6:30 for coffee, 7:00 program
Ethical Society of St. Louis - 9001 Clayton Rd, 63117 (Directions)
Speak Out!
Will the Poor Ever Be Heard? -- Barbara Finch
What does it say about the state of affairs in Missouri when four newspapers, one television station, one radio station, and 19 civic and faith-based organizations in a major metropolitan area can't get the attention of the two leading candidates for governor at the height of the election season?
That's what happened when Community Against Poverty, a broad-based coalition of local civic and religious organizations, planned a forum to ask the candidates about their ideas to fight the growing epidemic of poverty in Missouri. Journalists from respected media organizations agreed to pose the questions. However, the candidates were not available to answer. One did not respond to the invitation to participate; the other declined with a form letter.
Maybe the problem was scheduling. Or maybe it was pure political calculus: the Democratic candidate felt that he didn't need to show up because the St. Louis metro area is his "base" and he doesn't need to work hard here; the Republican candidate felt like he'd never make inroads in the city so it would be a waste of time for him to come.
But perhaps it was the topic that was off-putting. Maybe the candidates don't want to talk about the 740,000 Missourians who live in poverty. Maybe they don't have any ideas about how to increase access to health care, improve housing and education, create jobs and eliminate hunger. Maybe silence is safe. But the question remains: if a group as diverse, powerful, and respected as the one who planned this forum can't get the candidates to respond, what chance is there that the poor can ever be heard?
People who live in poverty usually can't form coalitions. They're too busy trying to hold body and soul together and make it one day at a time, sometimes one hour at a time. So, it's up to us to speak up on the issues that impact them. The forum will go on, without the candidates, on Wednesday, September 24, at 7:00 pm at the Missouri History Museum. Come and learn the heartbreaking facts, and then be prepared to speak out. After all, that's why we're called Women's Voices.
We are a group of ardent, progressive St. Louis area women who finally got fed up.
We became so concerned about the direction of this country and where its priorities seem to be that we decided we must do something. From our frustration and determination, Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice was born.
We are not fund-raisers. We are not envelope-stuffers. We are not a single-issue group. And we do not want to re-invent the wheel. Therefore, we have built an organization that enables us to study many different issues and take action for a variety of causes. We frequently support other progressive organizations in their efforts. But first, we study and learn about the issues.
Our members are curious, creative, competent and caring.
We believe in doing something meaningful in support of our values, and we have great fun and camaraderie in doing so. If you would like to add your voice to ours, we welcome you to join us.
October 2, 2008 Environment Focus Group (usually First Thursdays)
October 6, 2008 Health Care Focus Group (usually First Mondays)
October 6, 2008 Candidate Forum on Environment (see Calendar or YouTube PSA for Details)
October 9, 2008 WV September Meeting (Second Thursdays)
Sign Language
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down Awards
to the St. Louis American newspaper, which has been named runner-up in the Newspaper of the Year competition sponsored by Suburban Newspapers of America! The American was recognized in the category of papers with more than 37,500 circulation. The paper, which has served the African-American community in St. Louis for more than 80 years, contains a wealth of information about the St. Louis metro area that cannot be found in any other publication. Kudos to the staff!
to St. Louis Mayor, Francis Slay. On Wednesday, August 20, Mayor Slay issued an executive order banning departments under his control from purchasing bottled water except in an emergency. City employees were given stainless steel water bottles that say "I love St. Louis water" in which to carry St. Louis tap water (voted the "best tasting tap water in the nation" by the U.S. Conference of Mayors last year).
to the Missouri Drug Card plan, which will give state residents discounts of up to 75 percent on hundreds of brand name and generic medications. Cards can be printed out at www.missouridrugcard.com.
to Home Depot for being the first major nation retail outlet to recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Individuals can bring in any expired, unbroken CFLs, and give them to a Home Depot store associate behind the returns desk free-of-charge. This is a national program. See the website, spread the news.
to the City of St. Louis Refuse Department Recycling Division for being ahead of the rest. We first got the CFL recycling news from their website, then in their July newsletter.
to members of the Missouri Legislature, who completed their currrent session without taking any action to restore health care benefits to Missouri residents who were cut from the Medicaid program in 2005.
to the smart and compassionate Missouri voters who declined to sign the so-called "Missouri Civil Rights Initiative," which would have put an anti-affirmative action measure on the ballot in November.
to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., which is now offering a three-month supply of certain prescription drugs for $10. In 2006 Wal-Mart launched a program to sell generic drugs for $4.
to Jennifer's Pharmacy in Clayton, which is discontinuing the use of plastic bags throughout the store. Alternate bags, which have no environmental impact, are available for a small fee. Customers who insist on a plastic bag will be charged for each bag they use. Women's Voices commends Jennifer's Pharmacy for its leadership on this issue.
to the St. Louis American newspaper, which has been named runner-up in the Newspaper of the Year competition sponsored by Suburban Newspapers of America! The American was recognized in the category of papers with more than 37,500 circulation. The paper, which has served the African-American community in St. Louis for more than 80 years, contains a wealth of information about the St. Louis metro area that cannot be found in any other publication. Kudos to the staff!
to members of the Missouri Legislature, who completed their currrent session without taking any action to restore health care benefits to Missouri residents who were cut from the Medicaid program in 2005.