Migrant Farm Workers Challenge to Legislators "Do My Job"

"Opponents of proposed immigration legislation in Michigan have invited lawmakers to spend the day picking blueberries Saturday.

The United Farmworkers Union has issued the "Take Our Jobs Challenge."

West Michigan organizer Jose Flores says the challenge is meant to show how difficult farm work is, and that immigrants aren't taking the strenuous, low-paying jobs away from anyone."

www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1679549/Michigan.News/Farmworkers.Invite.Lawmakers.to.%27Take.Our.Jobs%27

Note:

Jose Flores is a West Michigan community activist who lives in Grand Rapids. Dr. Flores is an educator with extensive experience in Bilingual Education for the Grand Rapids Public Schools. He currently is the publisher of the Grand Rapids based Community Voice/La Voz.

lavozweb.com/

Unemployment Extension Does Not Help Those Who Have Exhausted Their 99 Weeks

"Help is on the way for 2.5 million Americans, including thousands in Michigan, who are unemployed.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an unemployment extension on Thursday by a vote of 272 to 152. President Barack Obama could sign the extension as early as Thursday evening.

In some states the extension will mean retroactive payments could go out as early as next week, but there's one group that won't benefit from the extension.

They're known as '99ers,' people who have used up almost two years of unemployment benefits."

www.wwmt.com/articles/won-1379351-99ers-extension.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Does the United States Spend Too Much on Incarceration? The Conservative British Periodical The Economist Thinks So

"America is different from the rest of the world in lots of ways, many of them good. One of the bad ones is its willingness to lock up its citizens... One American adult in 100 festers behind bars (with the rate rising to one in nine for young black men). Its imprisoned population, at 2.3m, exceeds that of 15 of its states. No other rich country is nearly as punitive as the Land of the Free. The rate of incarceration is a fifth of America’s level in Britain, a ninth in Germany and a twelfth in Japan...

As a result American prisons are now packed not only with thugs and rapists but also with petty thieves, small-time drug dealers and criminals who, though scary when they were young and strong, are now too grey and arthritic to pose a threat. Some 200,000 inmates are over 50—roughly as many as there were prisoners of all ages in 1970. Prison is an excellent way to keep dangerous criminals off the streets, but the more people you lock up, the less dangerous each extra prisoner is likely to be. And since prison is expensive—$50,000 per inmate per year in California—the cost of imprisoning criminals often far exceeds the benefits, in terms of crimes averted. "

The above is from The Economist, an arguably conservative British weekly periodical.

For the entire article, please visit:

www.economist.com/node/16640389

Volunteers share books and life experiences with summer-school students to help summer reading programs

More than 60 volunteers are helping students by sharing their love of reading this summer. In addition, they are also talking to students about collegiate and career experiences. The students range from pre-kindergartners through fifth-graders.

As a Big Brother volunteer, I understand how challenging it can be to get a disinterested child to read. The work being done by these volunteers is commendable. It takes a lot of time and work to sit with children, helping them navigate obstacles and inspiring them to pursue reading further. For students who have fallen behind in their reading level, the prospect "catching up" is not only a lot of work, but can also bring up feelings of embarrassment.

Bagels and Books is funded by KPS and organized by Kalamazoo Communities in Schools). Coco Pratt-Cook, KCIS director of mentoring and tutoring, said the event supports a districtwide literacy focus and gives community members a chance to get involved in local schools and help promote a college-bound culture.

The volunteers included Kalamazoo City Commissioner Don Cooney, Kalamazoo Promise Executive Director Janice Brown and Kalamazoo Public Schools board President Carol McGlinn.

Students each were allowed to take home one book. The books were supplied to KPS at discounted rates by Michigan News Agency and Kazoo Books and donated by the Kalamazoo Early Reading First program.

Read the full article: http://www.mlive.com/living/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/07/sharing_books_life_experiences.html

NPR: Eating Nutritiously A Struggle When Money Is Scarce

The battle to provide nutritious food for low-income families continues to generate national media buzz. An NPR report dialogues some of the obstacles families face, specifically focusing on getting picky children to eat healthy foods on a limited budget. A particular quote stood out from the report:

"You can get leaner cuts of meat, but then they're more expensive. You can get fresh fruit every couple of days and blow half of your budget on fresh fruits and vegetables in a week's time, easy."

In Michigan, the maximum amount an individual can receive for EBT benefits is $200 dollars a month. Families can receive more depending on their income and amount of children.

Think about this: $200/month food budget amounts to about $6.50 per day.

Could you create a healthy, nutritious budget for yourself with a $6.50 day budget? If so, would it leave your taste buds anguishing? Do you think your children would happily enjoy it?

Read the full article: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128621057&sc=fb&cc=fp

Increased Food Assistance Available to Those Losing Unemployment

"Families who have lost their unemployment insurance benefits because of a congressional logjam need to file an adjustment for increased Food Assistance benefits by Wednesday to get a bump for August.

That's the word from officials with the nonprofit Center for Civil Justice, who said Friday that more than 85,000 families who receive food and unemployment benefits are facing a loss of unemployment checks. To get an increase in food benefits for August, Michigan's Department of Human Services has to be notified in writing by July 21."

www.detnews.com/article/20100718/POLITICS02/7180312/Food-aid-available-for-Michigan-jobless-losing-benefits#ixzz0u2Mg6yVf

Reuben Sandwich Eating Contest Raises Money for Calhoun Medical Clinic Serving the Uninsured and Under Insured

"They came. They saw. They ate.

Over 20 men and women competing in 5th Annual Pastrami Joe's Reuben Eating World Championship Saturday also raised $13,880.67 for Fountain Clinic, a Marshall organization meant to help people with little or no medical insurance...

... There was also a children's competition pitting kids against one another in a race to finish building a pastrami masterpiece while running an obstacle course. Caron said activities like that help teach children about philanthropy."

www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100718/NEWS01/7180339/Reuben-eating-contest-benefits-clinic

More information about the Fountain Clinic and its mission can be found at the clinic's web site:

www.fountainclinic.org/index.html

SW Michigan Food pantries trying to deliver healthy choices

"It is extremely possible to get nutritional food from a food pantry," said (Olivia) Megna, community impact coordinator for United Way of Southwest Michigan. "You're definitely going to get protein in the form of tuna, (or) peanut butter. A lot of times, they will have meat available, because they have refrigeration in freezers. It truly depends on if the pantry has refrigeration and freezer capability. A lot of the pantries do."

Nicole Britten has a different take on the issue. As an epidemiologist with the Berrien County Health Department, she specializes in studying how major diseases and health risks affect populations.

In Benton Harbor's case, Britten feels that hunger can't be separated from lack of access to quality food.

Sociologists have coined a term to describe being cut off from fresh, healthy foods.

"Detroit is considered a classic example of a 'food desert,'" Britten said. "There are not many grocery stores, and transportation is a problem. Benton Harbor would fall into that category as well."

When grocery stores go by the wayside, convenience stores take up the slack, often with costly foods that are sugary and full of fat, Britten said. As a result, residents living in such areas are more likely to develop obesity and other long-term health problems, she added.

"There's a lack of access to high-quality food. I think that is the biggest thing," Britten said.

www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2010/07/13/local_news/1542693.txt

The Haven of Rest Rescue Mission in Battle Creek gets 25k grant to help end hunger

A recent grant to The Haven of Rest Rescue Mission in Battle Creek will focus efforts on ending hunger in the Battle Creek Community. The grant will help fund meals for men at the Haven, 11 Green St., and women and children at the nearby Inasmuch House for the next year.

The Haven serves about 55,000 meals a year with 40 percent of the food donated by area businesses or people who have graduation parties, wedding receptions or staff holiday parties. In a community with as much need as Battle Creek, every bit helps.

Until people can fill their basic needs such as food and shelter, actual poverty reduction will continue to be a challenge in Battle Creek.

Read the full article: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100710/NEWS01/7100303/Haven-gets-grant-to-help-end-hunger

Vandalia Celebrates Its Historical Participation in the Underground Railroad

"Vandalia may be a tiny village of just more than 400 people, but it has a big history.

Unfortunately, many of its residents and people in the surrounding area do not know much about its historical significance, according to Carol Bainbridge of the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County.

“Everyone asks, ‘where’s Vandalia?’” she said. “I tell them that Vandalia may be a little village but it has a huge, huge, important history. The history of this area, especially this little village, impacted this entire country.”

With events like the Kentucky Raid of 1847 and key stops on the Underground Railroad, the area was influential in the fight against slavery.

Bainbridge and the (Underground Railroad Society) are hoping to help educate the community through the first Vandalia Underground Railroad Days on July 17 and 18."

www.nilesstar.com/2010/07/08/villages-role-in-underground-railroad-history-to-be-celebrated/

(The Carriage House pictured served as a haven for runaway slaves.)