Kids and social justice: How parents should teach awareness, develop empathy

Sensitivity training isn't just for adults. It has to begin in childhood. It's essential that parents teach awareness--especially of social justice issues like poverty--early and often. When teaching compassion and empathy, here are things to keep in mind.  Kids and social justice: How parents should teach awareness, develop empathy 

National Grandparents Day: Happy Grandparents Day to Gaga (and Mama) with love

Possibly the greatest gift we give is our gift of self. Here's a piece about how my mom (and grandma to my kids) has given of herself through 24 years of having grandkids. It's written in honor of Grandparents Day. Why not write your own grandparents tribute? If you don't have any, write it to a senior friend.

"Dear Mama, With National Grandparents Day approaching, I'm taking a walk down memory lane. I'm celebrating the joy you've brought to our lives, especially to your four grandchildren. You've been "Gaga" for 22 years, since Molly Cate (the eldest and ringleader) dubbed you that at age 2. She had other grandmas, but only one Gaga (or Gagi when she was feeling silly). To this day, you sign the kids' cards "love, Gaga." Read more. National Grandparents Day: Happy Grandparents Day to Gaga (and Mama) with love

Back-to-School Activities at Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum

Detroit rocks black culture like no other city. It's about Motown and more -- soul food, jazz music, roots dance, triumphs and struggles, and, of course, people. If Detroit is the mother of black culture, then the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is her repository. The museum offers films, workshops, exhibits, artifacts, art treasures, and educational opportunities galore. Check out the September line-up for great back-to-school family outings.  Back-to-School Activities at Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum

Ways parents can develop awareness of poverty, teach generosity

If I had a buck for every time I heard someone say "kids today are so insensitive and selfish," I'd be rich. If kids lack sensitivity, it's because we parents have failed to teach empathy. We've taught them materialism and self-absorption. And kids need to learn empathy, especially with those in need. Here are ways to develop awareness of world poverty and teach generosity.  Ways parents can develop awareness of poverty, teach generosity

2012 Back to School Giveaway Events, School Festivals in Detroit

Charity begins in our own neighborhoods. Several organizations in Detroit understand this. They're hosting back-to-school events that give back to the community. According to the Detroit News, shoppers will spend an average $688 per child on back-to-school purchases. Several organizations in Detroit are hosting back-to-school giveaway events to help defray expenses for parents. Here's a list of school supplies giveaways and back-to-school festivals in downtown Detroit. 2012 Back-to-School Giveaway Events, School Festivals in Detroit 

Knit, Crochet or Loom? Lend Your Talent Here

My friend Sandie at "Bridge and Beyond" runs a yarn-wear collection site for homeless folks and those in need. If you knit, crochet or loom, why not consider donating a handmade article of clothing? With good-paying jobs trickling away and unemployment (or underemployment) rising, the number of needy is escalating. It's warm now in most of the U.S., but the chill days of winter are coming. Being a Michigan girl myself, I know how hurtful cold weather can be if you're not bundled up. And that's coming from the perspective of one who has a home. Besides worst-case-scenario frostbite, cold, influenza, arthritis, tendinitis--so many health conditions flare up in winter. And that's from an under-50 perspective. It's exponentially worse for older folks and seniors. Please, remember those in cold and get those needles busy. Let's show solidarity with the suffering. August's focus is slippers, but check back often for other needs. Here's that link again: http://homelessbridge.blogspot.com/

Ad majorem Dei Gloriam--
mar

Michigan's Upgraded Migrant Housing Inspections are Limited

The goal of this blog is to boost awareness on social justice issues (or the lack thereof). One area that I'm very concerned about is migrant labor. Bottom line--living conditions in migrant camps are abominable. Across this "land of opportunity" itinerants are being relegated to these unsafe, unhealthy camps.

It's easy to turn a blind eye or, worse yet, to pontificate on how migrant laborers are stealing our jobs. If they are, whose fault is that? Not the laborers. They're only looking to care for their families like every other worker.

The problem lies with corporate growers who keep them in deplorable conditions. Some actually condone and lobby for racial profiling and deportation while at the same time bringing in migrant workers illegally to run their farms. Worst of all, many growers, at least in my pocket of the world, proclaim to be Christians and tout their businesses as being run on Christian principles. I don't know what Bible they read but the mine commands followers to regard and care for each other, not abuse each other for financial gain.

Think this is a conspiracy theory? It's exactly that. Corporate farms are conspiring to the most work for the least investment. The fact that camp conditions are so bad shows that owners lack scruples, accountability and respect for human rights. I'm not talking about lack of health insurance or fringe benefits, either. I'm talking basic problems--inadequate sanitation, little or no clean water, damaged facilities and worker abuse.
I'm talking about companies who don't supply water for pickers and force them to buy water (from the company) at inflated prices.

Reminds me of mining company-run stores where workers had to pay with company-issued scrip. No wonder there was so much poverty in those communities. It was a vicious cycle of work, pay, owe and work. History has provided us with countless examples--Harlan County, Matewan, Dust Bowl work camps. And these things didn't just happen years ago.

Right now, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers is asking for one penny more per pound on the price of tomatoes they pick. One cent--on tomatoes that are sold for $2-$3 a pound. Look at company-owned vending machines and company cafeterias. In some shops, employees can't bring in their own food or if they can, it has to be eaten in tiny, dirty break rooms far from the work floor. Companies set ridiculous policies and then rakes in revenue from the low-quality junk served in their facilities.

I wrote an article recently on some changes being made in Michigan. Michigan's Gov. Rick Snyder would like to set aside $400,000 in his 2013 budget to hire more inspectors for migrant farm worker housing. The state employs many migrant laborers for its agricultural industries. More than 90,000 itinerant workers come Michigan each year. Here's the link-- Michigan Considers Funding More Migrant Housing Inspections.

As is the case with so many government-run social initiatives, this may be too little, too  late. It's based on findings in a report from the Michigan Civil Rights Commission which looked at migrant camp conditions. That report is over two years old. There's the too late part.

As for the doing too little part, the initiative would only hire a few more inspectors. If the government allowed conditions to get so bad, how will hiring government-level employees this help? I suspect these jobs may be more sinecure.

In the MCRC report, some abuses (sexual harassment, health and child labor violations) were only worker-reported. I'm sure the corporate farmers have their own version. If 1/10th of the worker-reported abuse actually happened, it would still be unconscionable. Study authors, (an unbiased group) also observed many abuses first-hand.

I've witnessed sanitation issues myself taking the kids blueberry picking. And whose version are we going to trust--those living in the migrant camps or the wealthy farmers living in their lavish, $400K homes? Why has so little been done about this situation? Because we turned that blind eye. It wasn't happening to "one of us." Migrant laborers fall through the cracks. We who call ourselves "residents,""citizens" and "taxpayers" also blame migrants for unemployment and economic hardships. We scapegoat them for our self-caused problems.

What we need to be looking at is who owns (and should fix) the problem. It's the same people who own the farms, the businesses and the wealth. The same ones who won't be paying the Michigan Business Tax this year thanks to a generous tax cut from Gov. Snyder. I don't need to point out the obvious (but I will underscore it)--we taxpayers won't see any of those tax savings. Michigan's unemployed won't see any jobs created (unless you count unsustainable low-paying jobs that have to be patchworked together to make enough to survive).

These abuses aren't just happening to "outsiders." They're at our doorsteps and in our work places.  Just because we're U.S citizens doesn't mean our rights are protected. Egregious violations of health, safety, pay and working conditions occur every day in every sector.Working in a union helps, but it's no guarantee especially when workers don't stick together.This is class warfare. The corporate mindset is to divide and conquer workers over superficial non-essentials like skin color, gender, country of origin, residency status and lifestyle choices. We have to stop buying into this. We have to realize that an injury to one, will, at some point, be an injury to all.

 ~mar

Best Spiritual, Religious Confirmation, Baptism Gifts for Teens

Several Christian denominations, Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran most notably, celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. In confirmation, the 'confirmand' (confirmation candidate) is anointed with oil and 'sealed with the Holy Spirit'. The confirmand is confirmed by the Holy Spirit and becomes a full, adult member of the parish. Most parishes prepare teenagers to receive the sacrament of Confirmation sometime between eighth and tenth grade. Another confirmed adult, other than a parent, acts as sponsor to the confirmand.

A confirmation sponsor's role is similar to that of godparent. It is customary for friends, family and sponsors to give a gift to the confirmand. The gift need not be large or costly, but rather a token of remembrance. Here is a list of reasonably priced gift suggestions for Confirmation. These suggestions work well for any spiritual life event or celebration including baptism, first holy communion and bat or bar mitzvah,  Read more at  Gift-Giving Guides: Best Religious Confirmation Gifts for Teens

No, 'Octomom' You Can't Afford a $520 Hairdo on Welfare

 Mom of 14, Nadya Suleman, dubbed "Octomom" for her octuplets, was investigated by Child Protective Services after photos appeared showing unsanitary, dangerous conditions at her home. Suleman lashed out in an ABC Good Morning, America interview, saying that her hairdresser who took the photos "set her up." I'm glad to hear that the door that appeared to be barred keeping a child prisoner was, in fact, just closed being held closed to keep little ones out. But I still have some concerns about Octomom's attitude toward money, particularly her welfare payments. Read on 'Octomom' Nadya Suleman Exemplifies Misconceptions About Welfare 

Fair Trade Website Provides Food, Health, Literacy, Breast Cancer Support, Animal Rescue, Rain Forest Preservation, Veterans' Assistance

We've seen images of suffering: Japan and Haiti earthquake Darfur, Katrina, tsunami, economic oppression, refugees, war, deforestation, demilitarized, zones, oil spills. Children learn geography by war and disaster zones. Want to help? Here's how. Very few of us have the resources to make a huge difference. Nor can we leave our homes and families to provide physical help. Here are ways to help that cost nothing. How? With 7 clicks of your mouse each day. Be sure to check their breast cancer research and veterans' assistance site, too. Read more at  Fair Trade Website Provides Food, Health, Literacy, Animal Rescue, Rain Forest Preservation