Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
Template:TOCnestleft Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is a front for the League of Revolutionaries for a New America
History
The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign was founded by Cheri Honkala and formally established in 1998. The PPEHRC was spearheaded by the now defunct affordable housing advocacy organization Kensington Welfare Rights Union . In June 1998 KWRU organized the New Freedom Bus Tour, a national bus tour to bring awareness to the issues of poverty and economic human rights. During the tour KWRU made contact with many groups and organizations from across the country that were interested in working to gain and ensure economic human rights for all people.[1]
Teach-in and March
During the weekend of January 12th to the 15th, in Philadelphia, PA the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign will be hosting a number of activities. This activities will culminate with a day of Teach-in and March commemorating the 50's anniversary march held with Dr. Martin Luther King and the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign community.
Community Film Screening of Flesh and Blood & Cheri's Fundraiser Birthday Bash!
7:00 pm at Taller Puertorriqueno, 2600 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19133
Panel following film with Darlene Elias, Cheri Honkala, Guillermo Santos, and Galen Tyler, moderated by Edgardo Gonzalez.[2]
Poverty Initiative/The takeover of St. Edward's Church
The takeover of St. Edward's Church had a history behind it according to Liz Theoharis an organizer from the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. In 1999 the KWRU helped to found the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign.
In May 2003 Liz Theoharis and Willie Baptist established the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary in New York City with Chris Caruso, Amy Gopp, Dawn Plummer and Alix Mariko Webb.
In 2006, working with Joe Strife and other faith-rooted organizers in the student group Empty the Shelters Theoharis recruited students from Villanova, University of Pennsylvania and other colleges. The student activity centered on a house called Jubilee which was part of the Life Center Association, a network of intentional community co-housing created by the Movement for a New Society - social justice movement led by among others Dale T. Irvin president of New York Theological Seminary.
With the help of this network which included William Sloane Coffin Baptist and Theoharis were able to institutionalize the work of ending poverty at Union Theological Seminary under the administration of president Joseph Hough.
Also inspired by the St. Edward's takeover some students from Eastern University including Shane Claiborne formed The Simple Way, which went on to "become a national leader in raising issues of poverty and justice in the Evangelical community and beyond."
Since that time the church has been the home of The Simple Way. Shane Claiborne and his wife Mary Jo were married there as were two other The Simple Way founders Michael Brix and Michelle Brix.
Shane Claiborne writes:
- It was at St. Ed's that I was born again...again.[3]
References
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ [ Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World By Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, Peter Heltzel pages 60 and 61]