Action Now leaders have been quoted in the press lately speaking out about community issues that are plaguing our city and our nation as a whole!
- On February 11th, Action Now leader Charles Brown and Action Now Executive Director Katelyn Johnson were quoted in a Chicago Sun-Times column by Mark Brown about what Chicagoans think President Obama should address in his state of the union speech:
“Charles Brown, 80, one of Action Now’s community leaders, has his own thoughts about what Obama could say that would be most helpful to the violence-plagued Englewood neighborhood he calls home.
“If people had jobs, man, we wouldn’t even have this problem… We need jobs. We need something to do. You wouldn’t have to worry about nobody killing nobody.”
Action Now leaders Marie Gasaway (left) and Marsha Godard (right) at the press conference where Windy Pearson spoke (photo credit: Ted Cox, DNA Info)
- On February 13th, Action Now leader Windy Pearson was quoted in an article in DNA Info about parents calling for an independent probe of school closings:
“The list changes every day,” said Herzl School parent and Action Now member Windy Pearson. “They talk about trusting them. We can’t trust anything they say.”
- Romanetha Looper, a teacher at Penn Elementary and a graduate of Action Now Institute’s chapter of the Grow Your Own Teacher Program, was recently profiled in a Equal Voice News article and video about how she helps children through teaching:
There is a new video of Action Now President Michelle Young testifying at the US Department of Education hearing on school closings in Washington D.C. during the Journey for Justice trip! Fast forward to the 11:40 minute mark to hear Michelle:
- There is also exciting news about our efforts to raise the minimum wage! President Obama, in his State of the Union address, expressed his support for raising the national minimum wage to $9 and Governor Quinn said in his State of the State speech that he supported raising the Illinois minimum wage to $10 an hour to “honor the productivity of our workers”! A recent Chicago Tribune article stated:
Senate President John Cullerton and House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie quickly embraced a possible wage hike. Cullerton flatly predicted, “We’ll be able to pass a minimum wage bill.”
This is very encouraging and shows that our hard work is paying off! Congratulations to Action Now members for their determination and effort, as well as to all of the organizations in the Raise Illinois Coalition!
