SIGN THE PETITION. Domestic Workers need you. The campaign for a  Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights in New York State has made enormous progress. With 21 Senate co-sponsors and 70 Assembly co-sponsors, we have officially changed the climate in Albany for domestic workers rights.  The Bill of Rights can pass if we continue to organize, show the breadth of support that exists for this bill, and express the urgency of basic respect and protections for this important workforce. Domestic workers have organized tirelessly, and waited 5 long years since this bill was first introduced in the NY State legislature, and over 70 years since their exclusion from labor aws.

Listen to the Poverty Initiative's John Wessel-McCoy and Willie Baptist on WBAI's Global Movement's Urban Struggles. John and Willie were intervied by Rob Robinson of Picture The Homeless and Christine Lewis of Domestic Workers United.

The interview covers the mission and vision of the Poverty Initiative. John and Willie tell their own stories and answer questions including "Who are the poor?"

Members of the Poverty Initiative including Poverty Scholar Evangelist Charlotte Keys of Jesus People Against Pollution and Union Students Chaitanya Motupalli, Onleilove Alston, and Joe Strife attended the April 2009 Sojourners Mobilization to End Poverty. Over one thousand Christians gathered in Washington D.C. to take a stand against poverty. Participants attended workshops, plenary sessions, and worship in addition to lobbying on Capitol Hill. Members of the Poverty Initiative were invited to take part in the Capitol Hill Prayer Service. President Obama addressed the conference through a taped message and sent a panel of White House staff to discuss how the administration plans to address poverty.

The Schomburg Collective, in association with the UTS Latin@ Caucus and the Poverty Initiative, hosted an event at Union Theological Seminary on Thursday May 14th as part of our outreach and education campaign on gentrification issues for the community of Greater Harlem.  This event is part of a three part strategy to address the issues of gentrification, one being the outreach and education, one being activism and agitation, the last being the ability to set people up in homes.

Domestic Workers United (DWU) held a Week of Action from April 27 to May 1 to pass the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights. Poverty Initiative members stood in solidarity with DWU. Read their reflections and learn what you can do to support the rights of domestic workers! Sign on letters and congregational resources available.

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, the United Workers (UW) and their supporters marched through Downtown Baltimore to the Inner Harbor where UW announced the first target of a new Human Rights Zone campaign.  The day's events started in Carroll Park with the B-More Fair - a collaborative celebration consisting of an array of Baltimore organizations from labor to faith-based groups.  The march route ended at the Inner Harbor - an area that has been developed as a tourist destination featuring numerous restaurant and bar chains and entertainment venues.  At the Inner Harbor, UW announced Phillips Seafood restaurant as the first target within the Human Rights Zone. Learn more about United Workers' investigation of Phillips at the United Workers website.

FUREE (Families United for Racial and Economic Equality) hosted a screening of their film "Someplace Like Home"  at Union Theological Seminary.  FUREE organizer Theo Moore joined. This event was co-sponsored by Union's Black Women's Caucus & Students for Peace and Justice.

On March 21st, 2009, grassroots individuals and groups told the truth about poverty. Moving testimonies from Scotland's First Truth Commission are now available on video. Paul Chapman, founding member of the Poverty Initiative, was a lead organizer of this event, modeled after Poverty Initiative Truth Commissions. David Lunan, Moderator of the Church of Scotland hosted.