. Most of Boston's lowest-wage industries are growing faster than high-wage industries, so miserable service economy jobs continue to replace solid jobs further up the employment food chain.”

According to the Economic Statistics for Boston, Massachusetts:

Families                                  116,657

Less than $10,000                   12,602     10.8%

$10,000 to $14,999                  7,118        6.1%

$15,000 to $24,999                  13,348    11.4%

Families                                  17,892 

Percent below poverty level        (X)        15.3%

With related children                13,811       (X)

under 18 years

Percent below poverty level        (X)         22.2%

With related children                 6,534        (X)

under 5 years

Percent below poverty level        (X)          24.5%

Blog 1, section 3: Short paper on the poverty level in Illinois 2011

“Illinois Poverty Levels Continue To Surge Upward, New Data Shows”

Author: HuffPost News
Published: 14 Sept 2011

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/14/illinois-poverty-on-rise_n_962420.html

According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2011 “Illinois is currently home to more poor people than was the case nearly two decades ago.” More than 1.82 million people lived at or below the poverty level in Illinois last year compared to 1.69 million in the year before, an increase of 14.1 percent from 13.2 percent in 2009 (Chicago Sun-Times, 2011). Limited access to basic needs can cause psychological and social difficulties within a family. Inadequate sources within schools in Illinois such as absence of up-to-date books, computers, insufficient healthcare, and diet affects the ability for children to obtain the appropriate education to break the cycle of poverty. Allegedly, children living within poverty are at a higher rate of continuing the cycle of poverty than children with no experience of poverty.

The poverty figures are being felt locally at food pantries, low-income resource centers and homeless shelters throughout the Chicago land area (Chicago Tribune, 2011). Shelters are serving almost double the amount of people within the last year than ever before. According to a report issued late last year by the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, emphasized that child poverty rates and "extreme poverty" rates -- the number of those living on less than half the federal poverty threshold -- has also been steadily on the rise over the past decade (HuffPost News, 2011). Also, according to the Associated Press, University of Chicago professor Bruce Meyer said the worst still be coming down the pike in terms of poverty levels both in Illinois and nationwide as demand continues to increase for food stamps and other government assistance (HuffPost News, 2011). Ultimately, improving education and access to adequate healthcare for the underprivileged will not only create a better learning environment for our children, it will also improve family life and assist in breaking free from the cycle of poverty, thus, lowering the poverty rate throughout the world one family at a time.