Put People First! PA Leaders Reflect on the Poor People’s Campaign Moral Action Congress (Series)

By Jennina, Altoona

This year, I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the 3 day Poor People’s Campaign Moral Congress in DC. Leaders and organizations comprised of the Poor and working class, came from 42 states across the country to participate.  My home state of Pennsylvania ended up being the largest state presence there, with around 80 people from PA alone! 

The 1st day we got to ask Democratic (all candidates were invited, Republican candidates either refused or did not respond) Presidential Candidate’s questions that mattered to us. I stood with Mr. Wendsler Nosie and asked candidate Andrew Yang about Indigenous sovereignty rights and the Indian Child Welfare Act. His response disappointed me, it was simply “I’ll hire someone to handle that”. 

The remainder of the 1st day, was mostly getting to know other leaders from across the country, eating, socializing and getting rest. I was both amazed and inspired that nearly 1,000 people, from varying cultures, races, religions- all poor or working class, all made this long trip. We gathered together in instant fellowship, to learn more about our common struggles and improve the quality of life for millions.

Days 2 and 3 we divided ourselves into workshops or Tracks, where we learned from Leaders from past and present struggles.  These classes were meant to increase our overall clarity, connection to others and commitment to changing conditions in society that are killing us.

I went to the Organizing the Poor workshop on day one, led by Tony Prince. We heard from “houseless” organizers about their struggles, their losses and their victories. Perhaps the most incredible thing that happened this day, was the reformation of The National Homeless Union! We got to witness history in the making as they established, appointed leadership, honored distinguished leaders and signed a document which reestablished their union.  

I then went to a workshop on Indigenous Sovereignty.  Indigenous leaders from C.A, AZ, Standing Rock, and N.Y. gathered with faith leaders and members of NY PPC who are committed to making indigenous voices heard. Hearing their common pain and struggles  inspired me to set up a meeting between those of us who were able to stay a bit after the Congress and Rev. DR. Liz Theoharris.  

The last day we got to see some of our own members speak to Congress about poverty in the U.S. Our own Savannah Kinsey from PPF Johnstown Healthcare Rights Committee spoke about the connection to poverty, the drug epidemic and lack of healthcare and treatment. 

After the Congress was over Rev. DR Liz Theoharris graciously agreed to meet with myself and some of the other Indigenous women from across the country. We talked to her about ways to help Indigenous people feel more welcome and heard in the PPC nationally.  

My day ended with a celebratory dinner between Trini & Irene- Native Women from the CA delegation and myself. I drove to the airport, and fellow MJLP leaders Maddie and Jake Butterly took turns calling and helping me stay awake on my long drive home. I am forever grateful to be part of such an amazing group of people.

Put People First! PA Leaders Reflect on the Poor People’s Campaign Moral Action Congress (Series)

Karim, Philadelphia

For me, the 2019 Moral Action Congress with the Poor People’s Campaign came at a time when I’ve been reflecting more actively on how racism and the war economy have affected my family, my childhood, and my politics. I’ve been reading Racecraft by Barbara and Karen Ransby, and thinking about my life and about the movement of poor people.

My siblings and I might not have been born in America, or at all, if not for the colonization of Algeria by France, and if not for the struggle of poor people against it. This was how the crisis of poor people showed as a central part of my life, though I didn’t always think of it that way.

Growing up in a “middle class” town which was mostly white, I faced the kinds of racism that may seem relatively trivial. Still, throughout school racist jokes had a real power to hurt me because I loved my Muslim family, and my family had been traumatized by a racist war economy for decades if not centuries. It’s not the kind of hurt that makes you bleed, but it’s the kind of pain that you feel in your bones when you know your people are hurting.

Those feelings were a central motivation to look for ways to make change. Those feelings were so strong that they became a part of my identity. However, during college I didn’t develop a full appreciation for the way this story connected me to many different poor and dispossessed people. This was an important stage of my development. But my feelings of commitment to people with experiences like my own wasn’t enough to make me an effective leader. I needed to be in organization, and needed to get over a few misleading ideas: that I was “middle class,” or that I was somehow in a separate, sectioned-off part of America’s working class.

Joining Put People First! PA and the Poor People’s Campaign has helped me do that. I have connected with many different kinds of working class people. Over almost five years, I’ve come to see how I might have mistaken acts of racism for the “fact” of my “race.” The different poor people in this movement have shaken up what I thought was foundational for me. The Moral Action Congress was an opportunity to feel the rising tide of our power. People who are poor and Black, poor and white, poor and indigenous, poor and LGBTQ, poor and Latinx, poor and undocumented, poor and incarcerated, poor and Muslim, poor and Christian…they are’t a box of labels, they are real humans who I have relationships with. They’ve taught me that instead of being hurt and alone, we can be together and unstoppable. 

Elections are interesting, and they are very important. The candidates’ forum helped solidify my own analysis of the election. But the lessons of the Poor People’s Campaign that were shared by the people and the organizations at the Moral Action Congress were more memorable, and more important than any speech by any politician.

Put People First! PA was all over print, video and radio news over the past week – highlighted from our role in the Poor People’s Moral Action Congress in Washington, D.C.

Here are a few of our recent media mentions:

“Poor people got an audience with Democratic candidates. Many were skeptical that politicians can help them” (The Inquirer) by Jonathan Tamari, June 24, 2019

“The Right’s Cure for Poverty: Hard Work and Father Figures At a hearing, Republicans told a familiar story while the Poor People’s Campaign presented a bold budget proposal” (The Nation) by Greg Kaufmann, June 20, 2019

“Poor People’s Campaign and 2020” (WNYC) by The Brian Lehrer Show, Jun 19, 2019

Want to see more of Put People First! PA’s press coverage? We’re updating our website press page. Stay tuned for updates!

Meet Put People First! PA’s 2019 Mother Jones Leadership Program Leaders

MJLP launches with six Healthcare Rights Committee (HRC) Leaders from across the state

On June 2nd and 3rd, the 4th annual Mother Jones Leadership Program launched with a retreat at beautiful Camp Sequanota in western PA. The Mother Jones Leadership Program (MJLP) is a leadership development program for Put People First! PA (PPF-PA) members of varied backgrounds, religions, genders, ages and abilities across the state who are living near the poverty line. The MJLP runs from the Leadership Institute at the end of April through the Membership Assembly in early October. During that time, Mother Jones Leaders are paired with an experienced organizing mentor inside of PPF-PA, and are provided with a stipend to help remove barriers to participation and invest in their skill development and political education. Meet this year’s leaders:
 

Jacob Butterly – Montgomery County HRC

Hi everyone. I’m one of the coordinators for the fledgling Montco HRC in Southeastern PA and the theomusicologist for the PA Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. I’ve been in PPF-PA since the first week of January 2017, having stumbled into a meeting on the recommendation of a friend. I was feeling lost, angry and bitter towards the world, politics, and myself because my sister had died from cancer, very suddenly and unfairly, the spring prior. I know my sister didn’t need to die needlessly, in hospice, taken from her kids and her loving husband, her brother and mom. The same millions of others don’t need to be taken from us, every day, by the systems of injustice and cruelty and waste we live under. I am honored to be one of the 2019 Mother Jones leaders, because I know that the vision and the folks in PPF-PA, and the work we’re doing, is the way to dismantle these evils, fighting for the unity of our class, the poor and dispossessed.
 

Theresa Phipps – Pittsburgh HRC

My name is Theresa Phipps and I am a member of Pittsburgh HRC. My son Daniel Ethridge is in Somerset Prison. He is doing life without parole. Hopefully one day he will get out. I got involved with Put People First! PA to fight for healthcare. Everyone has a right to have healthcare.  I am excited to become a strong leader. I would like to become more clear and able to explain what we do. I am amazed by everything that is going on with Put People First! PA. I am excited to be chosen to be a part of the Mother Jones Leadership Program.

Madeline Burrows – Johnstown HRC

Madeline Burrows is a Member of the Johnstown HRC. She is a member of the Political Education and Leadership Development team and the Community Care team. She got involved with Put People First! PA because of her drive to be a part of a movement that would be building up the power of poor and working-class people. She is an almost 20-year-old college student and for the past 5 years she, her mom, and sometimes brother have been struggling with having heating and hot water on and off. During the winter of 2017-2018 the lack of heating in their house caused their pipes to freeze over and bust open, leaving the kitchen ceiling completely caved in, the kitchen and bathroom flooding and freezing over. Living in different places for 8 months lead to Put People First! PA members Ben and Laycee to knock on the door of one of the areas they were staying at the time. Her goal for the Mother Jones Leadership Program is to develop into a leadership role.


Denyne Pollard – Pittsburgh HRC

Hello, I’m Denyne Pollard, a Pittsburgh native. I belong to the Pittsburgh HRC and I have the pleasure of finding people, just like myself, who want to see positive change in healthcare and our human rights as a people. I consider myself a pretty inquisitive person, always picking up info and pamphlets to read. I happened up on Put People First! PA info at the library and again on Facebook. I ended up calling the number because it spoke to me in regards to uniting to combat issues near to my own struggles. I met Ben, who was very patient with me from the start. The HRC group meeting was a very kind and welcoming group. I am happy to say, May of 2019, marks my one year anniversary with PPF-PA. One of my immediate goals is to work on public facilitation and speaking in front of groups. We have high hopes of getting something started in the Mon Valley region. I am just very honored to get all I can from the Mother Jones Leadership Program.
 

Matthew Rosing – Lancaster HRC

Hello my name is Matthew Rosing. I am a member of the Lancaster HRC, and Community Care team. I am honored this year to be involved in the Mother Jones Leadership Program. This work is so important to me.  We must stand together to fight against this evil system of oppression we find ourselves in. I am looking forward to growing through the MJLP into a confident leader in my community. I hope to learn the skills I need to continue the work of many great leaders of the past. I hope to grow the Lancaster HRC into a strong voice for change in this world. Through the mentors and advisors I know this goal will be achieved.

 

Jennina Rose Gorman – Altoona HRC 

I am Jennina Rose Gorman and the  HRC coordinator for Altoona PA. I am an active member of the Media and Communications team, Steering Committee, and HRC coordinators group. Right before joining PPF-PA, my fiancee at the time, Tim, became violently ill. He had Medicaid through the state, and though he was vomiting, and in constant pain – he was met with demeaning language and given opioid pain meds, and sent home – rather than diagnostic tests. For 6 months, this cycle continued. Until finally, I became angry. I went to the ER and threatened a lawsuit before he was able to get the life saving surgery and treatment he needed.I remember thinking that nobody should have to fight so hard just to survive and receive medical treatment, and respect. It was then I really became active in PPF-PA, because I really saw and understood the need for healthcare for all, and that it was a human right. My goal is to grow in personal development and my leadership development and facilitation roles. To gain a better understanding of Leadership Across Differences and Political Education.