The Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary has teamed up with Jewish Funds for Justice (JFSJ), American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute (AMCLI) and Jewish Organizing Initiative (JOI) on an exciting new project called the Community Organizing Residency (COR). COR is a six-month, paid residency for people from different faith backgrounds who want to make a career commitment to social justice and community organizing rooted in faith. Residents gain social justice experience working with leading organizing groups in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area.  Residencies will begin July 29, 2010 and end Feb 2, 2011. Residents will receive a $17,000 stipend and healthcare benefits. Applications are due by April 2, 2010.

We hope that members of the broader Poverty Initiative family spread the word and apply to be a part of this unique opportunity.

For more information, go to rootedinfaith.org

Poverty Initiative Immersion Chapel Service
Moday, February 8, 2010. 12:00 pm.
James Chapel
Union Theological Seminary

What does life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness mean? Are the rights that are promised to us in the Declaration of Independence evident in our experiences today? On Monday, February 9th, those who participated in the Poverty Initiative's 2010 Immersion Trip shared their experiences to the wider Union Theological Seminary community.  Barbara Lundblad, a faculty member at Union, led the chapel community through a reading of the Declaration of Independence, while injustices interrupted the crowd. Leslie Jackson evoked the words of Dr. Martin Luther King from his speech at the SCLC staff retreat in 1967. Crystal Hall and Thia Reggio, both first year M.Div. students, reflected on their experiences in Philadelphia in the presence of the Liberty Bell, and at ROC-NY's Prayer Vigil for workers rights.  Blair Moorhead and Suzy Ujvagi led the community in a litany adapted from Leviticus 25, which states, "Proclaim liberty to all who live there." Lastly, Nkosi Anderson, in a lively benediction, called the entire community to "let justice ring!"

Listen to the new radio piece produced by the Philadelphia Student Union's youth-produced radio show, On Blast. From their description: "In January of 2010, the Poverty Initiatve, a group based in New York that aims to reignite Dr. Martin Luther King's Poor People's Campaign, visited Philadelphia for an immersion tour. The tour highlighted the history of the struggles of poor people in this city. Willie Baptist and Liz Theoharis shared stories about the struggle of the homeless in 1995 and 1996, which included a "tent city" and the takeover of an abandoned church. This piece was produced by Gregory Jordan-Detamore."

Click here to listen.

Students of Union Theological Seminary and members of the Poverty Initiative did a 9:30 a.m. vigil this morning in Union's Lampan Chapel, standing in solidarity with the more than 200 people traveling with the Domestic Workers United to Albany today to lobby New York State Legislators to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.  For six years now, domestic workers and supporters have been fighting to get the Legislature to approve basic benefits and protections for this significant workforce. They have tirelessly marched, rallied, organized call-ins and town halls, and have achieved many victories. But the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights is still awaiting passage in the State Senate. In the face of the economic crisis, with recovery not happening soon enough for the working class, thousands of domestic workers can no longer wait. As our members continue to face harassment, abuse, and violence in the workplace, they ask for our help and support.  For more information see the Domestic Workers website. 

In commemoration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, Dan Chadwick prepared the following text to present to the youth he works with in a residential treatment facility just outside Erie, PA.  These were his remarks following the showing of excerpts dealing with the last years of King’s life from the documentaries Citizen King and Eyes on the Prize.  In clear and plain language, Dan conveys the essential shift King was making towards economic human rights – towards building a broad social movement to end poverty.

NBC reports that 40% of all the food produced in the United States is thrown away while 1 in 6 Americans say they don't have enough to eat. NBC follows one middle class family that could be called "the new face of hunger" in America.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

On Saturday, January 16th, participants in the Poverty Initiative's 2010 Immersion Course took part in United Workers "Social Justice Theater Conference."  Along with more than 100 other participants, they listened to Willie Baptist's opening remarks.  United Workers has created a short video of this address. In this clip, Baptist talks about the present significance of Martin Luther King's final vision of a Poor People's Campaign and the need for us all to participate as leaders in reigniting a movement to end poverty led by the poor across color lines.

We, the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, offer our prayers and support for our sisters and brothers in Haiti. We invite you to join us in offering prayers and support for those who have died, those who have been injured, those who are still trapped in the debris, those who are missing, and those who are still searching for loved ones in the earthquake and its aftermath

Almost one year ago, the Poverty Initiative was deeply honored to send a delegation of students, staff, alumni, and faculty members of Union Theological Seminary to partner with the Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti in offering an educational and vocational enrichment program January 16-30, 2009. During our time in Haiti, we were also able to spend time with Partners in Health, Maisson de Naissance and Beyond Borders. While there, we recognized a shared plight and fight of poverty that is becoming a growing reality around the globe. In this great time of need, we will continue to stand with our sisters and brothers in Haiti.

This most recent earthquake is not the first natural disaster to affect Haiti in recent years (four storms battered the country between mid-August and mid-September 2008, causing destruction from which the country had not yet fully recovered) and that these disasters will take years from which to recover. For more information about the situation in Haiti and opportunities to donate to relief efforts, see:

Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti

Partners in Health

Maisson de Naissance

Beyond Borders

The Episcopal News Service states that “Haiti is by far the poorest and least-developed country in the western hemisphere, with more than half of its people living on less than $1 per day, and 80% living on less than $2 per day. One-third of its children are malnourished and 500,000 cannot go to school. The unemployment rate is estimated to be 60 percent.”

The Poverty Initiative is committed to building a global movement to end poverty.

Poverty Initiative Immersion participants celebrate MLK’s Legacy with the North East Pennsylvania Organizing Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Sunday January 17th!

Join NEPA Organizing Center (198 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre) on Sunday January 17th at 2 p.m. to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King by coming together and discussing how we can use Human Rights to connect our work! The event will include:

•  A presentation of the findings from local work with the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Housing
•  The unveiling of our upcoming NEPA Housing Rights Campaign.
•  A presentation on the life of MLK, and how we can use Human Rights standards to organize together in NEPA
•  A discussion on how you can use the NEPA Organizing Center and Media Mobilizing project to help your work and your community.
•  Refreshments, music and fun!  MLK deserves a birthday party!

Contact Frank Sindaco at frank@nepaorganizingncenter.org or 570-270-6372 for more information!

Poverty Initiative Immersion participants will attend in the United Workers Justice Theater Conference this Saturday. Join United Workers members, community organizers, youth leaders, activists, and artists for a day of workshops on Theater of the Oppressed, street theater, puppet making, and the Battle of Stories Framework in preparation for a community-wide participation play on Our Harbor Day, May 1. For more information visit http://unitedworkers.org/justicetheater. To register today, email info@unitedworkers.org or call 410-230-1998.