As a community organizer for over 32 years, and one who worked directly with Barack Obama on what I think is his most significant work as a community organizer, your Sunday, September 7th editorial shows why it is easy for the GOP and others top down play the work of community organizers. The most significant accomplishment of Barack Obama as a community organizer was when he was the head of PROJECT VOTE (GOTV) that made political history in 1986 when that city-wide voter registration, education and Get-Out The vote campaign put over 100,000 new voters, that made it possible for the historic election of Carol Moseley Braun to the U.S. Senate, the 1987 reelection of Harold Washington as Chicago's 1st Black Mayor, and a new Chicago City Council.
The GOP and others would have to rethink the challenge to the work and real leadership responsibilities of community organizers when they are clearly reminded of the historic nature of many of the campaigns of community organizers. Consumers of all kinds immediately check and rely on expiration dates on foods and other products, never making the connection to the work of community organizers that led to the laws being passed that required expiration dates on food. The core reason that there are more Democrats elected to office and States like Illinois and the U.S. Congress with Democratic control is because on the continuous work of community organizers and their voter registration, education and GOTV campaigns.
New community development benefits for ordinary citizens to new legislation of all kinds start at the core with the work of community organizers who assess community based needs and work on those improvements to make peoples lives for the better. Too many times when mentioning community organizers and their work, those major accomplishments are not noted, and thus today critics do note the 1986 community work and leadership of Barack Obama and other community organizers as historic and not worthy of how they try to downplay its significance.
Mark S. Allen Community Organizer and Activist 773-392-0165
I wanted to share this information with you. I myself live with chronic pain and am disabled because of it. Since so many people suffer from invisible illnesses (arthritis, lupus, MS, the list is very long) we are trying to spread the word about Invisible Illness Awareness Week, Sept 8-14. If you don't live with an invisible illness, perhaps you know someone who does. The site provides encouragement and information for both those who suffer and caregivers. DID YOU KNOW… * Nearly 1 in 2 Americans live with a chronic condition? * 96% of illness is invisible?
75% of marriages end in divorce when illness is present? * 79% of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a factor? National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week is a campaign to educate people about how often illness is invisible and how to be sensitive to their challenges, and also learn from their unique experiences. "HOPE CAN GROW FROM THE SOIL OF ILLNESS!" is the theme of 2008's National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 8-14, 2008
For more information, you can visit either of these sites:
http://www.InvisibleIllness.com
Or
http://www.restministries.org/
I had never heard the term "maternal profiling" until a short time ago when I came across an article about it. The more I read, the more I thought to myself, "Wow, I bet that DOES happen more than most people--most women especially, even realize."
Maternal profiling essentially refers to a woman--a MOM--being denied a job or a promotion based solely or mainly on the fact that her potential employer or boss thinks she won't be able to (or be unwilling to) commit fully to the job because of her other responsibilities as a mother (or expectant mother, or future mother, whatever the case might be.) As you'll learn in the story below (aired 9/2/08), it's hard to prove one has been discriminated against for this reason EVEN if the employer comes right out and tells a woman that's why she didn't get the job. Turns out that even though there are local, county and state ordinances in place throughout Illinois that prevent this type of profiling, it's still not technially illegal to utter the words to a job applicant in an interview; "Do you have kids?"
Now, I can actually see (OK, don't stone me, moms) how an employer might WANT to maternally profile. I mean, he or she might say to themselves, "Gosh, with three little ones at home, how ever will Ms. Jones be able to give 100 and 10 percent to the extreme demands of widget making here at WIdget Inc.?! She will surely be calling in sick herself whenever one of her kids is ill, be unable to work late or on weekends when needed, refuse to bring extra work home, and will undoubtedly have her mind elsewhere if one of the tykes is being bullied at school, has lost a tooth or swallowed a marble! I think I'm going to go with Miss Smith instead. She's got no kids at home and seems much more career-driven. Or better yet, how about MR. Johnson! He's a father but we all know moms do most of the child caretaking any way. HE won't be missing work for any of that kiddie stuff...")
Ok, so it's sexist. I'm not saying I personally think that way. (Trust me, I DON'T.) I just think some employers might try to get away with it--and do! As the son of a working single mom, I saw first-hand how she was able to multi-task on a daily basis. Frankly, I don't know HOW she did it! The moms profiled in this story assure us that they can do it all, as well.
More Churches Follow the lead of Bishop Jordan, Rev. Crider and Father Pfleger in Leading Special Sunday Fundraiser To Save CeaseFire Program in Roseland; Also Prayer Vigil and March Set for Friday, September 5th, at 5:00 PM on 109th & Loomis (2 blocks from Roseland Ceasefire Office) in honor of Terrance Jones, Chicago teenager shot and killed in gang crossfire while playing basketball across from his home
CeaseFire Sunday Scheduled For Sunday, September 7th
Contact Mark S. Allen @773-392-0165 or Roseland Ceasefire Director Bob Jackson at 773-895-7991
Religious leaders across Chicago and in the Roseland area in particular are being asked to please use this Sundays September 7th church services to support Ceasefire Sunday, The Roseland Ceasefire Project's fundraising campaign to keep their doors open while they await new funding to be finalized. Roseland Ceasefire desperately needs the public's financial support so they can continue to aide and assist the communities of Roseland, Maple Park, Morgan Park, West Pullman, Pullman and all the other areas where they lend their support, and continue their hands on efforts to stop the violence. They have went almost $40,000 in debt while new funding sources were being identified.
Roseland Ceasefire provides hands on programming at the grassroots street level in crime prevention, intervention of retaliations and they help get kids off the street corners through job training, job development, substance abuse coaching, spirituality coaching, civic education and much much more !! The Rev. Tyrone Crider and Father Michael Pfleger have worked and marched directly with Roseland Ceasefire and were the first two religious leaders to respond to the call for special collections and/or financial donations to help Roseland Ceasefire remain open.
Other churches that have responded who will support this special fundraising effort for Ceasefire Sunday this Sunday September 7th should are Greater New Mt Eagle Baptist Church, Bellview Baptist Church, New Progressive MB Church, Greater Tabernacle, Mt. Calvary MB Church, Greater Everlasting Baptist Church, Progressive Baptist Church, Greater Pleasant Green Baptist Church, call 773-238-5599 or 773-895-7991 Roseland is just one area where these gang shootings continue to kill as with the recent killing of teenager Terrance Jones caught in gang crossfire just 2 blocks from the Roseland Ceasefire office, so Roseland CeaseFire deserves this special community fundraiser to get their workers back in the streets providing full time prevention and intervention.
Republican Strategist Dan Proft Responds To The Questions
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Contact Mark S. Allen @ 773-392-0165
National Media Question Challenge Regarding Sarah Palin - What If She Is Found Guilty?
None of the national spin I have seen and read from last night has answered this question, BUT we MUST push push PUSH the question of "What Happens if Sarah Palin is found guilty of using her influence in trying to get her sisters ex-husband fired? All I have heard is that she has hired a lawyer BUT WHAT is the timetable on her guilt or innocence? Do the American people deserve to have this matter resolved before the election? Will the national media aggressively challenge Palin on this issue or conveniently ignore it as a major issue that must be addressed before the election, and provide the american people with an analysis of the impact on her candidacy if she is indeed found guilty.
Answer - Hilarious...found "guilty" of firing an at-will employee?
There's a reason it's not being talked about...it is without merit on its face.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Question. What is the purpose of her having to hire a lawyer?
Answer- The purpose of a lawyer is to deal with all of the legal frivolities being imposed on her (with likely more to come) from political opponents.
Question - So you are saying that she will never have to appear before a Judge who will have to make a ruling on her innocence or guilt?
Goal to raise 2.5 million meals for food banks during Hunger Action Month
(Itasca, IL) September 3, 2008— Jewel-Osco, a leading Midwest food and drug retailer, and FOX Chicago, are teaming up during September’s “Hunger Action Month” to help generate awareness about hunger while raising 2.5 million meals to benefit families served by food banks across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
Throughout September, Jewel-Osco will be collecting cash and food donations from the public at all of its 184 stores, with a goal of raising $500,000 in cash donations and 250,000 pounds in food contributions--enough to provide 2.5 million meals that will feed over 223,000 needy families.
Under Jewel-Osco’s “stuff the truck” in-store campaign, the public will be challenged to fill as many trailer trucks with food as possible by donating canned and packaged goods. All donations will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, the Peoria Area Food Bank, and the River Bend Food Bank.
To help highlight the effort and generate awareness about hunger, FOX Chicago will air a series of public service announcements, news reports, conduct online fundraising efforts at www.MyfoxChicago.com, and broadcast live remotes during its popular Good Day Chicago weekday morning show (5 a.m. to 10 a.m.) from various Jewel-Osco store locations, as follows:
Date City Jewel-Osco Store Location
September 4………….. Chicago…………1655 E. 95th Street
September 11…………Dyer, Indiana…….805 Joliet Street
September 18………….Westmont……….4 E. Ogden
September 25…………..Chicago…………2940 N. Ashland
The public is encouraged to stop by and donate food at these live remotes. The live remotes will feature representatives from local food banks, pantries, community leaders and groups.
“We are very excited to have FOX Chicago as a partner in this important effort,’ said Keith Nielsen, president of Jewel-Osco. “Working together, and with the generosity of the giving public, we can provide meals to many needy families in our community.”
“FOX Chicago is proud to join Jewel-Osco and local food banks as the media partner for Hunger Action Month,” said Pat Mullen, vice president and general manager, WFLD.
“Our intent is to increase awareness of the event and encourage viewers to join the effort.”
Hunger Action Month is the creation of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), including all food banks participating in this effort. Please visit www.feedingamerica.org for more information about the organization.
About WFLD FOX
WFLD FOX Chicago is part of the Fox Television Stations, one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 27 stations in 18 markets and covering nearly 37.34% of U.S. television homes. This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando. For more information, please visit www.myfoxchicago.com.
About Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, is a nonprofit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 600 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 500,000 adults and children in Cook County every year. Last year, the Food Depository distributed 46 million pounds of nonperishable food and fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of 95,000 meals every day. The Food Depository’s programs and services for children, older adults and the unemployed and underemployed address the root causes of hunger. For more information, log onto www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call 773-247FOOD.
About Northern Illinois Food Bank
Northern Illinois Food Bank is Illinois’ second largest charitable hunger-relief organization and a member of Feeding America – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. NIFB distributed over 22 million pounds of food in 2007 through its network of 520 feeding sites in 13 northern Illinois Counties that surround Cook County. Highlights of NIFB’s past year include an aggressive youth nutrition program that provided over 389,000 meals, a Holiday Meal Box program that gave 26,755 families a holiday meal with all the trimmings and its Mobile Pantry program made 215 visits to hard to reach areas. Currently, more than 2,600 children are fed each day through the Food Bank’s Summer Lunch Program and more than 40,600 different people receive food assistance through its network of agencies weekly. (www.northernilfoodbank.org)
About Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana (FBNI) has served all of Lake and Porter Counties since 1982. A nonprofit organization, the FBNI serves 90 partner agencies, including food pantries, shelters, day care centers, and soup kitchens, providing quality food for those in need, advocating solutions for hunger issues, and acting as a key human service referral resource. The food bank has distributed more than 30 million pounds of food since its incorporation and provides food and hope to more than 70,000 Hoosiers in Lake and Porter counties. For more information, visit www.foodbanknwi.org
About Peoria Area Food Bank
The Peoria Area Food Bank operates under the umbrella of Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc., a community action agency, and is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. The Food Bank was formed in 1984 to supplement the dietary and nutritional needs of low-income families living in the eight surrounding counties we serve. We provide over 115 active food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers, senior housing, youth detention centers and low-income day-care centers with large quantities of food from name brand manufacturers. We also distribute USDA commodities made available to us through the Department of Health and Human Services Emergency Food Program. For more information, please visit www.pcceo.org/foodbank.htm
About River Bend Food Bank
River Bend Food Bank began food distribution on January 4, 1982 in response to the severe economic conditions in the Quad-Cities and surrounding areas. At that time, the community was in the middle of a recession that would ultimately result in the loss of over 20,000 manufacturing jobs. River Bank Food Bank acts as a liaison in the development of a partnership with the food industry and other nonprofit agencies in meeting hunger needs for their clients. We are an accredited member of Feeding America, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Illinois Food Bank Association, and Midwest Anti- Hunger coalition. Since its inception, River Bend has distributed over 40 million pounds of surplus food to our area’s poor and needy. We are the largest hunger relief organization in the region serving over 275 charities in a 22 country service area. All of the charities served represent people who are in need of some form of assistance. For more information, please visit www.riverbendfoodbank.org
About Jewel-Osco
Jewel-Osco, a SUPERVALU company, operates 184 stores in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. With a market-leading position in Chicago, Jewel-Osco stores offer consumers the convenience of combined grocery and pharmacy retail, in addition to services such as fuel centers at select locations. Originally established in 1899, the company and its associates remain committed to the communities they serve, contributing more than $4 million each year to a variety of local charitable causes. For more information about Jewel-Osco, please visit www.jewelosco.com or www.oscopharmacy.com.
About SUPERVALU INC.
SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest companies in the United States grocery channel with estimated annual sales of $45 billion. SUPERVALU holds leading market share positions across the U.S. with its approximately 2,475 retail grocery locations. Through SUPERVALU's nationwide supply chain network, the company provides distribution and related logistics support services to more than 5,000 grocery endpoints across the country. SUPERVALU currently has approximately 192,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit www.supervalu.com.
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The above press release was put out Wednesday related to our new food drive. Having met with many of the people involved, I can speak first hand to the need in our community. I want to thank the dedicated team at Good Day Chicago that has taken on this big project with enthusiasm and a sense of commitment. Thank you also to the many viewers who have already responded in the first 48 hours of this effort...proving once again Fox Chicago viewers are some of the most generous people in the world.
The Federation of Jaliscience Clubs of the Midwest, a rotary club based in Chicago for the Mexican state of Jalisco, announced construction works have begun to build a community center in the western suburb of Melrose Park that will provide services to other Mexican nationals living in Illinois and neighboring states.
Work on Casa Jalisco started early September, but the center is expected to open its doors in the first trimester of 2009.
Federation leaders said the center will facilitate the emission of Mexican documents, offer legal advice and function as the site for cultural, social and recreational activities.
La Federación de Clubes Jalisciences del Medio Oeste informó sobre la venidera construcción de Casa Jalisco, un centro comunitario que estará ubicado en el suburbio de Melrose Park, para dar servicio a connacionales que radican en Illinois y estados vecinos.
Las obras de construcción arrancan este mes y se espera que las puertas del inmueble abran a principios de 2009.
Directivos de la Federación indicaron que el centro funcionará como oficinas de expedición de documentos mexicanos legales y asesoría jurídica así como una sede para actividades culturales, sociales y recreativas. El anunció se hizo a fines de agosto, en la “Semana Jalisco 2008”.
This is one of the strangest political campaigns that I have ever seen in my life. Exactly who is this Sara Palin woman? Two terms as a very small town council woman and two terms as a very small town mayor, in 2002 Palin ran for Lt. Governor of Alaska and lost. Four years later, she was elected as the governor of that state. Two very short years after that, she is now vice-president material? What in the hell is going on?
Someone did not just put her career on the fast track; someone put her career on the rocket-propelled track. This is unbelievable; Palin might have been the most qualified person in a very small town of only 7,000. Her good looks and popularity won her the governor’s election in Alaska. But, when it comes to national politics and the second highest office in the country. Palin is by far not the most qualified person.
Usually, it takes several decades for someone to get where Sara Palin is right now. It looks to me like someone is pulling strings and playing a very dangerous game with the country. Why in the world would an unknown be considered for vice-president, after only two short years as the governor of a state?
Here are some suggestions for great knock-off wines for a fraction of the price of their comparable counterparts
Knock-Off Chardonnay:
Sonoma Cutrer - $23.99
Banrock - $4.99
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Knock-Off Bordeaux:
Les Fiets De Lagrange - $27.99
Chateau Des Judes - $7.99
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Knock-Off Zinfandel:
Nickel & Nickel - $46.99
Gnarly Head - $8.99
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Dwyane Wade Events
Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is bringing together some of his friends from the sports and entertainment world for the Young, Fly & Flashy Weekend to benefit Wade’s World Foundation and other local-based programs, including “CeaseFire,” a new intervention program created by the Chicago Project to reduce violence and shootings in Chicago area public schools.
NOTE: Only the red carpet events are open to the public:
Young, Fly & Flashy Event Schedule
· Thursday, September 4th
o Carnival Cruise Lines Benefit Dinner & Joseph Abboud Fashion Display
§ Hotel SAX Chicago @ 6:30pm CT (Red Carpet Walk begins at 6:00pm CT)
330 North State Street, Chicago
· Friday, September 5th
o Gatorade Bowling Party hosted by Wade and fellow NBA all-star and gold medalist Chris Paul
§ 10 Pin Bowling Lounge @ 7:30pm CT (Red Carpet Walk begins at 7:00pm CT)
330 north state street, Chicago
· Saturday, September 6th
o “Wade’s
World Youth Summit” hosted by Wade and friends to talk about some major
issues facing Chicago teens, specifically violence and education
§ UIC Forum (registration begins at 8:30AM CT)
725 W. Roosevelt Road (MC 126), Chicago
· Saturday, September 6th
o “Get Your Roll On” Skating party hosted by Wade and featuring DJ Irie
§ Lynwood Skating Center
2030 Glenwood Dyer Rd, Chicago Heights
More information on Wade’s World Foundation can be found at
What other services do you think are needed to help minorities succeed?
Foundation provides funding to women's programs
The Eleanor Foundation announced today nearly one million dollars in grant awards to several organizations that will provide support to low-income single mothers in the Chicago area.
The Pilsen-based Latinas in Action will be teaming up with two other community organizations in the city's Southwest Side to create the initiative Woman Advancing, which offers individualized career counseling, training programs in the healthcare, manufacturing and banking fields and access to housing and educational programs.
¿Qué otros servicios crees que sean necesarios para ayudar a grupos minoritarios a sobresalir?
Dan más fondos a grupos de servicio a mujeres hispanas
La Fundación Eleanor anunció hoy la entrega de casi un millón de dólares a varias organizaciones de servicio a mujeres de bajos recursos que son el sostén de sus hogares.
Entre las siete organizaciones que recibirán el aporte está Mujeres Latinas en Acción, cuya sede principal está en el vecindario mexicano de Pilsen, en el suroeste de la ciudad.
La entidad se unirá al Instituto del Progreso Latino y al Proyecto Resurrección para crear la iniciativa Mujer Avanzando, que ofrecerá asesoría en carreras, programas de capacitación laboral y liderazgo, así como acceso a programas de vivienda y educación.
Yes, this is another long one! I tried to keep it as short as possible. Unfortunately, I felt I needed to explain everything in detail so it could be better understood. If bad luck has followed anyone around like a lost puppy, it would have to be me. So, bear with me while I tell my latest saga and unfortunate true tale;
I am sure most of us are familiar with tow quotes; “Honesty is the best policy” and “No good deed goes unpunished”. Well, I have tried to practice the honesty thing as much as possible as it is the way I was raised and have always been taught; “in the end, honesty will always be rewarded”. Yes, honesty is rewarded; unfortunately it’s the liars that always come out ahead.
In November 2007, I was employed by Admiral Security Services, Inc. I was assigned to East Point Condominium on North Sheridan Road shortly after an Admiral employee resigned with no notice. At the time, I could not understand why an employee would resign with no notice, but after my experience with Neil Shaughnessy, Morgan Brown and Admiral Security, I now fully understand his state of mind. I was given a crash training course and was introduced to Neil Shaughnessy, East Point Condominium Manager. When I started, I was informed Neil is the type of manager who believes status quo is just fine. Neil is the type of person who firmly believes; “If it’s broken and it still works, why bother fixing it”? Neil will only spend time and money if it is absolutely necessary and he was faced with no other recourse of action.
On several occasions, I submitted incident reports regarding security violations, safety violations and disregard to personal property by East Point parking garage staff. Being a former private investigator, I was more observant than any of the other door staff employed by Admiral and posted at East Point Condominium. I was also one of the only employees who went out of his way to accommodate the residents. Shortly after I was assigned at East Point, I was retrieving a package for a resident from the package room when I not only smelled something burring but also found a plastic bag which was placed in front of an electric space heater in the package room. Not knowing I would be accused of placing the bag in front of the heater “for attention”, I moved the bag away from the heater and avoided a major fire as there were not only packages in the room but several gallons of enamel paint. I submitted an incident report and was immediately reprimanded by Neil Shaugnessy the following day. I was also informed Admiral would be notified of the incident. As proof could not be obtained I placed the bag in front of the heater, the matter was dropped and I only received a verbal warning regarding placing flammable objects in front of a heat source.
My shift consisted of four afternoon shifts and one midnight shift. Only one door person is assigned to each shift and no relief is given for the 8 hour shift. The door person must eat meals at the main desk and is allowed limited time for use of the facilities. At no time does building maintenance or garage staff relieve door staff as it is not a part of their assigned duties. Being we are not afforded any breaks, we must bring food with us. In the package room, is a refrigerator/freezer for door staff to use. Because the package room was a controlled room, the only employees who held keys for the package room were the building manager, door staff and maintenance. Usually on payday, I would purchase frozen dinners and store them in the freezer for use when I needed them. On a regular basis, I would spend approximately $30 for two weeks worth of food. Approximately a month after I was first assigned to East Point, I started to notice my food was disappearing. As the engineers/maintenance have their own refrigerator in their break room, and Pedro Hernandez, the head engineer, lived in a unit within the building, I didn’t suspect any of the maintenance staff stealing the food. The supervisor who worked the morning shift always brought his own food, was highly diabetic and must maintain a special diet because of the diabetes. The only other person who could take the food was the door person assigned normally to the midnight shift. As soon as I noted food was missing, I submitted an incident report stating food was being taken without my permission. At first Neil Shaughnessy did not take any action regarding the petty theft and even went as far as to accuse me of consuming it myself and not remembering. Morgan Brown, Operations Manager for Admiral reprimanded me for misuse of incident reports and unfounded accusations of theft that could not be proven. Every time I purchased food, I would photograph the food in the freezer with the camera in my phone and update the photograph when I would remove an item. Again, food started to disappear and again I submitted an incident report. Eventually a notice was issued regarding removal of food items from the freezer, however, neither Admiral nor Neil Shaugnessy took the claim seriously or looked into the theft of my food. At this point, considering I was upsetting Neil’s status quo, both Admiral and Neil began to search for reasons to terminate my employment.
On February 22, 2008, I was preparing to leave after I had completed my shift. When I entered the parking garage, I noted the parking attendant was not in the office and was no where to be found. After I had placed my items inside my vehicle, I started the car and was preparing to pull out of the parking space when I noted the interior lights on inside the vehicle parked next to my vehicle. I shut off my vehicle and attempted to find the parking attendant so he could enter the resident’s vehicle and turn off the interior lights so she would not have a dead battery in the morning. After 10 minutes of waiting on the first floor, the garage attendant finally returned. I informed him of the vehicle, he opened the driver’s door, sat inside the vehicle and did not know how to shut off the interior lights. When I was a private investigator, two vehicles I used for surveillance were a Pontiac Montana EXT minivan and a Chevrolet Venture EXT minivan. Most GM vehicles use the same parts to save money. It was a coincidence the resident’s vehicle was an Oldsmobile with the same headlamp and dimmer control switch as one of the minivans I used. I pointed to the dimmer switch and instructed the attendant to rotate the wheel all the way down then rotate it back up until it stopped, but did not click. The garage attendant did as I instructed, he got out of the Oldsmobile, closed the door and within 5 minutes the interior lights dimmed off. Tow days later, Gene Weiskopff, an Admiral supervisor, came to east Point and accused me of illegally entering a resident’s vehicle. When the supervisor Mr. Weiskopff entered the lobby, I observed him holding an envelope with my name and address on the face. At this point with all the false accusations being made toward me, I was a little upset. I emphatically explained the actual events and was informed there is video of me entering the resident’s vehicle. I stressed I did not enter the vehicle and even suggested a polygraph to prove I was not lying. Mr. Weiskopff stated he will talk with Morgan Brown and Neil Shaugnessy and review the tape again. Before Mr. Weiskopff left, he tucked the envelope inside his jacket. On February 28, 2008, the same envelope I observed Gene Weiskopff holding I received in the mail. The letter, titled as “FINAL WARNING”, not only was I accused of illegally entering a resident’s vehicle, I was also accused of being away from the main desk and in the garage “3 to 5 times” during my shift. I attempted to contact Morgan Brown who stated he viewed the video tape and clearly observed me entering the resident’s vehicle as well as video showing me entering the garage at “unauthorized” times during my shift. I insisted on allowing me to view the video to verify the claims, however, I was informed the video was property of East Point management and not available for me to view, but, was assured I was identified as the subject entering the vehicle.
I contacted Local 1 Service Worker’s Union and spoke with Terry Townes. I explained to Mr. Townes what occurred and was assured he would speak with Morgan Brown. Mr. Townes telephoned me several days later and informed me I was identified as the subject entering the vehicle, however, he was able to have the “final warning” reduced to a “verbal warning” and the “FINAL WARNING" would be removed from my employee file. I also enquired on the “3 to 5 times” I was observed in the garage area. Mr. Townes informed me, one time was when I arrived at work and dropped the vehicle off, the second time was when I picked my vehicle up after work, another time was when I brought the key to a resident’s vehicle ,(which was parked on the main drive), to the garage because the garage attendants would not answer the radio or the telephone and two other times could not be fully verified, however, Rick Smith the garage manager observed me in the garage. Again I insisted on viewing the video that showed me entering the vehicle and again my request was denied. Taking Terry Townes word the ‘Final Warning” would be removed from my employee file, I let the matter drop for the time being.
East Point Condominium is a controlled entry building which means, all the residents have key fobs that open the entrance doors. When a visitor or guest wishes to visit a resident, part of the door person’s responsibility is to verify the guest before they are allowed upstairs. The door person has a directory with all the residents and phone numbers so visitors can be announced as well as verify access into the building. The door person also opens the door for residents for courtesy or in the event a resident forgets his/her keys. When the door person is away using the facilities or retrieving items from the package room, a sign is placed upon the desk that states; “door person will return momentarily”. Considering there is only one door person per shift and no relief, persons entering the building must wait until the door person returns.
East Point residents very from very young to elderly residents living on their own. One such elderly resident is 94 years old, very stubborn and has severe Alzheimer’s disease. Most of the staff are polite to her, but never go out of their way to assist her or befriend her. Neil Shaugnessy views her as a nascence and bother. Considering both of my grandparents developed Alzheimer’s and my mother is now beginning to develop the condition, I have learned how to respond to subjects with the condition and how to correspond with them. A lot of times I would have the same conversation with Bess we just had 5 minutes previously. I actually enjoyed giving her the attention considering the two caregivers who brought her food and attended to her did not come over very often, as far as I know, she did not have any family and her power of attorney was in Memphis Tennessee. Bess also learned she could trust me and knew she could always talk to me. Given she has Alzheimer’s, in some odd way, she was able to remember me.
On April 10, 2008 at approximately 6:30pm, Bess came down to the main desk and informed me her telephone was broken. I attempted to contact Pedro Hernandez, the engineer who lives in the building and is on-call for any situations. Pedro informed me the telephone could wait and he did not feel it was enough of an emergency where he should have to take his free time and fix her telephone. Pedro also made the comment; “She should have more than one phone in her unit”. I attempted to contact one of the caregivers, however, she stated her daughter has her minivan and she has no way to get to East Point. I did not contact Admiral, because with previous dealing with supervisors, I would be told; “It’s not our responsibility, let someone else handle it”. The only problem is, no one else would much less go out of their way to assist Bess on a regular basis. Considering no one was willing to assist Bess, I decided to take the initiative and attempt to repair the telephone myself. I did go up to her unit because, if I asked Bess to bring the telephone down to me, she would forget what she went up to her unit for and she would return to the desk stating her phone was broken and we would go through the same request over again. My intentions were to retrieve the phone, bring it down to the desk and work on it at the desk. As I returned from Bess’ unit with the telephone, Pedro Hernandez was standing behind the desk and asked me where I was. I was fairly angry at him so I told him, “I went up to Bess’ unit to retrieve the phone that YOU refused to repair”. Before Pedro left, he instructed me to call Neil Shaugnessy at home. I did as I was instructed and immediately Neil enquired where I was. I explained about the telephone, how Bess would not be able to telephone the desk, fire department or police in the event of an emergency, or, could door staff call upstairs to verify visitors or to verify if Bess was OK. Neil’s response was; “You have a job to do and we can not cater to every need of all the residents. Someone else can fix her telephone”. He also stated he was not sure what he wanted to do with me as I have been a nuisance since I started at East Point. I have made allegations about missing food and fires in the package room when in fact I was creating these incidents for attention. Considering the telephone could not be repaired, I called another resident whom I was friends with and asked if she could go to Walgreen’s and purchase a cheap telephone for Bess to use until her caregiver could replace the phone with a better one. I gave the resident all the money I had which was $5 and asked she buy what she could with the $5. The resident returned with a cheap touch tone and I instructed her on how to hook it up which she did without any problems.
The next day, my supervisor was already aware of the situation and made the suggestion I should have appeased her and told her I would call the phone company to fix the phone for her. In the mean time, she would be waiting for a repair person and be without a telephone. For the next three days a new door person was being trained, but no notice was given on why. On April 15, 2008, I received a phone call from Morgan Brown stating I violated a rule and was therefore terminated from employment with Admiral Security. I accepted the termination as the last time I filed a grievance with the union, nothing was accomplished and the union took the side of the employer despite lack of solid evidence to substantiate Admiral and Neil Shaughnessy’s claims.
One month after I was terminated I was not successful in regaining employment and I had outstanding bills to pay, I elected to apply for unemployment until I could gain new employment. A week after filing I was notified by the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Admiral was protesting the filing and a telephone hearing would be conducted. When the representative from the Illinois Department of employment Security contacted me on the given date, I explained everything that led up to my termination. The representative found in my favor and I was able to receive unemployment benefits beginning the last week in June and had been receiving benefits since. On August 16, I received notification from the Illinois Department of employment Security Admiral Security Services was appealing the decision and another telephone hearing would be held on August 25, 2008. I was also informed if the decision goes against me, all benefits I received would have to be paid back to IDES. Admiral was being represented by a firm by the name of “Personnel Planners Incorporated”. After researching the company, I found out they are a law firm that represents employers in unemployment hearings. I could apply for free legal help, however, no one could see my reason for leaving the desk as a “valid” excuse despite this 94 year old woman being alone and not having any way to contact anyone or anyone being able to contact her.
I received a letter from Personnel Planners, Inc. on August 22 and inside was the “final Warning” Terry Townes stated would be removed from my employee file and supposedly reduced to a “warning”. Hallie V Kurth, the attorney representing Admiral Security Services intended on entering this false accusation as an exhibit that led to my termination. Never once was the allegation of me illegally entering a resident’s vehicle verified by anyone including Ms. Kurth who was representing Admiral Security. On August 25, I went into the hearing alone with no legal representation and attempted to defend myself and my actions, however, my actions were not viewed as “justifiable” and a decision was made in favor of Admiral and Personnel Planners. I now have to repay the Department of Employment Security all the benefits I received in the time I was unemployed. Who knows, Admiral and Personnel Planners may try to get one last punch in and sue me for attorney fees as well. Why not kick a person while they’re down, make sure they won’t get back up. Be the big tough bully and try to take what little possessions I have left and take what is left of my pride and self respect.
So, in the end, I was punished for not lying, for attempting to assist an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s who nobody wanted to help and for trying to do the right thing. Yes, it is very true, “No good deed does go unpunished”.
I am so happy that most parents were smart enough to send their children to school on the first day of school. I'm also glad that Sen. Meeks did get the media coverage the Chicago Public Schools needs.
I think it worked out well for both sides. Children were in school where they are safer and could learn and the funding issues of the Chicago Public Schools has a light shined on them.
However, I hope that Sen. Meeks continue to pressure funding but find better ways to protest. I'm sure he can come up with something, he's a creative man.
Ok, so who this Sara chick, I did a little research on goggle and this is what I found out. Sarah Louise Heath Palin, born on February 11, 1964 is the current governor of Alaska, and is the presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee in the 2008 United States presidential election.
Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska, city council from 1992 to 1996, then won two terms as mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002. After an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor of Alaska in 2002, she chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004 while also serving as Ethics Supervisor of the commission.
On December 2006, Palin was sworn in as the governor of Alaska, becoming the first woman and youngest person to hold the office. She defeated incumbent Republican governor Frank Murkowski in the Republican primary and former Democratic governor Tony Knowles in the general election.
On August 29, 2008, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain announced that he had chosen Palin as his running mate. She is expected to be formally nominated at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. She would be the second woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket and the first Republican to do so.
Palin was born Sarah Louise Heath in Sandpoint, Idaho, the third of four children of Sarah Heath, a school secretary, and Charles R. Heath, a science teacher and track coach. Her family moved to Alaska when she was an infant. As a child, she would sometimes go moose hunting with her father before school, and the family regularly ran 5K and 10K races.
Palin attended Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska, where she was the head of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at the school and the point guard and captain of the school's basketball team. She helped the team win the Alaska small-school basketball championship in 1982, hitting a critical free throw in the last seconds of the game, despite having an ankle stress fracture at the time. She earned the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" because of her intense play and was the leader of team prayer before games.
In 1984, Palin won the Miss Wasilla beauty contest (according to most but not all sources, playing the flute and winning the "Miss Congeniality" award as well), then finished second in the Miss Alaska pageant, at which she won a college scholarship. Palin attended Hawaii Pacific College - now known as Hawaii Pacific University - in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1982 for a semester, where she majored in Business Administration, and transferred in 1983 to North Idaho College. In 1987 Palin received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho, where she also minored in political science. In 1988, she worked briefly as a sports reporter for KTUU-TV in Anchorage, Alaska, and helped in her husband’s family commercial fishing business.
Palin is an obvious over achiever and does have some political experience. However, Gov. Palin does not compare to Sen. Joe Biden, who has more then 30 years of experience as a U.S. Senator. For McCain to pick this woman as his running mate makes no sense at all. It was an obvious political ploy to get the female vote and stress the point that Obama passed on Sen. Clinton.
Little Village celebrates the release of immigration detainees
The Little Village community welcomed back several men who had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.
“These are the releases we've had,” said Rev. José Landaverde, of Our Lady of Guadalupe Anglican Church, in the city's Southwest Side, while reading a list of ten men who were released ICE in the last few days.
The reverend said he was expecting the release of eight additional detainees.
“I also beg for the release of the people that were arrested in Jackson, Mississippi”, said Severa Áviles, wife of one of the men who was released.
Celebran en La Villita por salidos de detención migratoria
Durante un servicio religioso al aire libre, los miembros de una misión anglicana en La Villita celebraron la salida en libertad de varios detenidos por inmigración, al mismo tiempo que pedían la libertad para los detenidos de la redada masiva ocurrida la semana pasada en el estado de Misisipi.
“Estas son las liberaciones que hemos tenido,” anunció hoy el padre José Landaverde, reverendo de la Misión Anglicana Católica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, en la Villita, al enumerar a las personas que fueron dejadas en libertad por el Servicio de Inmigración y Protección de Aduanas (ICE, en inglés) en los últimos días.
Según el reverendo, otras ocho personas están listas para ser liberados.
“Pido que por favor también liberen a las personas que fueron detenidas en Jackson, Misisipi”, dijo Severa Áviles, esposa de Jácobo Áviles, uno de los que salió libre después de permanecer en custodia migratoria.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE OUR STATE/COUNTRY SAFE. ITS TO MANY INNOCCENT PEOPLE HAVING THERE LIFE SNATCHED AWAY FROM THEM AT A EARLY AGE AND JUST PERIOD.
Today's Chicago SunTimes has an editorial titled "Schools must confront the root causes of violence". I want to expand this so people who live beyond the high poverty areas of Chicago, including leaders of our business community and faith organizations, begin to take greater responsibility for how this problem is understood, and what people in LaGrange, Hinsdale, Winnetka and Lake Forest can be doing ...beyond what they area already doing... to support the effrorts of schools and parents.
I wrote about this on the Tutor/Mentor blog and provided links to the SunTimes editorial and some additional resources from the Tutor/Mentor Connection's library that would expand reader understanding of this problem, and of its solutions.
