Jala Agnew

Laurel Sprague
December 15, 2015
HON 1000
What Should We Do?
Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

Part 1: Introduction
The Michigan Welfare Rights Organization is the blending of lowincome workers, public assistance beneficiaries, who not only have a chapter
In Detroit, but all around Michigan.
Ways of Seeing: impression on how the group sees the city.

This group sees the city as home. Most of them grew up here and
others just reside here. This organization is primarily based off of the
struggle. People trying to bring awareness to the people who dont
have any idea of their abilities. This organization sees the city as a new
beginning, the organization can finally help others who are in the
position they were in. This is the Welfare Rights members seeing the
city as love. The group sees the city is up for redemption, to prove the
worth. To show and be able to say that they helped overcome the past.

History: In what ways does this reflect the continuation of the past or a break
with the past?

This organization of low-income workers and their plan to change the

city is showing a break with the past. In out honors 1000 class one of
the many themes were past, and this is proving a break with exactly
that, the past. The plans of this organization is clearly saying they are
going to change the present, to help the future, and forgive the past. In
order for the organization to re-establish the city dedication and
commitment it key, and they definitely have it. Therefore, in order to
cleanse this imperfect nation, re-establish justice, ensure economic
stability, provide for the common security, promote the national
welfare, and enhance the blessings of financial freedom once enjoyed
by the collective posterity, we do re-dedicate and re-establish our
singular commitment to take control of our nation as patriots as we
fight for the American Dream." - Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

Present: In what ways is local example representative of or a break from

American cities in general?

In Cleveland Ohio, they too are facing poverty rates and have a welfare
rights organization as well. It began in 1967 when resident Lillian Craig,
and Ohio resident founded the organization. The group fought for the
rights of people, showing extra care to women and children. The NWRO
gained some success in the late 1960s and 1970s due to the
government funding welfare programs and bringing awareness to the
poverty issues.

Future: What kind of future does this group/person predict?

The goals of this group is to not only bring awareness to the poverty
level right now but for there to not be poverty. For poverty to go away
and everyone being able to live peacefully. Living in poverty means not
being able to feed you and your family for days. MWRO wants that to
never be a problem and by thinking this way they help the homeless
and low-income residents. They then can start to do things to help
them get on their feet along with the other homeless and low-incomes
as well.

Reflection:
What does this group teach us about who we are as people?

This group teaches us that seeing is believing. Its a proper example of

being able to obtain a goal even though you arent as successful as
you wanted to be in life. Its teaching you that being low-class you
could still make a difference or at least try. It seems this time around in
this city everyone is trying to gain something from the other. Its very
rare you find mutual kindness. It taught me that no matter the
situation it could always get better, essentially it should teach us to
never give up to always remember to keep our heads up.

If you had access to the same resources what would you do?

If I was able to help the low-income and homeless like this is would,
and actually I would try to have two organizations in one. Trying to get
the city right but trying to make dreams come true as well. For
instance, if someone wanted to become a nurse as a dream but never
had the money and now cant get the education to begin it, I would
then try to help them accomplish that. Teaching them the material
they need to know to qualify or test qualify, then I would teach them
the proper way of presenting themselves and how to react and respond
to others.

What kind of city would result in if this group accomplished its goal?

If the group reaches its goal, then the group would not only gain more
members but the city would have a huge turnover. The city would go
from one of the scariest cities to one of the most hated. Since no one

would essentially be poor then the school systems would change, the
inflation in the city would do as much harm as it once did, and the
people who just have a better outlook on it. Maybe we could finally
overcome our reputation.
Is Detroit an anomaly or typical, explain.

Personally, Detroit is an anomaly, and I say this because not all

American cities have faced the things Detroit has. From the riots of
1967 or even the drastic change in population that happened in 1950,
or even the Great Fire of 1805. Its not the same, Detroit has had many
obstacles and has either overcame them or are working to overcome
them day by day. We have some much history in talent in this place, it
could never be typical.

Part II: Annotated Bibliography

Michigan

Welfare

Rights

Organization." Michigan

Welfare

Rights

Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.

The following source is the main website for the Michigan Welfare
Rights Organization (MWRO). The information that I had chosen to use for
one of the five sources gave information on not only the MWRO but also the
National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO) as well. On this webpage it
gives information and links as well pertaining to the problem, which is
poverty. It tells the goals of the NWRO which are to develop a system that
promises suitable income, pride, fairness and equality. Questions about the
organization is, their plan, and what they describe as low income are
answered. Also it is defines the benefits of the low-income workers and
homeless people are entitled to under the social service rule and regulations.
As well as the great information above, it also tells you about the volunteers
advocating, which are victims of poverty, disputes come about between
service agents and the population.

UDHR

Campaign

2015

Right

to

Water:

Michigan

Welfare

Rights

Organization." US Human Rights Network. N.p., 15 Oct. 2015. Web. 17 Dec.

2015.
This articles gives you simple background information on Michigan
Welfare Rights organizations and also entails that it was founded in 196, and
organizes recipients and low-income workers. After President Clinton signed
the Welfare Reform act on August 22, 1996, most of the ways out are
reducing. We are in a current state of poverty and endless assaults on the
lower class of people. As and volunteer organization, the MWRO intervenes
of the behalf of the members of the group and sponsor community training
sessions that cover everything from shut-off notices to disputes with landlords. Also the group also put together a strategy that posits the streets,
courts, and legislature.

There is a list of things their campaign includes

anywhere from suing the government to co-drafting a water plan.

"What The EFM Is Going On In Michigan?" Clearing the FOG Radio. N.p., 27
June 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
This next article is looking at the problem of poverty and have a
solution or two for Michigan. The newest thing Michigan has done was
appointing Emergency Financial Managers to run the cities and schools,
mostly in the black communities. Tom Stephens writes, The Emergency
Financial Manager regime imposed on Detroit is an entirely new and
unprecedented form of antidemocratic local government directly controlled

by the corporate agents of the 1% that is designed to steal everything:

land, water, air, lives, and every right not associated with capital.
Emergency Financial Managers starting getting appointed in 2000, but you
started to see a significant change stating in 2011. The Public act 4 passed,
along with the local government and school district fiscal accountability act.
This means the officials could exercise any power or authority of any officer,
employee, department, board, commission or other similar entity of the local
government whether elected or appointed.
"In Detroit: No Money, No Water - Circle of Blue WaterNews." Circle of Blue
WaterNews. N.p., 19 Apr. 2010. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
The following source is an article developed by a man named Brent
Walton who has been following the water usage and shut offs since 2003.
The article discusses the problem the city is facing with water usage and the
lack of water. In 2006 the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization picketed
houses of Detroit city council members to protest the water departments
decision to shut off water connection to people who could not afford to pay
their bills. The change in the water has also effected the water utility. It
increases to compensate for the lost water. The bill steadily increases for the
citizens who are paying for water. In 2008 the water increased by about fiftyfour dollars, the next year it rose to about eighty-two dollars and next
summer its supposedly going to increase another nine percent.

This

problem will take years to solve but the prediction is that the population will

hit rock bottom in 2020. This exact problem it the reason the MWRO is trying
to help get the victims of this help.
"Welfare Rights Groups Still Working For Change - Issue 79 Articles - NEOCH
- Homeless - Cuyahoga - Ohio -Homelessness - Poverty - Ohio." Welfare
Rights Groups Still Working For Change - Issue 79 Articles - NEOCH Homeless - Cuyahoga - Ohio -Homelessness - Poverty - Ohio. N.p., n.d. Web.
17 Dec. 2015.
Written by Bernadette Janes the article entails the empowerment
center of greater Cleveland and stop targeting Clevelands homeless are two
organizations to help the problem they are working towards the elimination
of inequality. They focus on everyone but especially children who are
endangered by the loss of income support, which can break the families.
Michigan and Cleveland are different because Michigan is based on homeless
and general while Cleveland gives a special place for the broken families and
children.