Summer Time and the Progressive Issues Are HOT, HOT, Hot,
July is the Time of Parades, Picnics and Swimming. It is also Summer Time for NWSOFA as we heat up the Issues.
But before we talk about “What’s Happening in July”, let’s take a moment to reflect back to the spectacular events in July. No we’re not talking about the Blackhawk’s winning the Stanley Cup (although that was pretty cool, eh? What we are talking about are two historic SCOTUS Decisions. One upholding the ACA (ObamaCare) and the other making Marriage Equality the law in all 50 states. Then the President gets the TPA Authority to negotiate the TPP and then the President delivers one of his best speeches as he moved the nation with his powerful eulogy for the slain Rev. Clementa Pinckney.
For the NWSOFA we had 10 events of which two (2) were the first ever for our Chapter. Our College Outreach and Diversity Outreach Events were two separate first time events. Both attended well by respectively college age students and minorities. We will try to cover all the excitement that surrounds the NWSOFA Progressive Community as we present July’s Events and cover this past June’s Actions & Events. Our results are measured by what we do and say every day, week, and month.
We are the voice & energy of many that can move public opinion and shape politician’s opinion
Stop arguing with the radio or TV and add your voices to NWSOFA
As Jim Messina, OFA Chairman of the Board stated recently, “OFA is not a political campaign. We’re a built-to-last movement that’s not going anywhere. When the polls close and elections end, we’re the ones still here, fighting for the principles we believe in.” “We are and will continue to be the sum of millions of grassroots voices calling for change.”
For this Summer, the NWSOFA has added two (2) new initiatives: 1) Outreaches to the youth at the college and university level and 2) Outreach to the minorities in the Northwest Suburbs, while continuing to work harder to win the hearts and minds of those that voted for: Marriage Equality, ACA Healthcare reform, Climate Change, Minimum Wage, Gun Violence Prevention, Equal Pay for Equal Work for Women, and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
If you like to work on a team for these two new important initiatives or on any or all issues please let us know.
Join the NWSOFA Team
as we continue to move our social issues forward this Spring … Sara & Bill
NWSOFA is Action..
in 2013 We Found our Voices
in 2014 We Amplified our Voices
In 2015 We are Adding More Voices to our Community for Social Change
We Sometimes FORGET how Powerful a Force We are
and that Creating Social Change is a PROCESS not a Destination!!
NWSOFA July 2015, Events and Meetings
Please Attend the Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action
Gun Violence Prevention (GVP)
Thursday, July 16th Meeting @6:30 pm
@ the Corner Bakery, NE Shopping Center of Arlington Heights Road
and Hwy 12, Arlington Heights
What’s Next after 9 Killed in South Carolina ..
What You Can Do!
The GVP Issues Team has been working for the past two years to keep the conversation about gun violence prevention going and to take action to change our laws with the goal of creating safer communities for everyone in our state and our nation. We hold 60 to 90 minute planning meetings typically (some exceptions) on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. If you are interested in working to reduce gun violence in America, we invite you to join us at our next meeting.
At our last meeting … South Carolina Was the Discussion ,,, Outrage Was Expressed by All:
Comments from the packed meeting’s Attendees:
The U.S. is in a State of War
We Can’t Take it any more
It’s too easy to get guns in America
We need to let the legislature know how we feel
We need to Respect the Families of the Victims with ACTION
It is time for ACTION,, because it is the Right thing to DO!
Three (3) Action Steps You Can Take .. All 3, 2 or 1…
Deep Dives into what makes our Economy tick and Enjoy Some Great Discussions and Differences of Opinion
Into the Facts about
the US Economic Recovery
and Illinois Proposed Budget..
July’s BLS Report will be presented and examined with data on June’s economy, both jobs and GDP (US & IL). Plus we will continue our discussions of the economic recovery and policy issues that affect the recovery.
7:00 to 9:30 pm at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N Dunton Ave
We will be discussing the economic recovery and the budget challenges in Illinois and nationally.
June’s jobs report shows 2.9 million jobs added nationally in the last 12 months
223,000 jobs added in June
Illinois’ jobs growth continues to be lower than last year
Illinois has begun our 2016 fiscal year without a budget, so we expect the state of discussions in Springfield to again be a major part of the meeting. Hopefully things will improve between now and the 20th.
As always bring your articles, questions and comments and let’s have another lively discussion.
Attend the NWSOFA Fiscal & Economic Discussions (held monthly) and be the most informed on your block or your discussion group!
Attend with NWSOFA Diversity Outreach
To Celebrate
“Justice Day”
NWSOFA Diversity Team Is Joining the 2015 Justice Day Project on Sunday July 26th in
Winnetka Village Green from 2 pm to 5 pm on Sunday, July 26, 2015
50 Years ago (in 1965) the North Shore Summer Project, galvanized thousands of residents to push for open housing and brought Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the Winnetka Village Green to inspire over 10,000 people to “go all out to end segregation.” As we reflect upon our powerful beginnings, NWSOFA’s Diversity Outreach Team is working with Open Communities – determined to honor the achievements of North Shore Summer Project by expanding upon them, not simply commemorating them.
They have developed clear criteria for the Welcoming Community that uphold justice for all and embrace people of every race, religion, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, and income bracket.
The March Continues serves as a catalyst for a new grassroots social justice movement in Chicago’s northern suburbs.
Goals are to:
Raise awareness of continued housing inequities in our region, and organize action to end them;
Point out that today, unlike in 1965, equal housing is but one of many necessary ways to get to the inclusive and diverse suburb;
Build a constituency that will support political leadership for social change; and
Incrementally help pass policies and programs suburb by suburb that advance justice and build community in a variety of sectors.
To advocate for meaningful change in our suburbs, the 2015 Justice Project created a common set of Principles for the Welcoming Community, a standard similar to the LEED certification of environmental sustainability or the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, that would give suburbs a template to follow. It would also allow constituents to hold them accountable. They envision this as a multi-year process. NWSOFA Endorses this effort.
The July 26th gathering will be on the Winnetka Village Green from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, July 26, 2015, the anniversary of the North Shore Summer Project rally.
– See more at: http://www.open-communities.org/Get_Involved/Justice_2015/#sthash.YMkrmBHQ.dpuf
Here’s How Top Female Executives End Up Getting Paid Less Than Men
A new study examines the root of the pay gap
between men and women at the top of the corporate ladder
Even top female workers can’t catch a break when it comes to pay inequality.
A researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and colleagues in academia are out with a new paper on gender differences in compensation for executives. They analyzed pay for chairs/chief executive officers, vice chairs, presidents, chief financial officers and chief operating officers, and here’s what they found:
New Climate Change Co-Lead Added and New Climate Partnership Added
New Climate Change Co-Lead Added
Joe Salvato, NWSOFA Climate Issue Lead announced that Dan Huntsha has been named as the NWSOFA Climate Change Issue Co-Lead. Joe will remain a the NWSOFA Climate Issue C-Lead and has announced that several other team members are moving into additional CC leadership calls to be announced in July.
New Climate Partnership Added
Joe Salvato, NWSOFA Climate Change Issue Team Co-Lead has announced a New NWSOFA CC partnership as described:
(below per Peter Gorr with the Sierra Club and the Illinois Solar Energy Association).
“As you may know IL has important energy legislation pending. HB2607 /SB1485 also referred to as the “Clean Energy Jobs” bill did not come up for a vote in the Spring session in spite of much work and effort. So we now are focused to the Fall session and seeing that it gets passed then. If not familiar with the legislation a fact sheet is attached but briefly it is focused to:
Increasing energy efficiency goals for the state to 20%.
Fixing the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and increasing the percentage of renewable, clean energy as part of our energy mix to 35%
Lowering carbon emissions from existing power plants per the new EPA rules about to be finalized this summer.
I cannot over emphasize the importance of this legislation. If you have read the timely Papal encyclical just released you will find this legislation ties in very well with what the Pope states needs to be done regarding policy. Also, getting public support for passing this legislation is a way to help people begin to take individual action on protecting the environment and mitigating the causes of climate change.
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NWSOFA’s strategy in the NW Suburbs 6 township areas is the following:
Form a local coalition of like-minded organizations and groups
Have representatives of each meeting in July to develop strategies to effectively reach out to local residents
Implement these strategies which will be focused to education, signing petitions, making calls and writing letters to policy makers, etc.
“College is a necessity, but it is priced like a luxury.”
Our next team meeting will be devoted entirely to listening intently to young people.
At our first meeting, we heard loud and clear that the cost of college is a very big issue looming large over any dreams young people have for their future. We have asked them to plan the content of the meeting, and we will work to educate ourselves on the topic, and what action we can take to help.
“Taste of Diversity” Was Held on Saturday, June 27th in Elgin
At the Diversity
Outreach
Team’s
“Fulfilling The Promise”
Join Us!! Good Food, Music and Conversation at the
Diversity Outreach Team’s
Fulfilling the Promise National Day of Action
“Taste of Diversity”
Diversity Outreach
On Saturday June, 27th, Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action held a “Taste of Diversity” for the Fulfilling the Promise National Day of Action in Elgin, IL. A diverse group of community residents were invited to attend this event to share issues and concerns that they face in their community.Residents, including high school students, shared issues that ranged from gang activity to asking NWSOFA to partner work with them to provide financial literacy for the community. High school student, Ameer Muhammad, shared the issues concerning inner city high schools, the unsafe environment and lack of order in the schools where the students take over the school and create a hostile learning environment.
Several ideas and suggestions were given for future projects by Panelist Rev. Larry Bullock and Jacqui Algee (SEIU) while Victor Coriano and Marlene Rivera shared their stories. After the discussion session, community residents joined the NWSOFA team for a “Taste of Diversity” where we broke bread and shared a diverse selection of dishes.
Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action (NWSOFA)
June 16th, Chapter Meeting
And College Outreach..
We Learned a lot on our Future Leaders Care About:
A Highly Successful NWSOFA College Outreach Team’s
Youth Listening Event
WE are Listening .. and while the Youth that we heard had issues that relate to our Issue Groups .. Those issues are not the same!
They reflect Concern, Confidence, Courage and Activism!
If you have upcoming Seniors in High School or College Age Students and wish to get Involved.
We had some Deep Dives into what makes our Economy tick and Enjoy Some Great Discussions and Differences of Opinion
Into the Facts about
the US Economic Recovery
and Illinois Proposed Budget..
Junes’ BLS Report was presented and examined re: the May economy, both jobs and GDP (US & IL). Plus we continued our discussions of the economic recovery and policy issues that affect the recovery.
The discussion was be based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics June, 2015 report on the May Jobs Report.
Key Points from June Report on May Jobs from the June BLS Report:
Over three (3) million jobs added in the last 12 months
NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Team Planning Meeting Summary for June 18. 2015
Our monthly NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Planning Meeting was scheduled on Thursday June 18, which turned out to be just one day after the tragic shootings at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Our meeting area at the Corner Bakery Café in Arlington Heights quickly filled with about 20 people, all appalled by the gun violence in Charleston. We went around the table giving everyone the opportunity to talk about what had brought them to the meeting.
Over and over phrases like “enough is enough”, “I can’t take this any longer”, and “what is wrong with our country that allows these tragedies to keep occurring” were spoken echoing tremendous frustration but also determination to work for change.
Several attendees spoke about their experiences participating in a protest at Chuck’s Guns in Riverdale, a gun store that sells a high proportion of guns used in crimes in Illinois. Click here for the rest of the report:
If you feel the outrage that these Attendees Feel, then Join the NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Teams and get Involved.
All Across Chicago-Land Orange was the Color of the Day
Tuesday, June 2 was declared
National Gun Violence Awareness Day
NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Team was pleased to support and join the Brady Campaign, The American Academy of Pediatrics, Amnesty International, Moms Demand Action, MoveOn, and a number of other organizations by asking people to wear orange this last Tuesday to promote awareness of the damage that guns are causing in America.
Orange is the color of safety clothing worn by hunters so that other hunters will not mistakenly shoot them. It is also worn by construction workers and is used to mark safety zones on road construction.
Saturday June 6th @ Chuck’s Gun Shop, 14310 S Indiana Ave, Riverdale, IL
On Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m., NWSOFA, Chicago-North OFA and People for a Safer Society participated with a Gun Violence Prevention coalition of 16 groups organized by The Brady Campaign.
Two to Three hundred protesters faced off with NRA members who stood by Chucks Gun Shop and hurled insults at the protesters in an attempt to disrupt the GVP “Bad Apple” protest. They Failed, as the crowd of protesters swelled, marching three abreast in a 200 foot circle in front of Chucks chanting and calling out the policies of Chucks owner. The GVP Coalition heard messages from Father Michael Pfleger, Rev. Jesse Jackson and families who’s lives have been forever changed due to gun violence .. especially guns traced back to Chucks. Chuck’s is one of the largest suppliers of guns that are used in crimes in the Chicago area.
Brady organized the effort and the press showed up with a huge presence, including a film crew from Katy Couric, who is filming a documentary on the issue of guns. It’s important that NWSOFA & the Chicago North GVP showed by our presence that we won’t tolerate this “Bad Apple” any longer.
“Shadows of Liberty” reveals the extraordinary truth behind the news media: censorship, cover-ups and corporate control.
Filmmaker Jean-Philippe Tremblay takes a journey through the darker corridors of the US media, where global conglomerates call the shots. For decades, their overwhelming influence has distorted news journalism and compromised its values.
“Shadows of Liberty” poses a crucial question: why have we let a handful of powerful corporations write the news? We’re left in no doubt – media reform is urgent and freedom of the press is fundamental.
About NWSOFA
In January 2013 we started as a gathering of friends and neighbors from the NW Suburbs who wanted to continue to have impact on the progressive issues we voted for in 2012.This grassroots, bottom up movement spread across the country and sparked the creation of Organizing for Action, OFA National which now has Chapters all over the country. This is a non-partisan, volunteer organization that focuses on progressive issues we are committed to taking Action on to make a difference locally, statewide and nationally.
NWSOFA’s 1st Issue Team was right after the tragedy at Sandy Hook. The Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) team felt we needed accurate information and facts, events to teach others and actions we could take to make a difference on pushing for common sense gun violence prevention. That has been our basic format as new issues arose and team developed. We now have the GVP, ACA/Obamacare, Climate Change,Fiscal Issues and Stand with Women Issue Teams.Check out their individual pages to see all the events they have scheduled and to join the teams you want to make a difference with. Other teams are developing such as for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
OFA National coordinates “Days of Action” that Chapters across the country will all do on the same day. Each team also has local events and may work with affiliate organizations i.e. Sierra Club, Al Gore Reality Project, etc. to combine like-minded groups on a local, state or national event.
In this type of organization there are numerous ways you can be involved with the teams and in other roles.We were looking for ways to get our events out and now have a Twitter Master, Kathy,and Press Lead, Kym.
Two new initiatives were introduced in January 2015 from OFA. The first one is to get more young people involved in progressives issues. We prioritized working with colleges to reach out to them. One of the major benefits of joining us is learning to be a community organizer. These skills can be beneficial for a lifetime. The second initiative is working with under served populations that traditionally have not a voice on issues that are crucial for them. If either of these sound like something you would be interested in helping to develop, please let us know.
Maybe you have a special skill we haven’t even thought about give us a call we’re always open to new ideas and teams.
Thanks for stopping and hope you’ll stay and join us.
NWSOFA is a whole, diverse wonderful family of people who want to do more than talk about the social issues. We explore and dig deep on the facts and decide what actions we can take that can have an impact locally and nationally. NWSOFA members not only “talk the talk”, but we “walk the walk”.
All our teams have numerous events that will enlighten and inspire you and yes, challenge you to make the effort to make a difference.
We invite you to join us!
Follow NWSOFA on Social Media
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July Events .. NWSOFA in Photos
NWSOFA Attends OFA new HQ “Open House” July 10th in Chicago
NWSOFA Walked in the Arlington Heights 4th of July Parade
June Events .. NWSOFA in Photos
NWSOFA Diversity Outreach “Taste of Diversity” June, 27th
NWSOFA Fiscal & Economics Team Meeting June, 23rd
NWSOFA Gun Violence Prevention Team Meeting June, 18th
NWSOFA College Outreach & Chapter Event June 16th @ Schaumburg Library
NWSOFA CampOFA Meeting
6/4 @ AHML
Fight for Progress in Style:
Click the Above Image to go to the Store
NWSOFA
To leave a message or Sign up for an Issue Team .. Just click the Sign Up button and fill out the NWSOFA Comment log.
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Over the years the American Citizens have lost their voices, believing that we can not make a difference. We have been beat down by the constant droning noise of the conservative right. This onslaught has made us like sheep .. afraid to express our views. Not anymore! OFA gives us back our voices and by working together we are making change one issue at a time. Together we can and will make a difference.
Thank You to our NWSOFA Issue Leads in 2015
Just Click on the Photo to link the NWSOFA e-magazines daily & archived articles
In January 2013 we started as a gathering of friends and neighbors from the NW Suburbs who wanted to continue to have impact on the progressive issues we voted for in 2012.This grassroots, bottom up movement spread across the country and sparked the creation of Organizing for Action, OFA National which now has Chapters all over the country. This is a non-partisan, volunteer organization that focuses on progressive issues we are committed to taking Action on to make a difference locally, statewide and nationally.
