Let's start talking about work/ family balance

When I think about my friend and 9to5 Atlanta Chapter member Leslie Hudson I recall a comment she made one day in reference to her then current employer. We were talking about the challenges we faced as single mothers. Leslie expressed frustration over the long hours she was forced to maintain at her job as a chef in a local restaurant. Leslie worked long hours to meet the financial needs of her household because she was paid an hourly wage. Leslie was often unable to take time off from work when she or her son was ill because she could not afford to lose the daily pay. When she was forced to take time off because her son was had an issue at school, her employer told her that her lifestyle did not work [for the employer] and she should consider finding new employment.

Leslie is one of many women in my personal life who have shared this type of experience with me. During my experience as an organizer with 9to5 Atlanta I have met many more women who share the experience of feeling marginalized by an employer because they struggle to balance family responsibilities with work obligations. Before I became an organizer at 9to5 my friends and I would complain about the lack of time available to focus on the needs of our families while pursuing our careers. At that time my friends and were not aware of the impact public policy had on our issue. We were complaining about the emotional and physical fatigue we were experiencing trying to “do it all”. We discussed the impact on our relationships with our partners, children and each other. We expressed anxiety over the upward mobility of our careers, and agonized over the possibility that a glass ceiling does exists. Could it be that our commitment to our families could be the very reason we were no longer viable candidates for the promotions and the professional accolades our childless peers seemed to be enjoying?

As an organizer I have become aware of the need to engage more working individuals with family care responsibilities in the dialog to craft workplace policies that provide access to family supportive benefits. During the month of February you can participate in a series of radio blogs on the subject by visitinghttp://www.fem2pt0.com/2010-wake-up-camp. You can also learn more about bringing family values to work by visiting www.9to5.org or by calling 404.222.0037. You do not have to feel isolated or guilty anymore. Do something about it today and join the movement to bring raises, rights and respect to the modern workplace.

To learn more about Leslie's story please click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkC9SEPnm48

MLK Day Parade - Join 9to5!

When: Monday Jan. 18, 12pm to 3pm
Where: meet at corner of Peachtree and Harris street

The march is fun and lively and provides our chapter with a GREAT opportunity to spread the word about 9to5’s current legislative campaigns to increase the minimum wage and gain job protected family leave. Bring your children, strollers and chanting voice! Call 404.222.0037 for more information or email Jackie@9to5.org

The chapter usualy has a small delegation of mebers in the parade; we your chapter NEEDS your voice & participation in 2010 to bring attention to our issues! The more pople we have the more of a presence we'll be in that march. Join us and bring a freind or two. We hope to have at least 20 members join us this year @ the parade. Go ahead and JUMP START your activism activities with 9to5! If not you, then who?

Our next Minimum Wage Committee meeting is:

Thursday, Jan. 14th at 6:30 pm.
location - 9to5 Atlanta office (IBEW Building)
501 Pulliam St., Atlanta 30312

We wil be planning our upcoming February event Show Your Server Some Love - $2.13 Is Not Enough! to raise awareness about efforts to raise the tipped worker minimum wage here in Georgia.

We hope you can make it - we need your input to make this event a success!

Yomara Velez Wins Organizer Respite Award

We are proud to announce that 9to5 organizer Yomara Velez has won the National Organizers Alliance Respite Award which honors the tireless activism of two organizers each year by sending them on a week long vacation.

Yomara was chosen for the award in recognition of her 15 years of organizing for social and economic justice. She currently works as an organizer at 9to5 Atlanta as well as Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR). Yomara began her career in the field as a young single mother in the Bronx when she founded the organization Sistas on the Rise and worked with organizations such as Mothers on the Move and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice.

The Respite Award also highlighted Yomara's committment to creating a culture that honors connections to families and communities in the workplace. In her own neighborhood in the West End, she heads up Friends of the West End Park planting fruits and vegetables, cleaning the park, and making it a safe space for kids to play with her neighbors. With her two sons, 14 year old Keanu and 4 year old Diego, she knits, crafts, and gardens.

Yomara and her family will get to spend a week in a mountain resort in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Congratulations Yomara on this well-deserved award!

See her profile along with the other 2009-2010 Respite award winner here: http://tinyurl.com/yemqmol

Minimum Wage Committee Meeting!

We will be discussing raising the minimum wage for tipped workers.

When: THIS WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, at 6:30pm

Where: IBEW Building 9to5 Office
501 Pulliam St., Atlanta GA 30310

The minimum wage in Georgia is $5.15. Help us raise it!

For more information contact Yomara or Shyria @ 404-222-0037 or yomara@9to5.org/shyria@9to5.org

Join us this Wednesday Nov. 4th to watch:

Made in LA -- an award winning feature documentary about three Latina women who work in garment sweatshops in Los Angeles and decide to organize to gain basic labor protections from the clothing retailer Forever 21.

The inspiring film shows their personal journeys from victimization to empowerment as they work together to lead boycotts and file a public law-suit to gain their rights in the workplace.

Check out the film's website here: http://www.madeinla.com/

We will be joined by Adelina Nichols, Director of the Georiga Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) for a discussion after the viewing.

What: viewing and discussion of --
Made in LA
When: Wednesday Nov. 4th at 6:00pm
Where: 501 Pulliam St. Atlanta 30310
IBEW building, 4th floor conference room

This is a great opportunity to connect with other 9to5 members in the Atlanta area and talk about issues of social justice. Contact Yomara Velez with any questions at yomara@9to5.org or call 404-222-0037.

We hope you can make it!

Tuesday November 4th is ELECTION DAY in counties across Georgia!

Do you have all the information you need to get to the polls and VOTE?

Poll-locator information
To find your polling location and to check if you are registered in this election go to the GA Secretary of State poll locator page at: http://tinyurl.com/4c5wvl

Voter ID - What to Bring
Check here for a list of acceptable identification: http://gaphotoid.com/

Sample Ballots for City of Atlanta Voters
Find a sample ballot for your district here: http://tinyurl.com/yffrbxv

Let's Get Out the Vote for Working Women and Families!

Chapter Meeting Success and GOTV This Week

Thanks to all who came to the Chapter Member Meeting this Saturday. You're enthusiasm and ideas were inspiring! If you missed the meeting, e-mail jackie@9to5.org to be filled in on updates and events.

We will be doing Get Out the Vote calling this week on Thursday and Friday evening, 10/29 & 10/30, from 5:30 to 8:30pm.

We hope you can join! Please call or e-mail to let us know you are coming: 404-222-0037 or jackie@9to5.org. Let's help Atlanta elect government officials who will work for working families!