weel's blog
WEEL EMPOWERS
Thanks for visiting our website.
WEEL is a grassroots, economic and social justice organization. We are made up of people experiencing poverty and our supporters. Through advocacy, action, and education we work together to eradicate the myths, stereotypes, and stigmas that are harmful to low-income families.
Our priority is to ensure that those most affected by poverty are civically engaged and part
of the democratic process from voting to policy creation and implementation.
WEEL House Party Fundraiser
WEEL is hosting a house party fundraiser!
WEEL and AERO host healthy food advocate Mark Winne
From left: Growing Community Project Steering Co-chair Jim Barngrover, WEEL staff: Kendra Byrom, Mary Caferro, Author Mark Winne, WEEL VISTA Sarah Bhimani and WEEL staff Lisa Johnson
3rd Annual Grow Local! Event
April 11, 2010 WEEL, AERO and the Growing Community Project host author Mark Winne to talk about the importance of access to healthy local foods for all. This is just one of the many ways WEEL works to educate the public about the importance of healty foods. We want to ensure people of all income levels can eat fresh, affordable food. Thanks to all the volunteers and everyone who attended this great event!
Landmark bill passes
By DAVID ESPO
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Summoned to success by President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved historic legislation Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.
“This is what change looks like,” Obama said a few moments later in televised remarks that stirred memories of his 2008 campaign promise of “change we can believe in.”
Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote. Republicans were unanimous in opposition, joined by 34 dissident Democrats.
A second, smaller measure — making changes in the first — cleared the House shortly before midnight and was sent to the Senate, where Democratic leaders said they had the votes necessary to pass it quickly. The vote was 220-211.
Lawmakers, not weather, may freeze minimum wage
By JENNIFER McKEE - IR State Bureau - 01/28/09
The 2009 Legislature is taking up a bill today that would freeze Montana’s $6.90 minimum wage for waiters and waitresses like Conn. Any raise she would receive after $6.90 would come out of her tips.
And that, Conn said, is just wrong.
“If you think that people who make minimum wage live in this crazy black hole where (the cost) of everything never changes, I can tell you that’s dead wrong,” she said in an interview Tuesday.
More...
WEEL Thanks Senator Baucus for His Work on Behalf of Montana Children and Families
by: Layna George, Interim ED of WEEL
Layna George is the Interim Executive Director of Working for Equality and Economic Liberation.
Working for Equality and Economic Liberation (WEEL) has been deeply involved in issues of concern to low-income children and families in Montana for a decade. When President Bush's 2001 tax cuts were pushed through Congress, WEEL saw an opportunity to help children by working with Senator Baucus, who was chair of the Finance Committee, to make the Child Tax Credit fully refundable. Senator Baucus listened to our members, primarily low-income women in Montana, and other organizations, and he helped include the partially refunded CTC that we have now in the President's tax cut package. Building on that work, WEEL also brought Senator Baucus several poverty reduction proposals that came directly from our members and he was able to include them in the welfare bill that was passed out of the Finance Committee in 2002.
Learn more about the Growing Community Project!
Go to: http://helenagcp.wikidot.com/
Join this interactive website, post on the discussion board, and find out how you can get involved in community gardening!
