Coalition for Economic and Social Justice

History:

In 1990, the Campaign to Abolish Poverty (CAP) was formed in San Francisco, in the Tenderloin area, an area of high concentration of low-income housing and services for poor and homeless people. CAP launched several economic justice projects in the Bay Area including a living wage campaign, affordable housing work, and efforts to stop the criminalization of homeless people. CAP created a 12 point plan to end poverty and incorporated those points and other justice issues in federal legislation, H.R. 1050, "A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act." Former Congressman Ronald V. Dellums initially introduced the legislation and it is currently sponsored by Barbara Lee.

When Barbara Arms, key organizer, moved from San Francisco to Belleville, IL, CAP shifted its local work from the Bay Area to the Metro East, which includes several communities in Illinois east of St. Louis, across the Mississippi River. The CAP advisors agreed that there was a need for social justice as well as economic justice work and Barbara Arms and three other CAP activists, Aileen C. Hemandez, Anne G. Politeo, and Betty L. Traynor agreed to apply for non-profit, 501c3 status and serve as the legal board. Non-profit status for the Coalition for Economic and Social Justice (CESJ) was received in March, 2006.

Mission Statement of Coalition for Economic and Social Justice (CESJ), a 501c3 organization:

To work for justice, expand democracy, and support non-violent alternatives to conflict.

Mission Statement of Campaign to Abolish Poverty (CAP):
To ensure everyone who is able to work has an opportunity for a living wage job and for those unable to work, sufficient income so they can lead a life of dignity.

Current projects of CAP:

1. HR 1050: Continue to build grass roots and congressional support for the policy bill.
2. Build an economic justice trail from East St. Louis to New Orleans. Include educational material on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); job creation and job training legislation developed by the National Jobs for All Coalition's (NJFAC) "Drive for Decent Work" with an emphasis on "green" jobs and job training; Self Sufficiency Standards developed by the Insight Center for Community Economic Development; and updating the federal poverty guidelines to accurately reflect poverty.
3. Hold monthly current events discussion group for the MetroEast ( the area east of St. Louis and across the Mississippi River.

Mission Statement of MetroEast Gays and Straights (MEGS)

To ensure equal rights and opportunities for lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgendered (LGBT) people in Southern Illinois.

Current projects of MEGS:

1. FOSSILAGE: For Our Slightly Older Illionis Lesbian and Gay Elders.
2. Justice Trail: Provide information to communities from Belleville (location of MEGS) to Cairo, the southern most point in Illinois.
3. 3C's Club: Coffee, Cards, and Conversation for lesvians, a weekly group in Belleville.
4. Pride O9: Planning the 2nd Pride event for 2009. see web site:
5. PFLAG: Meeting at St. Paul's UCC to form a local chapter in the Metro East.
6. Watch Dog: a committee that responds to homophobic actions and encorages crimes against gays be taken seriously.