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past events | photographs | chronology | history, Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
past events | photographs | chronology | history, Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
POWER
is a member of the Poor People's Economic Human
Rights Campaign.
Founded in 2001, Portland Organizing to Win Economic Rights
(POWER), is a group of people who are low-income, working class, and
people of conscience from all walks of life, all working together in
the struggle for economic justice. With a leadership base of
low-income people, POWER is part of the local and national struggle to
END POVERTY in America.
Shortly thereafter, POWER joined the national Poor
People's Economic Human Rights Campaign.
Following the footsteps of Dr. King's Poor People's Campaign of 1968,
today's Poor People's Economic Human Rights Camplaign is, as our
mission statement says, "...a broad multiracial movement committed to
uniting the poor as the leadership base to abolish poverty."
The campaign is made up of several low-income groups across
the country such as POWER, who are organizing in their local areas.
As part of our efforts to build a movement to abolish poverty
-
here in Maine, across the US, & around the world - together we
protest, document, and educate that poverty is a violation of our
economic human rights.
Read about the history of the Poor
People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
( TOP )
A Chronology of POWER Events
& Activities
2001 to Present*
2001
*A special note about this chronology:
Please note - there are several events and activities missing - please contact us if you can help us fill some of the gaps! Also, please let us know if you spot errors &/or ommissions, especially if we forgot to credit a fellow organization. If that's the case, tell us and we'll fix it as soon as possible.
( TOP )
2001 to Present*
2001
- Oct 19, 2001: march to Portland City Hall &
rally
demanding affordable housing, a rent cap, and calling attention to the
plight of the city's homeless. ( TOP
)
- Feb 5-6, 2002: Participated in National Homelessness Marathon, broadcast live from Portland's Monument Square; gave nationally broadcasted radio interview; spent 24 hours outside to protest against poverty and homelessness;
- Feb 6, 2002: Held press conference and rally at Monument Square demanding an end to the housing crisis, specifically calling on the City of Porltand to enact legislation to freeze rents, limiting landlords' ability to unjustifiably and unfairly raise rents.
- Jun 1st: Organized Demonstration calling for Universal Single Payer Health Care in Monument Square, in Portland, Maine;
- Jun 3-11, 2002: Hosted Educational Series on: The Labor Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, the new anti-globalization movement, and the Poor People's Movement; held at Reiche School in Portland, Maine;
- June-August 2002: Conducted "Trouble in Paradise?" campaign to inform tourists visiting Portland about the extremely low wages and high rents faced by those of us who live here and struggle to make ends meet in Maine's tourist economy. Passed out hundreds of flyers and postcards encouraging tourists to call Portland City Hall and demand that the City of Portland take action to resolve the city's housing crisis, or else tourists would not return.
- Sep-Dec 2002: Collected testimonies documenting first-hand experiences of poverty and economic human rights violations, to be delivered at the a tribunal held at the United Nations in New York City; Published several articles in independent newspapers calling for testimonies;
- Oct 4-6, 2002: Attended & participated in Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign's Break the Media Blackout conference held at Temple University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
- Nov 11, 2002: Hosted educational video screening & discussion of Outriders in preparation for the New Freedom Bus Tour's visit to Maine. Held at Portland West, 181 Brackett Street, in Portland, Maine;
- Nov 27, 2002: Hosted educational video screening & discussion of Outriders in preparation for the New Freedom Bus Tour's visit to Maine. Held at Portland West, 181 Brackett Street, in Portland, Maine;
- Dec 6, 2002: POWER hosted People's Economic Human Rights Campaign's New Freedom Bus Tour. Led march from Preble Street Resource Center to Portland City Hall for rally and speeches and testimony. Presented PPEHRC leadership with packet of collected testimonies documenting first-hand experiences of poverty and economic human rights violations, which would later be delivered at the a tribunal held at the United Nations in New York City, New York on Human Rights Day, Dec 10, 2002. Afterwards Freedom Riders and members of the community alike gathered together at the Preble Street Resource Center for lunch, discussions, and planning. That evening, freedom riders and members of the community shared a free community supper, followed by a round table dicussion of lessons learned in organizing, held at Church of the Immaculate Conception, where riders spent the night before leaving the next morning for their next stop on the tour.
- Dec 10, 2002: POWER attend UN Poverty Tribunal on Human Rights Day, where hundreds of documented testimonies were presented to a panel of commissioners. Testimony was also delivered by several members of the Bus Tour.
- Jul 3, 2003: POWER participated in & spoke at Rally Against the USA PATRIOT Act, at Post Office Park, in Portland, Maine; remarks were published in several independent newspapers across state.
- Aug 23, 2003: Marched in the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign's Economic Human Rights march and sit-in in Washington DC commemorating the 35th anniversary of the 1968 Poor People's Campaign & Resurrection Tent City.
- Oct 8, 2003: Co-sponsored, participated in, and spoke at Portland Tenants Union press conference to save our homes and stop cuts to Section 8. Held at Franklin Towers, 211 Cumberland Ave, Portland, Maine; POWER members interviewed by several television networks;
- Oct 10, 2003: Participated in and presented at Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods Annual Conference on Poor People's Survival, held in Orono, Maine;
- Oct 28, 2003: Organized 1st Poor People's Candidates Forum, co-sponsored by the Portland Tenants Union, held at the Chestnut Street Church, in Portland, Maine;
- Dec 18-22, 2003: Participated in Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign's National Planning & Strategy Retreat, held at the Highlander Center in Knoxville Tennessee.
- Dec 29, 2003: Organized public screening & discussion of "A Day's Work, A Day's Pay" held at the Chestnut Street Church, in Portland, Maine;
- Jan 12, 2004: POWER gave presentation & workshop on economic human rights during Many & One's 10 Days of Community Diversity, & Justice, held at Calvary United Methodist Church, in Lewiston, Maine;
- Jan 19, 2004 12pm: POWER invited to give remarks on Dr. King's role in empowering the poor at The Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Religious Service, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, Portland, Maine;
- Jan 19, 2004, 3-8pm: POWER hosts day-long educational event on Dr. King's role in organizing the 1968 Poor People's Campaign and Resurrection City. Event was called: "Beyond the Dream: Continuing the Untold Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." held from 3-8pm at the Chestnut Street United Methodist Church, in Portland, Maine;
- Feb 7, 2004: Together in coalition with several community organizations POWER helped organize emergency march and rally to protest recent unprecedented US Border Patrol incursions into Portland communities, including our homeless shelter. Participated in march through the city, from St. John Street to Monument Square, & spoke during the rally; Portland, Maine;
- Feb 12, 2004, 9am-7pm: Co-sponsored, participated in, and helped organize National Homelessness Marathon, local marathon held in Monument Square, in Portland, Maine. POWER gave interview on national radio broadcast.
- Mar 8, 2004: POWER organized Mothers of the Disappeared march, co-sponsored by Maine Alliance for DHS Accountability and Reform. This was a day long event began with sign-making in the moring, then a march throughout the city, a protest rally at DHS. These events were followed by an hour-long panel discussion on unjust child removal which was taped for broadcast on Community Access Television. In the evening we held the "Unfair Fair" - an educational event, film screening, and finally, an interfaith prayer service dedicated to exposing the truth about this painful issue. POWER led marchers from Chestnut Street, to the Court House, to City Hall, and finally, to the Department of Human Services building, to call for an end to unjust child removal. Demonstraters gathered outside DHS to read our statement of demands, then after rallying inside the offices, proceeded to hand-deliver our demands to DHS officials; POWER members interviewed by several television networks across the state, as well as newspapers; Articles published in several independent papers, including the national and international publication Mother Warriors Voice;
- March – July 2004: started & co-facilated Families of the Disappeared support group, held weekly at Dana Center at Maine Medical Center, in Portland Maine;
- Apr 12, 2004: Presentation on economic human rights organizing for Professor Dr. Sandy Butler's Social Work class at University of Maine in Orono.
- Apr 24, 2004: Participated in & gave speech at "Resisting Empire," the 12th Annual Global Network Space Organizing Conference, held at Woodfords Congregational Church, in Portland, Maine; Remarks published in several independent papers, including the national and international publication Peace Works;
- May 17, 2004: Organized People's Council Supper, co-sponsored by Portland Tenants Union, held in the State of Maine Room at Portland City Hall., the People's Council Supper was a free supper held for Portland residents to come and gather to discuss and participate in an important budget hearing at City Hall.
- Jun 8th, 15th, & 22nd, 2004: POWER co-sponsored 3-part Workshop Series on Labor & Economic Human Rights together with the People's Free Space, held at 24 Stone St, in Portland, Maine;
- June 10-13, 2004: POWER organized a 4-day Economic Human Rights Intensive at the GROW New England Grassroots Organizing Workshops at the World Fellowship Center in New Hampshire.
- Summer 2004: POWER had article "Bush's War on the Poor" published in Clamor Magazine.
- Aug 30, 2004: POWER participated in March for Our Lives protest at opening day of the Republican National Convention held in New York City, New York. Marched from United Nations Headquarters to Madison Square Garden.
- Oct 28, 2004: Co-sponsored 2nd Annual Bayside Candidates Forum with Bayside Neighborhood Association, held in the Franklin Towers Community Room, 211 Cumberland Ave, in Portland, Maine;
- Oct 25, 2004: Hosted POWER's 2nd Poor People's Candidate Forum, co-sponsored by Portland Tenants Union, held at the Chestnut St Church, 17 Chestnut St, in Portland, Maine. Advertised free food, free chilcare, free speech!
- Dec 30, 2004: held POWER film & discussion night on healthcare crisis, screening Poor Voices United’s “Healthcare Crisis USA” video;
- Jan 17, 2005: POWER film & discussion night exploring Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign;
- Feb 4th: POWER economic human rights presentation for Peace Works, in Bath, Maine;
- Feb 10-14, 2005: Participated in Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign's National Planning & Strategy Retreat, held at the Highlander Center in Knoxville Tennessee.
- Feb 16, 2005, Television interview on This Issue, Community Public Television program hosted by Bruce Gagnon, interview conducted in Brunswick's Public Access Studios in Brunswick, Maine;
- Feb 18-24, 2005: Participated in School of Labor’s Fact Finding Missions to Ithaca, NY & Wilkes-Barre, PA;
- Jan-Mar, 2005: Collected & submitted housing rights violations testimonies for Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights hearing (hearing held on Mar 4th)
- Mar 4, 2005: POWER demonstration for Our Human Right to Housing (held simultaneously with OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights hearing on the right to housing), Monument Sq, Portland, Maine;
- Mar 9-14, 2005: Participated in Coalition of Immokalee Worker’s National Convergence for Farmworker Justice, held in Louisville, Kentucky;
- Mar 28, 2005: Participated in protest against privatizing Social Security, picketted offices of Wachovia, in Portland, Maine;
- Apr 1, 2005: Participated in and spoke at Fools No More Parade and Rally, held in Portland, Maine; Rally was held in Portland's Congress Square;
- Apr 27, 2005: Presentation on economic human rights organizing for Professor Dave Wagner's Social Work class at University of Southern Maine;
- May 12, 2005: POWER economic human rights presentation before World Affairs Council, Portland, Maine;
- Jun 16-19, 2005: POWER economic human rights organizing intensive series, GROW Northern New England’s Grass Roots Organizing Weekend, North Conway, New Hampshire;
- Jul 15-24, 2005: Participated in University of the Poor’s 1st Leadership School, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania;
- Sep 5, 2005: Co-organized Universal Living Wage rally with Preble Street Consumer Advocacy Project, held on the Casco Bay Bridge, Portland, Maine;
- Oct – Dec 2005: POWER members featured in student documentary project, University of Southern Maine;
- Oct 8-9, 2005: Participated in University of the Poor Staff Meeting, NYC;
- Oct 11, 2005: Participated in Maine People's Alliance rally for lower health premiums at Anthem-Blue Cross headquarters on Free Street, in Portland, Maine;
- Oct 15-17, 2005: POWER member Nikki McLean testified before UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, in Washington DC;
- Oct 29th-Nov 6th, 2005: Participated in Movement-Building Delegation to El Salvador;
- Nov 8, 2005: POWER economic human rights workshop for USM Social Work students, University of Southern Maine's Campus Center, in Portland, Maine;
- Nov 15, 2005: POWER’s we refuse to die in silence: healthcare is a human right Rally, protesting local & national Medicaid cuts, Monument Sq, Portland Maine;
- Nov 15, 2005: Co-hosted “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price” video screening, with National Organization of Women, Luther Bonney Hall, University of Southern Maine;
- Nov 19, 2005: Helped organize, participated in, & gave presentations at Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods' annual conference: “Maine Leads: Daring to Learn, Teach, & Lead Together!” Conference, United Calvary Methodist Church, Lewiston, Maine;
- Nov 30, 2005: POWER’s 1st Economic Human Rights Truth Commission, at University of Southern Maine, Portland Maine;
- Dec 2, 2005: 30 minute POWER radio interview on WERU’s “Weekend Voices” program;
- Dec 21, 2005: Participated in Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil, Monument Sq, Portland, ME
- Jan 1, 2006: POWER website launched: www.povertyontrial.org
- Jan 16, 2006: POWER video showing & teach-in on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Poor People’s Campaign & Resurrection City in Washington DC;
- Jan 24th-Feb 3rd, 2006: Attended, participated in, & presented during PPEHRC Delegation to World Social Forum, Caracas, Venezuela;
- Feb 15-16th, 2006: Participated in & helped organize 9th Annual Homelessness Marathon, Standish, Maine;
- Feb 20, 2006: Gave presentation on Poor People's Economic Human Rights Delegation to the World Social Forum, as well as on what was learned about Venezuela's New Bolivarian Revolution; Peace & Justice Center of So. ME, Portland, Maine;
- Feb 26th & Feb 27th, 2006: “Using Video to Document Human Rights” Video Trainings I & II, w/ Peter Kinoy, Dara Kell, & Chris Nizza of the Media College, University of the Poor, held at the Peace & Justice Center of So. ME, Portland, Maine;
- Feb 28, 2006: Hosted benefit screening of “Poverty Outlaw” with Media College’s Peter Kinoy of Skylight Pictures & Dara Kell & Chris Nizza, also of the Media College; Held at Masterton Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- Feb 2006 – ongoing: POWER members conducted trainings w/ Media College & local Community Public Access Television Studios; several members became certified CTN field producers;
- Mar 6, 2006: Participated in Preble Street Consumer Advocacy Project's Picket of Clark’s Pond Cinemas against “Date Movie” which contains scenes that promote violence against homeless people.
- Mar 10, 2006: Rallied in support of ACSUM University of Maine System workers fighting for fair contract, in front of Payson-Smith Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- Mar 13, 2006: Rallied in support of IBEW workers fighting for fair contract, picketted Sinclair Broadcasting/WGME-TV13;
- Mar 18th: Presentation, “Class Issues Across Coalitions,” at Sustainable Maine Conference, at the University of Maine at Farmington, Farmington, Maine;
- Apr 7, 2006: POWER World Health Day healthcare demonstration, picketted Maine Medical Center (ME’s largest hospital)
- Apr 10, 2006: Rallied for National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice, Monument Sq, Portland, Maine;
- Apr 13, 2006: Co-sponsored Renters Rights Forum with Portland Tenants Union, held at Reiche School, Portland, Maine;
- Apr 15, 2006: POWER Strategy Session #1, Peace & Justice Center of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- Apr 21, 2006: Participated in Town Hall Meeting on the Iraq War, University of Southern Maine, in Portland, Maine;
- Apr 8, 2006: POWER’s Economic Human Rights Outreach Day, conducted door-to-door outreach in low-income neighborhoods, in Portland, Maine;
- Apr 23, 2006: POWER Strategy Session #2, Peace & Justice Center of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- May 1, 2006 Published POWER’s “Poverty On Trial: Testimonies of Maine People Speaking Out,” 40 page booklet of testimonies documenting first-hand experiences of poverty & economic human rights violations;
- May 19, 2006: POWER honored with award at Maine People’s Alliance Annual Rising Tide Awards Dinner for Leadership & Preserverence, held at Woodfords Congregational Church, in Portland, Maine;
- May 25, 2006: Presented a 'Workshop on Economic Realities,' with members of the First Parish Congregational Church, Saco, Maine;
- Jul 14-17, 2006: Participated in PPEHRC National Truth Commission in Cleveland Ohio
- Jul 17- 20, 2006: Participated in UPoor’s 2nd Leadership School, Cleveland Ohio
- Jul 28-30th, 2006: Participated in 1st Maine Social Forum, including POWER workshop called "Learning as we lead: Building a low-income led movement to abolish poverty" at the Bates Mill, Lewiston, Maine;
- Aug 9, 2006: 1hour radio interview on the National Truth Commission, on WMPG radio’s Sound Ecology program.
- Aug 31, 2006: POWER benefit music concert with Christopher Teret & Chris Sutherland, to raise money to save POWER’s meeting space, Peace & Justice Center of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- Sep 5, 2006: Organizied living wage demonstration on Casco Bay Bridge, Portland, Maine;
- Oct 24, 2006: POWER’s 3rd Poor People’s Candidate Forum, broadcast live on Channes 2 & 4; Questioned 11 candidates running for Maine State House & Senate, held at Community Public Access Television Station in Portland, Maine;
- Nov 11, 2006: Organized benefit music concert with Kate Boverman & Ethan Miller, to raise money to help save POWER’s meeting space, Peace & Justice Center of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- Dec 18, 2006: Hosted video showing and educational, with “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” at the Peace & Justice Center of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- Mar. 3, 2007: Rallied w/ IBEW & CWA workers at their Stop the Sale Rally, to stop Verizon from selling off Maine’s phone & internet lines, Monument Sq, Portland, Maine;
- Mar. 14, 2007: POWER gave 1hour radio interview on WMPG radio’s Sound Ecology program.
- Mar 29-Apr 1, 2007: Attended and partipated in the Poor People's Economic Human Right's Campaign's National Planning and Strategy Retreat, held at the Highlander Center, Knoxville, TN, where POWER was officially elected to serve on the PPEHRC Coordinating Council, the campaign's decision-making body;
- Apr 10, 2007: POWER presented on the Panel on Low-Income Concerns at the Statewide Emergency Preparedness Conference, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine;
- Apr 13, 2007: Participated in & testified at the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary's 2nd Poverty Truth Commission, in NYC; presented at & participated in panels, workshops, & other activities on preceding & following days.
- Apr 23, 2007: participated in & spoke at demonstration calling for an end to the war in Iraq, held at Post Office Park in Portland, Maine;
- Apr 23, 2007: co-sponsored & participated in a Community Forum on Patient Health Issues in coalition with the Maine State Nurses Association. Held at Reiche School in Portland, Maine; Presented packet of collected testimonies from our membership of personal experiences of negative impacts caused by understaffing of nurses in Maine's hospitals, from the perspectives of both hospital patients and hopsital workers.
- May 4, 2007: testifed at Public Hearing on LD 1538, An Act to Increase the Safefty of Hospital Patients, in coalition with Maine State Nurses Association;
- May 12, 2007: POWER members volunteered with the Postal Workers Food Drive;
- May 19, 2007: POWER member Nikki McLean received Rising Tide Award at Maine People's Alliance's 25th Anniversary Rising Tide Awards Dinner, held at Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland, Maine;
- May 23, 2007: POWER presented on 1/3 hour panel at live studio audience broadcast of WMPG’s Sound Ecology Radio, marking the program's 10 year anniversary, at Luther Bonney Auditorium, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine;
- June 27 - July 1, 2007: POWER sent a delegation to the first ever US Social Forum in Atlanta, Georgia; Participated in PPEHRC activities, testified at the Healthcare Truth Hearing & helped lead one of the PPEHRC's panels in the official USSF program. Participated in several other educational activities & workshops, and joined a demonstration at Atlanta Housing Authority protesting evictions and other violations to our human right to housing.
- July 3, 2007: Timed to coincide with the release of SICKO, Michael Moore's documentary about the US healthcare crisis, POWER members rallied together with members of several other organizations including MSNA & MPA calling for Universal Single Payer Healthcare in front of the Patriot Cinemas, Portland, ME.
- July 5, 2007: POWER members invited to participate in the talkshow "We The People" – 1 hour tv program taped live at Community Public Access in Portland, ME; Program hosted by Jacqui Murphy of MPA. Part of 4-part series dedicated to US healthcare crisis. Program was broadcast on Public Access channels throughout Greater Portland Area.
- July 7-9, 2007: 5 members of POWER's Video Committee members participated in the UPoor Media College's 3-day Video Intensive, held in Rhode Island, where they learned, practiced, and refined video skills and techniques in the areas of interviewing, field work, editing, and content.
- July 15, 2007: POWER's Video Committee finishes Video Slide Show documenting POWER's delegation to the US Social Forum, to be premiered at the following day's presentation.
- July 16, 2007: POWER presentation on US Social Forum, and screened POWER's Video Committee's new video slideshow documenting the event;
- Aug 14, 2007: POWER Outreach Day: POWER members hit the streets to talk with people, pass out literature, & post flyers throughout Portland ME peninsula.
- Aug 20, 2007: POWER Meeting & Movie Night, screening IN DEBT WE TRUST by Danny Schecter;
- Sept 1, 2007: POWER EHR Taskforce Tabling & Outreach event, in Tommy's Park, corner of Exchange & Middle St. in Portland, ME;
- Sept 3, 2007: POWER members volunteered at & attended Southern Maine Labor Council's Labor's Day Breakfast, at Verrillo's, 155 Riverside Ave, Portland, ME.
- Oct 9, 2007: POWER leads workshop & discussion session, together with Senior Minister Rev. Doug Nielsen, at 1st Parish Congregational Church, Saco, ME;
- Nov 2, 2007: POWER conducts 2 Economic Human Rights trainings at Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhood’s Annual Conference: “Whose House? Our House! Finding Our Legislative Voices Together!” at the Maine State House, Augusta, ME;
- Nov 5, 2007: POWER participates in the Maine Community Action Association’s 1st “Maine Symposium on Poverty & Economic Security,” at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, ME;
- Nov 8, 2007: POWER participates in the Maine Equal Justice Southern Maine Advocacy Conference in South Portland, ME;
- Nov 12, 2007: POWER guest teaches Social Work class at USM;
- Nov 14, 2007: POWER guest teaches Social Work class at USM;
- Nov 19, 2007: POWER's EHR Taskforce conducts on-the-street outreach throughout local neighborhoods to raise awareness about Universal Single Payer Healthcare & help promote POWER's upcoming healthcare organizing activities.
- Nov 26, 2007: POWER's EHR Taskforce conducts more street outreach (see above).
- Nov 27, 2007: POWER holds Demonstration for Healthcare Justice, calling for Universal Single Payer Healthcare, at Monument Square, Portland, ME;
- Nov 29, 2007: POWER creates an on-line web-version of the Healthcare Justice Survey for POWER’s website;
- Nov 30, 2007: POWER members speak out against proposed cuts to public and federally subsidized housing at a Portland Tenants Union Save Our Homes press conference, held at Franklin Towers, 211 Cumberland Ave, Portland, ME;
- Dec 1, 2007: The Peace & Justice Center of Southern Maine closes its doors. POWER moves its meeting space to the recently opened Meg Perry Center for Peace Justice and Community, located at 644 Congress St in Portland, ME;
- Dec 11, 2007: POWER holds Public Forum on Healthcare Justice, at Community Public Access in Portland, ME; POWER’s Video Committee conducts 5-person on-site camera crew to document the event; video of the forum is later broadcast on Public Access stations throughout Greater Portland Area & Biddeford, ME; Earlier in the day, POWER conducted brief interview to discuss the event on “Home Dad” – a radio program hosted by Chip Edgar on WMPG Community Radio in Portland, ME;
- Dec 19, 2007: POWER’s Video Committee unveils latest video project at December’s Monthly POWER Meeting, which is POWER’s first meeting at its new location. The video, “National Housing Action Workshop at the US Social Forum,” documents the national organizing events to save public housing that took place at the US Social Forum in Atlanta, Georgia in late June of 2007, including workshops & a demonstration, which members of POWER’s delegation participated in & filmed; the video is later posted on POWER's website, YouTube, & Google Video, & also aired on Public Access television in the Greater Portland Area & in Lewiston/Auburn on Great Falls TV.
- Dec 21, 2007: POWER members attend Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil, organized by Preble Street Resource Center & Homeless Voices For Justice, & held in Monument Square in Portland, ME;
- Dec 30, 2008: POWER’s Video Committee finishes 1 1/2 hour video documenting POWER’s Public Forum on Healthcare Justice. Video to be aired in coming months on Public Access Television throughout the Greater Portland Area, in Biddeford, & in Lewiston/Auburn on GreatFalls TV;
- Jan 9, 2008: POWER members participate at a protest vigil at the State Capitol in Augusta, ME. The vigil was timed to coincide with the governor’s “State of the State Address,” to demonstrate against the governor’s proposed cuts to health and human services;
- Jan 15, 2008: POWER holds an Economic Human Rights Training, with Rev. Elsa Peters and members of the 1st Congregational Church, UCC, in South, Portland, ME.
- Jan 21, 2008: POWER hosts a special video screening & discussion during the January Monthly POWER Meeting, where POWER members & members of the community gathered to watch & discuss “The Promised Land” – part of the award-winning Eyes on the Prize Series, after which members reflected on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 and how this important campaign relates to the work we are doing today in our struggles to win economic rights & abolish poverty.
- Jan 29, 2008: POWER’s Economic Human Rights Taskforce publishes article on Economic Human Rights in Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhood’s February 2008 MAIN Update. The EHR Taskforce also created a longer version of this article to be used by the University of the Poor’s School of Social Work & Social Transformation, which helps train social workers to become organizers in the movement to abolish poverty.
- Feb 11, 2008: POWER’s Video Committee finishes “Demonstration for Healthcare Justice” video, documenting POWER’s 11/27/07 demonstration. Video is posted on POWER’s website & YouTube Channel for member feedback & review, as well as public comment in general.
- Feb 18, 2008: POWER’s Video Committee unveils video of POWER’s 11/27/07 Demonstration for Healthcare Justice at February’s Monthly POWER Meeting. The final version of the video is expected to air on Public Access Television throughout the Greater Portland Area by March, after incorporating member suggestions.
- Feb 20, 2008: POWER members participate as guests in a special 2-hour Sound Ecology radio program dealing with issues of class & classism, on WMPG Community Radio with host Karen D’Andrea. The program is timed to coincide with the 11th Annual National Homelessness Marathon.
- Feb 21, 2008: POWER participates in Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission’s Public Hearing on Free Trade, held at the South Portland Community Center, 21 Nelson Rd, S. Portland, ME.
- Mar 16, 2008: POWER’s Video Committee finishes rough edit of a special 5 minute video about the current US healthcare crisis to air on Community Public Access & on the internet. Part of POWER’s Strategic Healthcare Organizing Plan, this video piece is aims to accomplish the following three goals: a) to educate the public about the current US healthcare crisis, b) to encourage members of the community to come forward & share their stories of healthcare rights violations, & c) to promote awareness about POWER’s upcoming Healthcare Truth Commission.
- Mar 17, 2008: At the Monthly POWER Meeting for March, POWER’s Video Committee debuts the recently finished rough edit of the 5 minute video piece on healthcare & receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from meeting participants. The Video Committee plans to finish the piece in time to begin airing on Community Public Access Television by the beginning of April.
- Apr 5, 2008: POWER’s Video Committee completes 5 minute video piece on US Healthcare Crisis, to be aired the following evening on Public Access Channel 4.
- Apr 6, 2008: POWER hosts a live 1-hour program on Community Public Access Television during CTN’s annual membership pledge drive, which is broadcast live on Community Public Access Television Channel 2. Also broadcast are three of POWER’s video pieces, including our “World Health Day” video, our “Demonstration for Healthcare Justice” video, and our recently completed “Healthcare Crisis” Video.
- Apr 9, 2008: POWER co-founder & Leadership Council Representative Faith “Nikki” McLean is confirmed by the Maine State Senate to serve on the Maine State Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. Already serving a 5-year term on the Portland Housing Authority Board of Commissioners by appointment of the Portland City Council, Nikki has since been appointed to now also serve on the state-level Board of Commissioners by Maine’s Governor, John Baldacci. The confirmation proceedings take place at 2pm in Room 208 of the Burton M. Cross Building located on, 58 State House Station on Capitol Street in Augusta, ME;
- Apr 13, 2008: Community Crisis Ministries of the First Congregational Church, UCC in South Portland, ME invites POWER members to attend the church’s Sunday morning worship services, where the sermon references POWER’s work to win economic human rights & abolish poverty. Following the 10am service, at 11:30am POWER members participate in a special conversation session with congregation members interested in learning more & getting involved in POWER’s work.
- May 19, 2008: After the May monthly POWER Meeting, POWER members attends the City Council meeting to register our opposition to a last-minute proposal to eliminate 10 of our city’s 16 polling places for the purpose of (supposedly) saving $15,000 (the city’s estimate). Unfortunately, the council voted to accept this measure despite vast opposition.
- May 27, 2008: POWER members attend a special press conference in the Council Chambers at Portland City Hall and participate in initiating a citizen’s petition designed to prevent the elimination of 2/3 of our polling places.
- Jun 10, 2008: POWER hosts a very successful
Healthcare
Truth Commission, which was co-sponsored by MSEA-SEIU Local 1989. The
event was held from 6-8:30pm at Portland’s Community Public
Access Station, located at 516 Congress Street in Portland, Maine.
Approximately 60 people were in attendance. Here, 15 Truth Testifiers
shared their experiences of struggling to meet their health needs. In
addition, 9 Truth Commissioners from throughout our community were
present to officially witness and respond to these testimonies. Our
seven-person video crew participated in recording the footage of this
event, to be later edited by POWER’s Video Committee and then
aired on Public Access Television Stations throughout the Greater
Portland Area and in other communities across the state. POWER will
also use video footage in several upcoming presentations for
organizations, unions, & churches throughout the
community.
--Some additional accomplishments related to the Healthcare Truth Commission, Jan-May 2008: - Distributed over 400 Healthcare Justice Surveys throughout community.
- Documented over 100 testimonies about healthcare rights violations.
- Conducted 26 indepth interviews with individuals who experienced healthcare rights violations.
- Gave presentations to local several local community organizations, unions, & congregations to discuss & encourage participation in HCTC.
- Conducted several rounds of leafletting & flyering throughout the city.
- Created & aired two video pieces on Public Access TV & on our website to advertise for & solicit participation in HCTC, as well as to generally educate the public about our economic human right to healthcare & proposed solutions to the U.S. healthcare crisis.
- Jun 11, 2008: POWER is invited to discuss our recent
Healthcare Truth Commission on the one-hour weekly radio program
“Sound Ecology,” hosted by Karen
D’Andrea, and
broadcast on WMPG Portland’s community radio
station.
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- To be announced.
*A special note about this chronology:
Please note - there are several events and activities missing - please contact us if you can help us fill some of the gaps! Also, please let us know if you spot errors &/or ommissions, especially if we forgot to credit a fellow organization. If that's the case, tell us and we'll fix it as soon as possible.
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Portland
Organizing to Win Economic Rights = POWER!
Contact POWER
Winning our economic rights;
Putting poverty on trial;
Building a Maine that truly is the way life should be - for ALL of us!!!
Contact POWER
Winning our economic rights;
Putting poverty on trial;
Building a Maine that truly is the way life should be - for ALL of us!!!