Contacting your Representatives!

This past week we have been alerting you to various advocacy issues in regards to the federal budget. Part of advocacy includes connecting with your representatives in government. This may seem daunting or impossible, but the fact is your voice does matter. Before voting or discussing a measure, your government representatives consider your needs and your opinions; they are there to represent you. One of the best ways for you to ensure that your position on an issue is being properly represented in government is to contact your representative.

Here are some tips for getting the attention of your lawmakers.


1) Determine who your Member of Congress or Senator is. You'd be surprised how often people write to the incorrect Members of Congress. Districts don't always follow logical city or county boundaries. To be sure, visit: http://www.congress.org/

2) State your purpose for the letter or call. "I write/call today to ask that you support/oppose _______"

3) Make your request personal. Explain why this issue is important to you. "I recently lost my job." "I no longer have healthcare coverage."

4) Support your request with facts. Cite a newspaper article or group that has released a study on your issue. Take care to have accurate information.

5) Make your request. Ask for the specific action you want the Member to make. "Vote NO on bill 200" "Support working mothers and vote yes on the equal work act"

6) Remain professional in tone. Don't call the Member names or use vulgar language.

7) Keep letter or call brief and concise.

Obama's Budget Proposal and Community Service Block Grants

Cuts to LIHEAP are not the only proposals made in Obama’s Budget Plan that could harm vulnerable populations. Obama’s Budget Plan also includes a cut in spending to community service block grants, grants that allocate federal funding to address poverty in communities across the country. The Budget Plan would reduce spending for these community service grants from $700 million to $350 million at a time when unemployment and poverty levels are on the rise.

Agencies across the nation will find it challenging to provide services if the funding is halved. Here in Delaware County, many social service agencies receive these funds to provide services such as employment training, housing services, energy services, as well as food assistance and childcare. Many residents here in Pennsylvania and Delaware County need the services that these organizations provide, especially in these times of economic hardship. Although the majority of community action agencies receive other sources of funding, the federal funding plays a large part in sustaining the services they offer. Thus cutting their funding could prove to have a detrimental effect on low-income families nationally and here in Delaware County.

To learn more, please refer to:

The President’s Budget Proposal

Community Service Block Grants Site

And please contact your senator or representative about these cuts and their possible effect on our community!

Obama's Budget Proposal and LIHEAP

This past week Obama unveiled his budget plan for 2012 with the plan to significantly reduce the federal deficit as well as cut domestic spending. Obama revealed his plan with bipartisan ambitions: stating that both parties will need to work together in order to achieve a lower federal deficit. Both Democrats and Republicans have concerns over this new budget plan, but there are some major concerns for many citizens who either provide or receive various social services. One of the proposed cuts to program spending was the topic of a past blog series: the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program. Obama’s Budget plan would reduce spending for LIHEAP to 2.57 billion from 5.1 billion in 2009. LIHEAP advocates estimate that this will leave 3.5 million households without the energy assistance they need. This could include many households in Delaware County, where many residents struggle to make ends meet and end up having to sacrifice having a warm home in order to put food on the table. This budget cut will end up affecting some of the most vulnerable members of the United States population, as well as the population here in Delaware County.

Obama’s Budget plan is a proposal; here in the United States Congress adds their own stipulations to the Budget and must approve it, as well as receive the President’s approval after making changes. This week we will describe some of the proposals made by Obama and what they will mean for residents of Delaware County, but it is up to you to fully understand what the budget is and how it will affect you. Thus United Way encourages you to take action! Learn more about what the budget is and does and speak with your state senator or representative to advocate for what you believe should be included in the federal budget.

Adult Basic

At the end of this month, Pennsylvania’s insurance option for low-income households will expire. Adult Basic provides health coverage for many low-income Pennsylvania residents. Without it, many could face living with no health coverage at all. Pennsylvania will still have an option for low-income families, which is Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Special Care program. However this program’s premiums could cost up to 400% more than Adult Basic’s premiums and it has more limited benefits. Thus, some of the 42,000 families under Adult Basic may not be able to afford the Special Care Program.

Here is a chart that compares Adult Basic and the Special Care Program:

comparison_chart

It is still “Random Acts of Kindness” week and your “act of kindness” could include taking action and advocating for an important cause that affects people within your community and within the state of Pennsylvania. This past Valentine’s Day 700 people sent valentine’s cards to Governor Corbett asking him to renew Adult Basic. Actions like this could make a difference, so why not help advocate for the continued health coverage of thousands of Pennsylvania families. By simply making a phone call, writing a letter, or making some sort of effort you could be the difference that keeps programs like Adult Basic there for Pennsylvania residents.

To learn more please contact your representative or the Pennsylvania Health Access Network.

Today's Guest Blogger: Madeline Bialecki!

Madeline Bialecki is the Executive Director of the Delaware County Literacy Council. The DCLC works with adults who wish to read, write, speak, and understand English so as to improve their communication skills and enable them to participate more fully in society. For more information please go to their website.

Hiatus

I am the Executive Director of the Delaware County Literacy Council in Chester, PA. Last January, one of our volunteers asked me to blog about adult education for an on-line magazine. Every week, I dutifully submitted an essay—for about four months. I have not submitted anything since last spring.

Then this past fall, the United Way put out a call for bloggers, and it struck a chord with me—I could start blogging again. At about that same time, I read something by a woman who said she had been on “hiatus” from blogging. It sounded so intentional.

I thought, “I have been on hiatus, too;” but there was no intentionality about it. I just stopped writing, or rather, I stopped submitting. The essays kept rolling around in my head—sometimes I even wrote them down—but I did not upload.

Even encouragement from people who read my blog was not enough to get me submitting again.

After a while, there was also the embarrassment factor with the person who had asked me to blog. Once a few weeks had passed, I was too embarrassed to send an email apologizing for my missing blog entries. And then more time passed, and….

What does this have to do with adult education? Many of the adults who come to the Literacy Council have been on hiatus, but it is usually called dropping out. There were often no immediate consequences when they dropped out of school; those came later when work options were seriously limited.

Then they come to us to pick up on their education. Many are faithful to their tutoring sessions, bur for some, life gets in the way—or fear or discouragement or some setback. At first, they call their tutors to cancel sessions, but eventually they stop calling and just stop coming. While the consequences may be real, the motivation and dedication needed to stick with their education may be lacking. And, that motivation needs to come from within.

The truth is that almost one-half of the people who initially contact us to ask for help will not stick with it long enough to achieve their goals. Some won’t even show up for their first appointment to be assessed. Others may come once or twice. Only half will come long enough to improve their skills.

Like me, many of them may be embarrassed once they have missed an appointment or a few sessions. Like me, other people’s encouragement may not be enough to motivate them.

Last week, I went to the on-line magazine site and saw my name was still there along with the pieces I submitted last winter. It was enough to get me to send my mea culpa email and ask if I could start submitting again. I wasn’t forgotten or deleted—I was just on hiatus.

Happy Valentines Day from United Way of Southeast Delaware County

Today is not only Valentines Day, but it is also the start of “Random Acts of Kindness Week”. As you celebrate your love for the special people in your life, consider extending that love to your community this week! Think about the little acts of kindness you could do throughout the week, whether it’s helping someone carry their groceries or simply holding the door for someone. Every “little act of kindness” counts and although they may not seem like much to you, you could be making an impact on not only another person’s life but on your community as well. Part of “Living United” means showing your appreciation for the people in your community, so get out there and take action!

Please refer to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation's website for details on what you can do!

The First African American Attorney in Delaware County

There are many notable African American residents from the past who left their mark on Delaware County’s history. One of which was William Henry Ridley, Esq., the first African American attorney in Delaware County. William was the son of two slaves who escaped during the Civil War and later reunited in Media. His parents were influential members of the community, helping with the founding of Campbell A.M.E. Baptist Church. Growing up William showed the promise of his success; he graduated from Media High School with honors and soon displayed his interest in the law. He began working for Louis H. Richards’ law practice and four years later passed the bar examination on March 23rd, 1891. To further his knowledge of the law along with working in the Richards law practice he worked in the Recorder of Deeds Office in the Delaware County Courthouse and took some courses at the University of Pennsylvania.

William practiced law for 54 years in Delaware County. He was not only the first African American lawyer in the area, but one of only three African American lawyers in Delaware County up to 1960. He practiced law in Media, Chester, and West Chester and served a variety of clients: white, black, poor, and rich. He even ran for County Commissioner in 1935 and was a front runner for the position of first Ambassador to Liberia, which he turned down. William was respected throughout the county as a community leader, man of the law, and he even helped author several pieces of County legislation.

Despite his successes, William still faced much adversity. While supporting a candidate in a contested state election, he escaped an assassination attempt in which supporters of his opponent opened gunfire on him and a couple of law students. He was even brought to trial for attempted murder because of the incident, but was acquitted because he was acting in defense of his own life. He also came face to face with men from the Ku Klux Klan when they arrived at his residence seeking someone they believed was at his house. Instead of turning from the Klansmen in fear he confronted them and was able to turn the mob away. However, much of the adversity he faced was due to his race. Despite being a prominent lawyer in Delaware County, he was never able to become a judge, most likely because he was African American.

William Ridley, Esq.’s legacy lives on here in Delaware County. He will always be the first African American lawyer in the area, an incredible achievement. He and many other African Americans throughout history have helped make Delaware County what it is today!

source: oldchesterpa.com