BERNADETTE MATTHEWS'S BLOG
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Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!
- Posted on 03.30.09
Related causes: Community
Si Se Puede! Yes We Can! Cesar Chavez reminds us that “We don’t need perfect political systems, we need perfect participation.” Tuesday, March 31 marks Cesar Chavez Day. Cesar was a Mexican American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the United Farm Workers.
In college, I ran the Farmer’s market on the Loyola Marymount University campus. I worked closely with farmers who would drive for hours from the valleys of their farms to sell their fresh produce to college students who were otherwise eating pizza and chicken tenders at the cafeteria. I saw jocks, punks and sorority girls volunteer to help at the market, saw these college kids forget their exams and social lives to weigh bellpeppers for a few hours and talk with the farmers about their lives. I heard migrants’ stories of leaving their homes, befriended their children whom they brought to the markets, and witnessed the joy they had in working the land and providing nouris...Read More -
Change-Maker in Women's History: Dolores Huerta
- Posted on 03.17.09
Related causes: Community
From DoSomething.org
When you hear about the movement for the rights of farm workers, the first mention is Cesar Chavez, but a woman, Dolores Huerta, was just as essential to the struggle as was Chavez.
Dolores has been deemed by many one of the most outspoken human rights activists alive. She got her start in public school teaching but left because, in her words, “I couldn’t stand seeing kids come to class hungry and needing shoes. I thought I could do more by organizing farm workers than by trying to teach their hungry children.”
She met Cesar through her community service work with Community Service Organization (CSO), for which Cesar served as president. They both realized the need to organize farm workers, and in 1962, after the CSO turned down Cesar’s request to organize farm workers, Cesar and Dolores resigned from the CSO and together formed the National Farm Workers Association ("NFWA"), the predecessor to the UFW (United Farm Workers), the nation's first successfu...Read More -
Blood Roses and Deadly Diamonds on Current TV
- Posted on 02.09.09
Related causes: Community, Human Rights
What's the true price of love? Current Vanguard Journalists head to Colombia and Sierra Leone to explore the unromantic stories behind two symbols of love.
Check out the premiere of "Blood Roses and Deadly Diamonds" on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 10
p.m. on Current TV.
Join for a live chat on Current.com during the premiere of " Blood Roses and Deadly Diamonds" on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. E/P here: http://current.com/vanguard
...sorry to be a Valentine's Day downer :( -
Global Family Day - Peace For Our World
- Posted on 12.29.08
Related causes: Community
At a time in history when we have never had more need for human unity, let's recognize a practical new tool for peace and sharing that the US Congress and the UN General Assembly have created for us. On January 1, let's recognize and celebrate GLOBAL FAMILY Day, One Day of Peace and Sharing for all faiths, cultures, races, nationalities and economic classes. During the 24 hours of January 1, let's break bread together, ring bells, and pledge to find non-violent solutions to all our problems in the year ahead. Then tell your friends, your families, your neighbors, your co-workers, and help us establish this new 21st century tradition that puts true meaning and new pleasure into the words "New Year." On January 1, at the start of the United Nations Year of the Planet, let's all gather and celebrate life on earth together. Lets replace hate and hunger with peace and sharing, and begin to unite our global family.
Visit http://www.gfday.org/Videos/preview.aspx?id=1 to watch a video a...Read More -
10 Revolutionary Acts Of Courage By Ordinary People
- Posted on 09.18.08
Related causes: Human Rights
Check it out!
http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/09/15/10-revolutionary-acts-of-courage-by-ordinary-people/
Rosa Parks is on there...she is one of my personal favorite "Most inspirational people"
