The Voices Project

Hanging with Nancy P.

Recently several CWU staff and clients had the opportunity to attend a conference in Cambridge, MA called “Gifted Women.” The event, which was held in a spectacular private home (complete with a ballroom!), was attended by high-powered women business leaders and elected officials (who paid $2000+ to attend), as well as by representatives of nonprofits and community groups.  There were about 150 or so women in all. 

It was a daylong event, held under a tent on a beautiful day, together with panels on the economy, healthcare, national security and running for elected office. One of our 20-year-old program participants stood up and asked a very pointed question at the economy panel relating to the war in Iraq (the panel seemed very impressed by her question!)

The goal of the day was to raise awareness of and participation in the political system by women. A researcher reported that many women say they don’t feel “qualified” to run for office so they don’t; the same survey showed that although men may not feel qualified, they run anyway! There was time for networking, and the highlight of the day was a rousing speech given by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Since it was a pretty intimate event, you almost felt like you were part of some “inner” circle.  I have never attended an event quite like this one.

End Abuse at Homeless Shelters

It's time to re-train some of the old staffers at Homeless Shelter

Most people that have stay at shelters already know of some inappropiate behavior that occurs at shelter by some of the staff. It is usually the minority, but it set the tone for the rest of the shelter. It amaze me how in this era, the new millenium, there are abuses at some Homeless Shelter in the Boston area. Without provocation, there exist abuses at homeless people at the only place they can rely on for a bed. No less to say there are many wonderful places that the Homeless can relly on. Places like the Women's Lunch set the tone as a good place for Homeless Woman to drop by. Where do Homeless people go after being misstreated and verbally abuse in the shelter? Where can they run away to? I would like to repeat that it is only a small percentage of staffing that engage in this abusing and innappropiate behavior. One might not have a home, but still have his/her dignity.   --Rose

A message from Councilor Sam Yoon

It never ceases to impress me when I meet a working, single-mom who, in the midst of struggling to make ends meet, is still actively involved in the community…attending crime watch meetings, volunteering at local events or holding campaign signs. With so much on their plate, it is amazing to see these women persevere through adversity, challenge difficult odds and survive among turmoil.

Recently, my wife and I invited a classmate of our son, Nathan, to our home for a Saturday play-date. The mother of Nathan’s classmate, whom I'll call "Mary", is a single-parent, raising three young sons whose fathers are incarcerated. As our children have gotten friendly (Nathan has become like a big brother to her son), I have been able to see Mary deal with various struggles. What is most impressive is her ever-present sense of confidence and unwavering cheerful spirit. Despite her difficulties, Mary smiles with such ease. My appreciation for women who endure under strenuous circumstances has been further reinforced after knowing her.

While my wife and I babysat for the afternoon, Mary was busy finalizing her move to a new residence. The moving process for her was quite challenging, especially with no transportation and living on moderate income. My role as a city legislator has made me even more mindful of the policies created that impact the people who live in the city, especially individuals like Mary.

As I have learned more about state and city housing programs, I am distressed to find that the system is quite convoluted and not very user friendly. I have come to realize that people, like Mary (and others posted on this blog), who have legitimate needs for resources related to finance or housing, become lost and frustrated in a maze of bureaucracy. Although the state and city programs are valuable and do important work, the people who need the programs most are often discouraged or lose motivation as the process to assistance proves to be lengthy and/or scattered.

As an elected official and Chairman of the City Council Housing Committee, I hope to develop ways to detangle the web of housing resources, making it easier for individuals to navigate the system. I want to ensure that those with the most urgent needs are attended to as timely and effectively as possible.

--Sam Yoon, Boston City Councilor At-Large

Welcome!

As a leading organization in Massachusetts dedicated to transforming the lives of low-income women, the Crittenton Women’s Union wishes to guide social change so that all women of the Commonwealth can discover opportunity and prosperity. We understand that in order to meet this goal, we must foster a conversation on this issue that is compelling, innovative, and provocative.

The purpose of the Crittenton Women’s Union Weblog is to allow direct communication between low-income women, policy makers, educators, researchers, and supporters on the issue of economic self-sufficiency. We know that the diversity of voices surrounding this issue is a valuable resource that must be tapped if we are to find powerful and effective public policy solutions.

We currently feature four categories:

Personal Journeys: The journey to economic self-sufficiency is sensitive and complex. In this area, you will find women’s stories that are invaluable to the conversation and central to changing public policy and opinions in Massachusetts.

The Political Arena: In this category, you can make democracy work for you by directly connecting with your public policy and government leaders!

Insights: In this category, you will find thought-provoking statements, compelling research, and up-to-the-minute information on self-sufficiency from a diverse group of educators, philanthropists, researchers, and opinion leaders.

Advocacy Alerts: In this area, you can stay informed on the state of the Commonwealth by checking in with the CWU's Advocacy Department.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Kirsten Blocker, Web Content Manager
E-mail: kblocker@liveworkthrive.org