United Workers Association Celebrates Victory for Human Rights
United Workers Association, founded by homeless day laborers in Baltimore, has struggled for fair wages for workers who clean Camden Yards stadium. On Sept 6, 2007 the United Workers called off the planned Living Wages Hunger Strike and declared a living wages victory after the Maryland Stadium Authority agreed to re-bid the current cleaning contract and to include living wages in the request for proposals.

This is the first time a human rights organization led by low-wage workers has secured a living wage for day laborers. More details, including links to media coverage, are available at the United Workers Association website: http://unitedworkers.org/


New York Faith & Justice
NY Faith & Justice envisions the church drawn together and ignited by the vision of Isaiah 61, where practiced justice grows our faith and practiced faith builds a just city – a New York where resources are shared and just policies are practiced because God’s people are no longer dependent on the dollar – they are oaks of righteousness – dependent on God alone. More information about NY Faith & Justice and the launch celebration is available at www.nyfaithjustice.org.


Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Consciousness + Commitment = Change
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a community-based worker organization. Their members are largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida.

CIW strives to build strength as a community on a basis of reflection and analysis, constant attention to coalition building across ethnic divisions, and an ongoing investment in leadership development to help members continually develop their skills in community education and organization.

From this basis CIW fights for, among other things: a fair wage for their work, more respect on the part of bosses and the industries where they work, better and cheaper housing, stronger laws and stronger enforcement against those who would violate workers' rights, the right to organize on thier jobs without fear of retaliation, and an end to indentured servitude in the fields.

The CIW website (www.ciw-online.org) is an integral part of their organizing strategy.

After a nationwide campaign, CIW, McDonalds, and McDonald's suppliers reached an agreement to improve farmworker wages and working conditions on April 9, 2007 (see photo left).

Details for this CIW victory and their current campaign are on their website.


Direct Action Welfare Group (DAWG)
A group comprised of "current and former public assistant recipients and concerned individuals," the Direct Action Welfare Group "comes together to share information and ideas and to advocate for each other, their neighbors, and themselves." 
They write, "our purpose is to promote social justice and to empower former and current public assistance recipients and persons living in poverty by providing them with the knowledge, and the tools to change their lives." 

DAWG hosted the Poverty Initiative during the Appalachia Immersion Course in January, 2007.

For more information, visit their web site at www.wvdawg.org


Picture the Homeless   
"Don't talk about us, talk with us!"
Founded on the principle that homeless people have civil and human rights, Picture the Homeless (PTH) knows that "in order to end homelessness, people who are homeless must become an organized, effective voice for systemic change."



Created in 1999 by Lewis Haggins and Anthony Williams, who were residing in Bellevue Men’s Shelter, PTH has grown to a membership of over 1,000 homeless New Yorkers living on the streets and in the shelter system.

Together they say "we refuse to accept being neglected, and we demand that our voices and experience are heard at all levels of decision-making that impact us." For more information, visit their website at www.picturethehomeless.org.

PTH and Poverty Initiative have collaborated on several projects, including the Potter's Field Campaign. Intersections between this work New Testament scholarship around burial societies were presented at the 2006 Union Days  more information

Before departing on the Appalachia Immersion, students visited the New York City homeless shelter on Ward's Island. Leaders from Picture the Homeless prepared students for the visit by sharing their experiences staying on Ward's Island.

United Workers Association

New York Faith & Justice

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Direct Action Welfare Group

Picture the Homeless