Class Action
May 2007 E-news
 
Table of Contents

1. May Holidays

2. Book of the Month: Death in the Haymarket by James Green

3. May Action Against Classism

4. Resources: Class & May Holidays

5. Share your experience: Class Action Survey

6. Inspiring Action Campaign/Founders Challenge

7. Summer internships

8. Class Action article in The Diversity Factor journal

9. Class Action is Moving!

10. Guest edit an enewsletter

11. Class Action 3rd Anniversary Picnic!

12. Bay and Twin City area Opportunities

1. May Holidays

May Day, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day. 

For some, these holidays mean Maypoles, Hallmark cards and Main Street parades.  For others they mean the beginning of the 8 hour work day and the modern anti-war movement.  However you choose to observe these holidays, we wanted to provide a historical and class-based perspective to them in order to give them deeper meaning as well as to provide suggestions for supporting those honored by these holidays.

2. Book of the Month: Death in the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement and the Bombing that Divided Gilded Age America

by James Green (Pantheon, 2006.)

Reviewed by Catherine Le

Most Americans are unaware that May 1st is International Workers' Day, an international celebration of the historic struggle of working people (recognized in every country except the United States, Canada, and South Africa). Most Americans are also unaware that International Worker’s Day has its origins in Chicago, Illinois and commemorates the efforts of groups such as the International Working People's Association which advocated for an eight-hour work day. Read more....

You can read more Book of the Month selections in our book corner.

3. May Action Against Classism

-Wear white on May Day (the 1st) to show your support of The National Immigrant Solidarity Network's call for a national day of multi-ethnic unity with youth, labor, peace and justice communities in solidarity with immigrant workers.

-Donate to your favorite charity in honor of your mother or a veteran you know.

-Call your local VA and find out what volunteer opportunities they have.  Even one hour a week can make a difference!

-Support your local homeless shelter with donations, food, clothes or time. Chances are you'll be providing care for a veteran or mother in need.

-Write letters in support of important legislation. Click here to read our suggested letter writing campaigns and for more important actions you can take.

4. Resources: Class and May Holidays

-Mother's day wasn't always a commercial holiday. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe wrote her Mother's Day proclamation as a call for peace and disarmament, but ultimately failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother's Day for Peace from the federal government.

Her idea for the holiday was influenced by Ann Jarvis who organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors.The holiday didn't take off until the 1910's and eventually became so commercial that Ann Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. 

While the times have changed and the population of the military has changed, we think this proclamation is still, sadly, relevant.

-Speaking of war, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are now showing up in the nation's homeless shelters. So far, dozens of them have found themselves sleeping on the streets, on friends' couches, or in their cars within weeks of returning home. Two years ago, Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ) in the borough of Brooklyn, saw only a handful of recent returnees. Now the group is aiding more than 100 Iraq veterans, 30 of whom are homeless. Read more

-Dr. Shelley Correll’s groundbreaking research released in 2005 is a compelling addition to the long line of studies that explore the roots of a maternal wage gap. She found that mothers are 44 percent less likely to be hired than non-mothers for the same job given the exact same resume and experience for the two groups of women (mothers and non-mothers). Read more

-The financial gap between corporate executives and the average American worker is wider than ever. Corporate profits and executive salaries surge, while workers' wages barely keep up with inflation. Millions of Americans cobble together two or three part-time jobs to keep up with bills. Many of the jobs being added today lack benefits, the chance for mobility and the security of long-term stability. Read more

5. Share Your Experience: Class and May Holidays

How do you see class differences in the way holidays are celebrated?

Let us know at our survey page.

6.  Inspiring Action Campaign/ Founder's Challenge

Founder's Challenge

Three participants in Class Action programming have come together to offer Class Action its first ever challenge grant!  This $22,000 challenge, initiated by the AnJeL Fund of the RSF Global Community Fund, honors Jennifer Ladd and Felice Yeskel for founding Class Action.

The Founder's Challenge will match the first $22,000 in new and increased gifts.  Never contributed to Class Action?  Missed contributing in 2006?  Make a gift this year and it will be matched 100%.  Contributed last year?  Increase your gift this year and the increased portion will be matched 100%

Through the Founder's Challenge, each dollar will be matched, essentially making your gift twice as much. Gifts must be recieved by June 30th, 2007.

Inspiring Action Campaign

Please take a minute to reflect on the people who inspire you.  For some of us these may be our mothers.  For others, our fathers.  For some of us social justice leaders make the difference.  Who inspires you to make a difference? Honor someone that inspires you with a gift to Class Action. Honorees will be recognized with:

-A personal note from Class Action, letting them know they've inspired you

-Mention in Building Bridges, the Class Action newsletter

-Listing on the Inspiring People page of Classism.org

You can make an Inspired Gift at anytime.  If you make it before June 30th, 2007 every penny will be matched!

Donations can be made out to Class Action and sent to P.O. Box 350

Hadley, MA 01035

7. Summer internships

There are still summer internships available.  To learn more about them

click here.

8. Class Action Article in The Diversity Factor Journal

The latest issue of the journal The Diversity Factor included an article by Class Action's Executive Director, Felice Yeskel, urging diversity professionals to include issues of classism in their work.  To read the article click here.

9. Class Action is moving!

Late this summer we will move just down the road to bigger and better digs.  We would appreciate donations of office furniture (lamps, bookshelves, tables, desks) and painting help.  If anyone knows people/a generous contractor who could donate their expertise to us in order to replace the carpet, plumb in a sink, and do electrical/ IT work, please let us know!  Sarah is at 413.585.9709 x201

10. Coordinate and guest edit an enewsletter

Choose from topics such as class & gender, literature, media, health care, or one of your choosing.  Email us if you are interested!

11. Class Action 3rd anniversary potluck picnic!

Help us celebrate at Look Park in Northampton, MA Thursday, July 19th from 4:30 to dusk. You bring a dish and we'll provide the rest. This event has been super fun in the past - don't miss it! If you know you'd like to come, RSVP to Sarah.

12. Bay and Twin City Opportunities in June

Would you like to come to a house party or workshop?  Be sure to check out our program listings.