Mr. Bryan Stevenson, Esq.
I hope this letter finds you well.
I recently watched your TED talk. Thank you for speaking up about the painful and much ignored truths of our society. Thank you for the great work that you do for humanity. You are an inspiration. I know that, just like the heroes who inspired you, you are inspiring young people today who are going to find ways to solve the terrible injustice of which you spoke. It was unnerving when I really thought about how rare conversation on this blatant crime against humanity is heard among those powerful enough to start real change. That comment is aimed more at business leaders than politicians since our modern politicians are just extensions of the business world.
I really appreciated how you placed the issue of our society's lack of concern for the most poor among us in its historical context. New and incredible technologies will be birthed from the progress we make today, and they will hopefully use those wonderful pieces of ingenuity for the well-being of society, instead of selfishly and at the cost of the voiceless, segregated and oppressed peoples of the nations. But, I believe they are going judge us by our crimes, not our innovations. You spoke of the significance of identity, and I cannot figure out if the U.S. has an identity crisis, or if it needs one. However, I believe that the work you are doing will foster identities firmly planted in justice and concern for the well-being of the most poor among us by leaving a piece of yourself in everyone who has heard you speak. You have certainly made a lasting impression on me.
Thank you for giving so much of yourself to the cause of Justice.
With respect,
FBA
Friday, December 6, 2013
Looking Up at the Bottom Line: The Struggle for the Living Wage!
In,
Looking Up at the Bottom Line: The Struggle
for the Living Wage! Mr. Richard R. Troxell has produced an unquestionably
compelling argument for the Universal Living Wage; an income by which it is
possible for an individual to afford the necessities of life. Troxell’s book is an often disturbing
narrative cataloging his personal effort, and the efforts of thousands of
advocates, to end poverty and homelessness in a society where is seems that those
with power unapologetically abuse and oppress those whom they find dispensable. Along with a devoted group of people, Richard
Troxell has been working for decades to promote social justice. From
Philadelphia to Austin, and many places in-between, he has been a champion for people
living without safe, permanent housing in courtrooms and on the streets. He founded several non-profit advocacy groups
by which he is able to address the unhealthy and dangerous conditions in which
he witnesses many people living. He has staunchly
defended his friends against a barrage of injustice after unfathomable injustice.
Troxell founded House
the Homeless, Inc. in 1989 to serve as a vehicle for change. His first move towards devoting his life to
Austin’s forgotten was in creating Legal Aid for the Homeless, which is a
special office of Legal Aid (Troxell, 2010). Throughout the past 24 years he
has tirelessly stood next to the people in our society whom have had no voice
in the decisions which have directly affect them.
With over 10 million minimum wage workers living
on $7.25 and another 10 million undocumented workers very likely living on much
less than that, it is unreasonable to assume that they will all find it possible
to afford basic rental housing (Troxell, 2010). Millions of workers are being
pushed into poverty and into homelessness.
With Troxell’s math, (as of 2010) it would take a minimum wage of $13.
23 to afford basic rental housing in Austin, Texas (Troxell, 2010). It seems that people are more than expected
to work themselves to death at a job which will not even afford them a safe
place to sleep.
With
housing currently comprising 37% - 50 % of one’s income Troxell argues that
current method of using food, which comprises approximately 16% (down from 23%
when the federal standard was set, and when housing was 29%) of a person’s
income (Troxell, 2010).
The current Federal Minimum Wage (FMW) in
all of its glory, in light of the situation, appears cruel and useless. The arbitrary manner with which increases are
considered (or, not considered), whereby policy makers pick numbers out of the
air, is symbolic of their ineptitude to serve the workers of the United States. Raising the FMW by a single, unadjusted amount
also seems absurd. Troxell’s formula,
created using current (as of 2010) government guidelines creates a system in
which, if an individual works 40 hours, they should be guaranteed to afford
basic rental housing, as well as the necessities of life such as food,
transportation, clothing and emergency room access no matter where they may
live in the country (Troxell, 2010).
Troxell points out a troubling truth; people will do anything for money
to survive, and with nothing else to offer they likely turn to selling drugs
and even other people (Troxell, 2010). The
people need support not abuse. Troxell
estimates that 1 million workers could get off of the streets with the Universal
Living Wage.
Homelessness
It is the essence of
depressionIt is immoral
It is socially corrupt
It is an act of violence
-Inscribed upon the Homeless Memorial in downtown Austin, Texas
Reference
Troxell, R.R., (2010), Looking up at the bottom line: The struggle for the living wage!
Austin: Plain View Press.The Midwest Center on Law and the Deaf
The
Midwest Center on Law and the Deaf
The MCDL was created by
Howard Rosenblum in 1997 to serve his Deaf and hard-of hearing community with
legal advice on such important issues as family law, evictions, personal
injury, etc. Mr. Rosenblum, a Deaf
attorney, noticed a lack of available resources dealing in issues of the law in
his community when he gained a reputation as a passionate advocate for the Deaf
community. In founding the Midwest
Center on Law and the Deaf, with the assistance of David Jones, a hard-of
hearing Illinois attorney and Karen Aguilar, a licensed American Sign Language
interpreter with a background in law, he created the only advocacy law center
which helps Deaf clients with education and referrals other than those having
to do with disability/discrimination issues.
The MCDL has served
thousands of people and continuously receives requests for help, even from
people far beyond their geographic area of service.
Observation: One individual can open the door of the justice for many.
Meanwhile...
I watched my parents volunteer a large amount of their time at several non-profit organizations as I was growing up. Knowing that they have valuable experiences serving in leadership roles of organizations created to serve the betterment of society, I decided to interview them; so that I may gain from their work.
Please describe West Texas Boys Ranch and the services they offer.
The West Texas Boys Ranch is a non-denominational, Christian based home for boys from disadvantaged families. The boys live in cottages and have their own rooms. It is a real home environment for them grow up in. They have the opportunity to learn traditional ranching skills like working with horses and other livestock. They are also offered religious services, but it is not forced. They go into town to local schools.
How have you been involved?
I have been volunteering and supporting Boys Ranch for nigh on 2o years. I've served on the board of directors and as chairman.
What have you enjoyed the most?
Working with the boys and seeing so many of them go on to success. It's incredible to see people's lives change like that. That's whether they stay at the Ranch or go back to their family.
What has been difficult?
Trying to get the boys all of the services they need. Some people, with the best intentions, are too tight with the money and they're always shooting down good ideas which will serve the boys. "Dollar per day per kid" is a popular statement, and I hate it because it ignores the value inherent in what we do. What we give these boys is not just significant for them. The things they learn will be passed on to the people in their lives. If they go back home they will be taking everything they learned here with them. They will pass it onto their future kids. They will impact many people. We are just making ripples in the water of life.
Please describe West Texas Boys Ranch and the services they offer.
The West Texas Boys Ranch is a non-denominational, Christian based home for boys from disadvantaged families. The boys live in cottages and have their own rooms. It is a real home environment for them grow up in. They have the opportunity to learn traditional ranching skills like working with horses and other livestock. They are also offered religious services, but it is not forced. They go into town to local schools.
How have you been involved?
I have been volunteering and supporting Boys Ranch for nigh on 2o years. I've served on the board of directors and as chairman.
What have you enjoyed the most?
Working with the boys and seeing so many of them go on to success. It's incredible to see people's lives change like that. That's whether they stay at the Ranch or go back to their family.
What has been difficult?
Trying to get the boys all of the services they need. Some people, with the best intentions, are too tight with the money and they're always shooting down good ideas which will serve the boys. "Dollar per day per kid" is a popular statement, and I hate it because it ignores the value inherent in what we do. What we give these boys is not just significant for them. The things they learn will be passed on to the people in their lives. If they go back home they will be taking everything they learned here with them. They will pass it onto their future kids. They will impact many people. We are just making ripples in the water of life.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Serving the community
My mother was involved with a women's volunteer organization for nine years when I was a child, and I remember the large commitment of time and energy which she invested into the mission of the organization. I know that her role as leader of that organization was an important part of her life, so I asked her if she would describe some of her experiences in serving her community. Thankfully, she agreed.
Please describe your involvement in that organization
The organization is an international non-profit women's community service and volunteer organization that helps create and fund projects for the community. The projects eventually pass on to the responsibility of partners in the community, who carry on with all of the necessary functions to keep the project working. Some examples of projects were bringing Hospice care to the local hospitals and patients living at home, creating counseling programs for couples and starting a recycling center (which continues to be very successful today). I was an active volunteer for 9 years and served on the executive committee for 7, and now I am a sustaining member.
You were the president, were you not?
Yes, I served as President for a year.
What are some of the things which you remember most fondly about this organization?
I enjoyed learning about the community and bringing the projects to life. I liked the people and knowing that I was doing something to improve my community.
What were some of the most difficult aspects of working in an organization?
The hours involved and how they took time away from my own family.
Did you experience communication difficulties between organization members?
Sometimes. Some people could be overbearing about what they considered the best way to accomplish something and some did not give any input at all.
How would those problems be dealt with?
Instead of putting someone in the hot seat, there would be a one-on-one conference where a selected member of the committee (usually the committee chair) would engage in discussion with that certain individual. This was extremely rare.
What about problems outside of the organization on the community level?
At times, but sometimes (rarely) there would be an issue when the time came for organization to pass the full responsibility of sustaining a project onto the community partner. If the community partner was not ready to take on the project then we would have to extend its resources until the community partner was ready or the project was completely dropped. This would take precious resources away from other projects. Solutions and other ideas, such as plans for fundraising, were shared at the regional level, as well as at the national level at annual conferences.
Please discuss some of the key points of the funding process for this organization.
There were fundraising committees and advertising committees which would seek out sponsors in the community. We would hold fundraising functions and ask them to sponsor the event. For example, we used to have a dance that would raise a lot of money. We also had a thrift shop at the time which brought in large financial support. The thrift store eventually got shut down because other local resale stores brought in enough competition that made it impossible to continue to serve our purpose. There are also membership dues, which help cover the overhead.
Thank you so much for your time!
You are welcome. I appreciate the opportunity.
Please describe your involvement in that organization
The organization is an international non-profit women's community service and volunteer organization that helps create and fund projects for the community. The projects eventually pass on to the responsibility of partners in the community, who carry on with all of the necessary functions to keep the project working. Some examples of projects were bringing Hospice care to the local hospitals and patients living at home, creating counseling programs for couples and starting a recycling center (which continues to be very successful today). I was an active volunteer for 9 years and served on the executive committee for 7, and now I am a sustaining member.
You were the president, were you not?
Yes, I served as President for a year.
What are some of the things which you remember most fondly about this organization?
I enjoyed learning about the community and bringing the projects to life. I liked the people and knowing that I was doing something to improve my community.
What were some of the most difficult aspects of working in an organization?
The hours involved and how they took time away from my own family.
Did you experience communication difficulties between organization members?
Sometimes. Some people could be overbearing about what they considered the best way to accomplish something and some did not give any input at all.
How would those problems be dealt with?
Instead of putting someone in the hot seat, there would be a one-on-one conference where a selected member of the committee (usually the committee chair) would engage in discussion with that certain individual. This was extremely rare.
What about problems outside of the organization on the community level?
At times, but sometimes (rarely) there would be an issue when the time came for organization to pass the full responsibility of sustaining a project onto the community partner. If the community partner was not ready to take on the project then we would have to extend its resources until the community partner was ready or the project was completely dropped. This would take precious resources away from other projects. Solutions and other ideas, such as plans for fundraising, were shared at the regional level, as well as at the national level at annual conferences.
Please discuss some of the key points of the funding process for this organization.
There were fundraising committees and advertising committees which would seek out sponsors in the community. We would hold fundraising functions and ask them to sponsor the event. For example, we used to have a dance that would raise a lot of money. We also had a thrift shop at the time which brought in large financial support. The thrift store eventually got shut down because other local resale stores brought in enough competition that made it impossible to continue to serve our purpose. There are also membership dues, which help cover the overhead.
Thank you so much for your time!
You are welcome. I appreciate the opportunity.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Young love
A young couple, whom I am proud to call friends, and on whom I will bestow the pseudonyms, Greg and Diana, have served for me as an example of the incredible strength which is the human spirit.
I have known them both for almost three years. Greg is an energetic twenty-five year-old child of the wind. He is stocky, full of humor and always quick to laugh. Diana is a 5ft, early twenty something woman of the world. They are happy in love and engaged to be married in the spring of 2014.
When I first met Greg and Diana they were living homeless on the streets of Austin, Texas. I don't know the entire scope of their personal histories, but I know that Diana grew up with her brother, Raul, in the foster system, moving around through several states. Both Diana and Raul have lived on the streets extensively since they left the foster system. Diana has a few serious health conditions, including having needed kidney dialysis regularly, and even being given a two month clock to live. She beat their odds. I do not yet know as much about Greg's past, but I know that it has not been easy.
I remember talking with Diana (the sweetest person who ever lived) one day at the organization when she began talking about the previous night on spent on the street. I believe this was last winter. I remember experiencing a sick feeling pass through my body. It turned out that these two young, bright and happy people had spent the past seven straight months holding each other each night for protection against the dangerous city street elements. That conversation really opened my eyes. They had both spent years going back and forth from living on the street.
I met Diana and Greg at a social service group which does much to serve the homeless of Austin, and which recruits members of the homeless community to serve as leaders in the organization. Diana and Greg both serve in some form of leadership at this organization. I know that Greg has been volunteering at the organization for five years. They take their responsibilities very seriously and are completely devoted to serving their fellow wo/man week after week.
Today both Greg and Diana have attained jobs at a major fast food restaurant and have been living in their own apartment for a few months. There is absolutely no doubt that the skills which learned in their leadership roles fostered them the opportunity to extend their success beyond the organization and out into the job market to find housing and an income (albeit, not a Living Wage). I think this story is true for many people who've found strength in this organization, and for people who've found it in any of the other thousands of organizations which serve the underserved with not only life sustaining resources, but also, perhaps, some sense of control over their own destiny.
I have known them both for almost three years. Greg is an energetic twenty-five year-old child of the wind. He is stocky, full of humor and always quick to laugh. Diana is a 5ft, early twenty something woman of the world. They are happy in love and engaged to be married in the spring of 2014.
When I first met Greg and Diana they were living homeless on the streets of Austin, Texas. I don't know the entire scope of their personal histories, but I know that Diana grew up with her brother, Raul, in the foster system, moving around through several states. Both Diana and Raul have lived on the streets extensively since they left the foster system. Diana has a few serious health conditions, including having needed kidney dialysis regularly, and even being given a two month clock to live. She beat their odds. I do not yet know as much about Greg's past, but I know that it has not been easy.
I remember talking with Diana (the sweetest person who ever lived) one day at the organization when she began talking about the previous night on spent on the street. I believe this was last winter. I remember experiencing a sick feeling pass through my body. It turned out that these two young, bright and happy people had spent the past seven straight months holding each other each night for protection against the dangerous city street elements. That conversation really opened my eyes. They had both spent years going back and forth from living on the street.
I met Diana and Greg at a social service group which does much to serve the homeless of Austin, and which recruits members of the homeless community to serve as leaders in the organization. Diana and Greg both serve in some form of leadership at this organization. I know that Greg has been volunteering at the organization for five years. They take their responsibilities very seriously and are completely devoted to serving their fellow wo/man week after week.
Today both Greg and Diana have attained jobs at a major fast food restaurant and have been living in their own apartment for a few months. There is absolutely no doubt that the skills which learned in their leadership roles fostered them the opportunity to extend their success beyond the organization and out into the job market to find housing and an income (albeit, not a Living Wage). I think this story is true for many people who've found strength in this organization, and for people who've found it in any of the other thousands of organizations which serve the underserved with not only life sustaining resources, but also, perhaps, some sense of control over their own destiny.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
The Volunteer
I am proud to present to you,
The Volunteer
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Above: Sam the Man
Heroes of the day
Above: The fine folks from the Holy Cross Church woke up super-ass early to push out nearly 200 sandwiches in 45 minutes so that some hungry people in Austin, Tx would not have to spend this day (at least) without food.
I thank the universe for the people dedicating their own free time and resources to provide for those whom are not able to provide for themselves.
So many good organizations are only able to continue because of their dedication.
I want to grow up to be just like them.
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