Our love is not to be just words and mere talk but something real
and active. (1 Jn.3,18)
Email the 8th Day Center:
eighthday@igc.apc.org.org
Organizing to Support Affirmative Action
Women Employed has developed an organizing kit which provides assistance to people who want to organize at a grassroots level to fight anti-affirmative action legislation, ballot initiatives, and legal challenges. The kit describes "how we did it" with the Illinois Coalition for Equal Opportunity which formed in March 1995 and now includes 58 diverse member organizations.
It includes examples of press statements hearing testimony, action alerts, fact sheets and other materials used by the Coalition throughout 1995. If you are interested in using our model for organizing or teaching, call Women Employed at(312)782-3902.
School of the Americas Update
Since the last 8th Day Report, 8th Day staff members Charles Carney and John Poole participated in the Walk to Close the School of the Americas. In early December, they walked for five days, averaging 15 miles per day, travelling south from Cleveland, OH. John also participated in the annual Fast for Life for ten days in Washington, DC. It was heartening to see a significant number of college students, including DePaul University students with their Campus Minister (and 8th Day Board Member), Sam Citero, O.Carm.
On April 29, thirteen women and men were sentenced, from 2-6 months, for the November 16 protest at Ft. Benning, GA. Please continue to support the closing of the School of the Americas. Over the summer, write to your congressional representatives supporting Rep. Joseph Kennedy's most recent bill, H. R. 2652.
This Summer -- Work for Justice
For the first time ever, a generation of Americans is facing a lower standard of living than their parents. The gap between rich and poor has hit Depression-era levels. Corporate executives take home more than 190 times what workers earn, while ten million American working families live in poverty.
What can you do besides feed the unemployed, counsel the distraught, and house the homeless? You can help working people organize for dignity and economic and racial justice. This summer, join hundreds of young workers and students making history. People of faith, especially seminarians, rabbinical students, novices and theology students, are answering the call to spend thIee weeks in the streets and neighborhoods around the country, organizing for decent wages, job security aind fair treatment.
Union Summer is offering three-week placements at regional campaign sites with housing provided and $210 per week stipend. For a form, or for more infonnation, send a fax to (202) 408-0303 or call 1-800-952-2550 or (202) 408-0300 or write to Union Summer, 815 16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
For pastors, pastoral ministers, hospital administrators and staff, teachers and campus ministers, there is a new Congregational Study Guide on Worker Justice, Faith & Work, put out by the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. Among other things, it helps people understand the Religious community's historical involvement in worker justice issues. Leader's Kit (guide & video) is $15; Participant's Study Booklets are $3 each + shipping/handling. For more information, or to order these resources, contact the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice,1607 West Howard Street, Suite 218, Chicago, IL 60626. For more than 25 Booklets, call (312) 321-2832 for quantity discounts.
There are also numerous opportunities for volunteering for the National Committee Office (located in Chicago) over the summer. They need data entry, bookkeeper, Internet Specialist, Word Perfect trainer, Paradox trainer, Grant Writer, Layout Artist, and Organizers. If you can help, call the Number above and ask for Kim Bobo or Gina Botterill.
June, July & August, 1996
- Sat. June 1 -- Haiti is Not Disneyland
- Demonstration at Chicago's Disney Store protesting exploitation of workers in Haiti's low wages, excessively long hours, unsafe work conditions, and violent repression of workers' efforts to protest. Sponsored by Chicago Jobs With Justice
- PLACE: Water Tower Place, Pearson Street and North Michigan Avenue
- TIME: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
- FOR INFO: Bruce Gould 312/262-4378 or Frank Klein 312/738-6060
- Sat. June 1 -- Metropolitan Action for Metropolitan Equality
- Workshop to plan a Citizen's response to the Chicago Area Transportation Study which will determine the future mix of public transportation and roads for the Chicago area. Speakers: Myran Orfield, Minnesota legislator and leader of community-based transportation plans; Steven Perkins, proponent of a Citizen Transportation Plan; Jacky Grimshow, Chicago activist and former aid to Harold Washington.
- PLACE: Hermann Hall at Illinois Institute of Tech., 3241 S. Pederal (One block east of the Dan Ryan Exp.; near the 35th St. "L" stations of the Green and Red lines)
- COST: $10 - includes continental breakfast and lunch
- Sponsored by - Metropolitan Alliance of Churches, Center for Neighborhood Technology and the 8th Day Center
- FOR INFO: Steve Perkins 312/278-4800
June 1-14 -- High Price to Pay. Structural Adjustment and Women
A Witness for Peace delegation to Nicaragua focusing on the impact on women of the structural adjustment policies of the IMF and World Bank.
DELEGATION COORDINATORS: Patty Harms and Wayne Forehand
FOR INFO: Patty Harms, 608/275-8398
- Fri.-Sun. June 21-23 -- A Symposium in Memory of Majorie Tuite, OP - The Burden of Knowing: Social Jusice Into the 21st Century
- On the l0th anniversary of her death, a circle of her friends invite you to participate in this symposium on Social Justice. Margie's wish to be remembered as a woman of revolutionary integrity calls us to amplify and reinterpret the meaning of social justice as an intrinsic element of the gospel message, and as our responsibility to recapture the public voice on issues that concern all racial ethnic women in every part of the world.
- PLACE: Gannon Center for Women and Leadership, Loyola Univ, Chicago
- FOR INFO: Send stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Burden of Knowing, 529 S. Wabash #404, Chicago, IL 60605
- Sat. June 22 -- 4th City-Wide Planning Caucus for The REACH Project
- (Building a Renters Escrow & Community Housing Fund)
- Update on the efforts to develop the prototype of a new type of financial institution to support affordable housing and job creation. Workshops. Participant input on next steps for REACH.
- TIME: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm PLACE: TBA
- FOR INFO: Fran Tobin, 312/996-6825
- Sat. June 22 MercyFest -- Celebrating Mercy Sowing Hope - 50 years
- Join the Sisters of Mercy in celebrating 150 years of service to Chicago It's a whole Mercy Family Reunion featuring: Heritage Mass, Mercy Reunion Tents, Entertairunent, Children's Programs, Memorabilia Tent, Food, Food and More Food! Free Admission and Free Parking.
- PLACE: Grounds of Saint Xavier University, 3700 West 103rd Street, Chicago
- TIME: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm; Heritage Mass - 6:00 pm
- FOR INFO: 312/779-6011, Extension 19
- Sun. June 23 -- Points of Arrival: A Jean Donovan Journey
- A two-person play on the life of Jean Donovan, a lay missionary, who was killed by death squads in El Salvador in December, 1980. This is a benefit performance for Chicago/Cinquera Sister Cities by Still Point Theater Collective.
- PLACE: Esperanza School, 520 N. Marshfield (1 bl. west of Ashland and Grand)
- TIME: 7:00 pm
- COST: $10 - Avrailable at the door or from John Poole at the 8th Day Center
- FOR INFO: John Poole, 312/641-5151 or Tim Lohrentz, 312/486-7268
- Sat.-Tues. June 29-July 2 -- National Council of Senior Citizens 1996 Constitutional Convention
- A major national event featuring nationally known speakers, workshops on legislative issues, a massive rally alerting political candidates during this election year where' seniors stand on crucial Issues and a Senior Expo.
- PLACE: Hyatt Regency Hotel, 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago
- COST: $50 for registration before June 1, $55 after June l
- FOR INFO: NCSC-Convention Inquiries Desk, 1331 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
- Sat. July 13 -- "Walk 'n Roll" Fun(d)raiser
- A 10K walk-a-thon/roll-a-thon to benefit the REACH Project (building a Renters escrow and Community housing fund).
- TIME & PLACE: TBA
- FOR INFO: Fran Tobin, 3i2/996-6825
- August -- Chicago Act
- This is a calendar clearing house for alternative and grassroots events around the Democratic National Convention. If you are planning an event and want it known, call 312/409-2093 with the information. If you would like a calendar, call the 'same number.
- Aug. 1-4 Walking on Water and Making Waves
- Thur.-Sun. Evangelical and ecumenical women is caucus (Biennial Conference) featuring such speakers as Edwina Gateley, Marchiene Vroon Rienstra, Julie Howard and Mary Jo Cartledge-Hayes.
- PLACE: Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, Virginia
- FOR INFO: EEWC '96 Conference, 1053 Cambridge Crescent, Norfolk, VA 23508,
- PHONE: 804/451-8553
FUTURE FOCUS
- Sat. Sept. 7 -- Second Prison CROP Walk in Illinois
- Women from Dwight Correctional Center and Kankakee Mirumum Security Unit will step off on a 5K CROPWALK within the grounds at the Dwight facility. The residents will be joined by staff and supporters from the "free" community". They hope to raise $10,000 to fight local and world wide hunge For informationf induding posters, flyers, and how one may support and sponsor the women of Dwight and Kankakee are available by contacting:
- Church World Service/CROP: Robin Tetzloff, 708/953-2767, Dennis Metzger 217/529-5144
- OR Church Women United in Illinois, Dorothy Yeoman, 847/742-5578
- Fri.-Sun. Sept. 13-15 -- Discerning the Signs In a Time of Exodus:
- What Do Communities of Faith Need in Order to be Healers of God's Creation
- A Congress (not a conference) to examine four movements: Christian Ecofeminism, Science and New Cosmology, Ecojustice and Alternative Economics, featuring a diverse group of grass roots practitioners, knowledgeable resource persons, theologians and scientists.
- PLACE: Cousins Retreat Center, Milwaukee, WI
- TIME & COST: TBA
- FOR INFO: North American Conference on Christianity & Ecology
- Sat. Sept. 21 -- "Give Them Some Food Yourselves"; Poverty and Hunger. Finding Solutions
- This conference is designed to bring together people working on various aspects of poverty and hunger, from direct service to advocacy, to receive energy and support and find new answers and direction as we struggle to develop a more just society. Featured speaker will be David Beckman. Includes 20 workshops on a variety of topics.
- TIME: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm COST: $10 (donation)
- PLACE: Loyola University, Marquette Center, 47 E. Pearson, Chicago
- FOR INFO: Archdiocese of Chicago Office for the Ministry of Peace & Justice, Russ at 312/751-8367
- Fri-Sat. Sept. 27-28 -- The Harvest of Hope. Faith and Justice Institute of the Archdiocese of Chicago
- Through prayer, study and practical work participants in this Institute will be empowered to work within their local parishes to foster faith and promote peace by working for justice. The Institute meets on eight Saturdays (once a month) beginning in September.
- PLACE: Dominican Conference Center, 7200 W. Division St. River Forest, IL
- TIME: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- COST: $40 (single session) Includes lunch and materials, $400 (sessions thru April)
- Sponsored by Chicago Archdiocesan Office of Peace and Justice
- FOR INFO: Russ Testa, 312/751-8367
- Nov. 15-17 Call to Action's National Conference
- This conference was originally scheduled for November 8-10 in Chicago but CTA was forced to change the date and location because Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago abruptly cancelled its contract with CTA.
- NEW LOCATION: Cobo Hall, Detroit
- FOR INFO: Call To Action, 312/604-0400
PUBLIC INTEREST FUND OF ILLINOIS! If your work place has a United Way payroll deduction campaign, but doesn't include the Public Interest Fund of Illinois, please let us know. Contact John, Carol or Mary Kay.
