SWU

  
         We can all agree that there needs to be something seriously done about our schools education system, with budget cuts happening every year and only getting worse. In my mind I knew what was happening was bad, with my tuition going up and classes a little larger than usual, but I didn't know how bad.
           Friday,  February 3, 2012 was The Save Texas Schools conference and first off I was a bit disappointed at the lack of youth that was present, although we were blessed with the presence of a few students from UTA and two young boys, one from Fort Worth and one from Schertz, Tx. At the save our Texas schools conference they were examining the education crisis,  bugdet cuts, and how schools were reactkng to these large amounts of cuts. 

    
Northside ISD alone cut
           - 22 gifted and talented teachers
           - 20 math and science teachers                       *Northside is one of the more privileged  school
            - 40 special education teachers                        districts so you can only imagine how bad of an
            - 17 administrators                                           impact the other school districts are taking these
            - 28 Coaches                                                    budget cuts.   
            - 86 elementary teachers
            - 66 High school teachers

August 2011, Bexar County 
              Total loss Biennium: 237,095,083.00                       *Texas has 5.4 Billion in budget cuts
    -SAISD
              Revenue Total Loss Biennium: 23,126,192              * Each district in Texas lost Revenue
    -NISD                                                                                    Total Biennium  
              Revenue Total Loss Biennium: 86,333,186

        Our Schools are suffering desperately, Teachers are being asked to do more with less, not to mention no teacher has received a pay raise in years and with the cost of living going up ever year is another burden to bare.  Cramming children into classrooms and not funding the additional growth. In all reality we, as a state, are at risk of losing a generation. These budget cuts on education affect everyone, high school drop out rates are at an all time high and Texas is below the average rate of college completion.
      These budget cuts on education funding are depriving, repressing and limiting the opportunity for our youth, for our future generations, for our future leaders!
And this is the first year all 31 senators are up for re-election, so I'm asking for those who can vote, VOTE PRO_EDUCATION! Come join us March 24th, 2012 Austin, TXMARCH: 11 am @ 12th and TrinityRally: Noon- 2pm@ TX State Capitol

       President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline, January 18th.  This pipeline that was to be stretched from Canada’s oil sands to refineries in Texas. The risks for constructing this pipeline run at great costs.  The pipeline if damaged could leak, possibly endangering the giant Ogallala Aquifer, which provides drinking and irrigation water to much of the Great Plains. Also the extractions of these oil sands is so intense that it also contributes to climate change.  This pipeline would have traveled through North Dakota's only water source and if it were to leak the outcome could be devastating. Thank you Obama administration for saying No! to the Keystone Pipelines.

             It seems fit with elections right around the corner Obama had to give this years State of The Union Speech. Obama as we all know has made history by becoming the first African American president but will we only remember him for that or can we actually say he did more then just win the election? The 2012 State of the Union speech aired on January was a speech worth while, but seems that when I myself listened to the speech I felt like i was stuck in repeat most of the time. Don't get me wrong things were accomplished like our soldiers returned home from Iraq a first in nine years, and the auto industry,which had been on the verge of collapsing, became reconstructed saving millions of jobs and companies like general motors.
             From a one person stand point i would have enjoyed something being done with our education system, an immigration reform for all the struggling students out there with no citizenship, and a solution to help those who are struggling to afford the roof over their heads. Obama definitely is a man who stands up for the hard working class community which is what i admire about him as a president, and in no way do i blame him for the things that were not accomplished these past four years. His speech made me feel that if  we all keep trying our best and fighting for the immigration reforms, for a affordable higher education, a greener country we can accomplish all these things. This country wasn't built on effortless values nor was it built on greed or money  it was built from the ground up with hard work which is what I feel Obama wants to preserve. Although his speech made me feel like i have heard it all before I respect that he will always support the middle class who work hard and want true change to happen.
                                                                                                            -Monica


Don't take my word for it hear his speech and make your own opinion:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/24/us/politics/state-of-the-union-2012-video-transcript.html

Looking for a place to learn belly dancing well SWU is exited to announce that we will be hosting Zombie Bazaar Belly Dancing Thursdays 6:30 - 8pm Mondays 7-8 pm in our Movement Gallery. Make time come on down and learn a thing or two about belly dancing.



here's a taste of Zombie Bazaar dancing:

La Bruja




Big Trouble



el facebook:
www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Zombie-Bazaar-Belly-Dance/119654644809194

“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 16, 2012 the city of San Antonio celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King March. San Antonio is known to have one of the largest marches in the country, and the number of attendees increases with each coming year, Southwest Workers Union was one amongst many organizations that participated in the march. SWU’s youth were excited and could not wait to begin the walk, some of the youth were excited to participate in the march once again, and those who had never been to the march were anxious to see and experience first hand the magnitude of the event. 100,000 people from all parts of the city came together to stand in solidarity with the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr., all kinds of cultures, colors, and languages were unified on this day.

Labor Organizer Job Opening

Southwest Workers Union (SWU) is seeking a full time Labor Organizer to lead organizing efforts for public school worker members and to support campaign development for just economic policy and labor practices. The Labor Organizer will work with the Labor Program Coordinator to organize public school workers in 6 school districts in San Antonio and Austin, Texas as a part of SWU’s organizational goal to build grassroots power in low-income communities.

Responsibilities:

· Build and maintain relationships with public school workers

· Represent membership through the grievance process and relevant administrative meetings and hearings

· Hold regular membership meetings

· Mobilize members to participate in membership and school board meetings, campaigns, and leadership development trainings

· Develop popular education based training curriculum with member input

· Develop and implement membership recruitment plan

· Maintain member database, and administrative and reporting duties

· Work with Program Coordinator to develop a labor media plan

· Work with Program Coordinator to plan and execute direct actions, community meetings, civic engagement and other activities in support of economic and labor justice campaign goals

· Work with other staff to produce member newsletters

Required Qualifications:

· A strong commitment to social justice and organizing within low-income communities

· Comfort with public speaking

· Computer and writing skills

· Bilingual in Spanish and English

Desired Qualifications:

· At least one year of relevant organizing or campaigning experience

· Experience with the grievance process

· Personal transportation

This is a full-time position located in San Antonio, TX that is open immediately. This position is subject to a probationary training period of 3-months, after which the employee will be evaluated and eligible for a staff position with benefits. Compensation: Monthly, commensurate with experience.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for two references to Jill Johnston at jill@swunion.org. People of color, women, and LGBTQ are strongly encouraged to apply.

Southwest Workers Union is a 23-year old grassroots social justice organization of low-income workers, community, and youth united in one struggle for workers rights, environmental justice, and youth empowerment. SWU believes in inter-generational organizing, bottom-up movement-building, and the development of grassroots leaders as a means to bring about systemic social change. Please visit our website at http://www.swunion.org or contact us as 210.299.2666.

This Wednesday Julian Castro mayor of San Antonio announced the companies that will create one of the largest solar farms in North America. Definitely a milestone not only for the city of San Antonio, but also for the Southwest Workers union who introduced the idea three years ago in the People's Power plan that is based on the principles of environmental and social justice that help shape the vision for a more energy sufficient San Antonio. The deal will create more then 800 new jobs not including the countless number of construction jobs it will take to build the plants. The location of the manufacturing plant will be tentatively located on the far west side of San Antonio

In 2010 the city also announced the construction of a massive solar farm on the southeast side on San Antonio. The 140 acre site is the largest solar farm in Texas that powers up to 1,800 homes. The Farm became a first in the right direction for a greener San Antonio. Although the farm only creates a small small percentage of actual energy used by Texans with the new manufacturing plant both the farm and plant will produce enough energy to power countless numbers of homes and businesses.

A much more neighborhood friendly addition then that of a nuclear power plant which CPS ,the major energy supplier for San Antonio, tried to push years back that was derailed with countless efforts of SWU and other organizations as well as concerned citizens. San Antonio in many ways will lead the state and even the nation to reduced our carbon footprint.

Express News Article on the Mega Solar Project:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/living_green_sa/article/CPS-names-two-firms-in-mega-solar-project-2471016.php#photo-2047933

Express News Article on the Solar Farm Project:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/Local-solar-farm-gets-powered-up-806187.php

Youth organizers taking the lead. December 3rd was a day of action for the youth and members at SWU, people came together to stand in solidarity with the actions happening not only in Durban South Africa but all around the U.S.


Monica Ramos (left) Ashely Terrazas (right)

At the end of the workshops the youth wrote letters to their mayor and city council asking them to better their communities, and choose green energy.

SWU youth supporting the movement in South Africa while making a change in their own communities!

By: Ashely Terrazas

Youth community organizers work on letter to the mayor urging him to adopt community lead solutions to climate change.

Michelle G.
Jocelyn T.
Juan A.
Juan R.
Ivan B.
Alyssa G.

(These pictures are of the youth that participated in our action - Muchas Gracias to all that showed up <3 )

A social movement that started on November 28th through December 9th that contained numerous activities around the UN ( United Nation) climate. This was the 17th conference and the year of 2011, it was held in Durban, South Africa. So on the 3rd of December there were movements breaking out all over the world in solidarity for Climate Justice and to pressure governments for real climate solutions.
As our contribution to the action to strengthen international solidarity we we had our participants compose a letter or a drawing that explained either what they have seen in their communities and how it affects them or what they would like to see changed and their suggestions to help make it happen. These letters will be sent to the mayor and city council members in hope that it will make a difference.
-Jessica Garcia

This picture was of an Action that took place during the Conference Of Domestic Workers sponsored by the Texas Care Congress. Personally, I felt the energy level was incredible! After a long heart felt discussion in the morning everyone was ready for a little action come noon. People from every age group was present and accounted for during this action. We all had one focus. We all were working for one cause. There was no news media present, even though there should have been, but with out it we were still as strong and our voices were heard just as much as if they had come. NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE ACTION TO GET THE BlOOD PUMPING!!!! By, Jessica Garcia

With all the baby boomers from the 50's rapidly aging the U.S. faces economic, and social problems unlike any others in the past. As long term care for the elderly and people with disabilities grows families will be left with little help to find the appropriate care they need for their family members. The care givers help ensure dignified health care and support, but under strenuous circumstances both care givers and patients count on one another for a good quality life. Caring Across Generation has been working towards improving the lives of both patients and the care givers with five structural pillars.

1. Create jobs
2. Quality jobs
3. Training for workers
   
4. Pathway to citizenship
5. Support individuals and families
   

Saturday December 10th organizations, care givers, and people with disabilities from across Texas, and even other parts of the country came together to discuss the hardships of being a domestic workers, and how a care congress in Texas would help improve the lives of the domestic care givers. We all count on one another to care for for the lives of our loved ones and members of our society with disabilities, but without a dignified treatment for our care givers who will possibly think about becoming a care giver?

By Monica Ramos

Students In San Antonio, Texas came together this weekend to call to attention how city wide solutions can reduce our carbon footprint. Students who participated were educated on climate change, climate justice, and community-based alternatives trough hands on training. Along side other participating organizations we joined together to call to attention the world wide relationship between the negotiations being made in Durban, South Africa that weekend and their significance to local struggles in San Antonio. Thanks to the participants, the People's Power Plan was edited to a new version that will be sent to the Mayor in oder to catch his attention, and embrace these reals steps to reduce San Antonio's carbon footprint in the world.

By Monica Ramos

The south by southwest this weekend has created a convening for organizations all over to come together to demonstrate trough workshops how the process of our cross country solidarity building stays strong. Participants learned our struggles our history our methods during this two day long convening. We all shared our stories and trough the south by southwest experiment we learned that our stories are not so different from each other. No matter what background we come from there is always a similar history we all share. My favorite part of this weekend was showing many adults how to actually organize with youth because afterwards the other two youth interns and myself received so many compliments on how our workshop really opened up their eyes. I'm glad i've been able to grow from a youth participant the past four years to becoming a youth organizer for the SxSW.

By Monica Ramos

Southwest Workers Union (SWU) is a non-profit organization which has been around for about 23 years now. SWU focuses on 6 main areas of work them being movement building, youth empowerment, border and migrant rights, environmental justice, leadership development and economic justice. The organization was created in 1988 in Hondo, Texas and has since then moved to San Antonio while still organizing in Hondo. SWU currently has 2,500 members a number that keeps growing with each coming day, a large part of those members are kids, teenagers and young adults ranging anywhere from 5-24 years of age, most of them come from low-income, and working class households. SWU has worked with (SWOP) Southwest Organizing Project out of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Southern ECHO out of Jackson, Mississippi, but it wasn’t till about four years ago that the South by Southwest Experiment (SxSW) was created. I have attended and participated in many of these workshops, which focus on creating awareness, empowering the community, and building trust across groups of people.

The South by Southwest Experiment consists of the three organizations mentioned above, Southwest Workers Union, Southwest Organizing Project, and Southern ECHO, all of which do work around environmental and economic justice in their respective towns. The main goal of SxSW is creating acceptance between people of different cultures and races, while also empowering the community to really take part in the decisions being made by our government officials, decisions that affect the minorities in this country, and to create an alliance between black, brown and red, all of these communities have a history of being oppressed, marginalized, and discriminated against.

Not only are Latin Americans or people without the proper documentation marginalized, but also African Americans, people who are already citizens of the U.S. yet their voices are almost never heard, and it seems as if very little if anything has changed since the 1950’s and 1960’s. Americans take pride in belonging to a nation with many cultures, and kinds of people yet racism is still alive and well. So where is the disconnect? Why is it that we are living in the 21st century and there is still prejudice, and discrimination against a person’s skin color, language and/or culture?

Organizations such as SWU, Southern ECHO, and SWOP struggle every day to make a change not only in their household, communities and cities, but in the country as a whole. It may seem as an overwhelming task to take on but if only everyone took a part in this movement, then our voices would be heard. Minorities in this country have to form bonds, and relationships with each other, we have to realize that we do have similar issues, and we can’t face them alone, there is power in numbers, and the day we realize it, will be the day that we begin to make a change. We not only owe it to ourselves, but to others who came before us, who dedicated their life to achieving equality, acceptance, and acquiring the dream of succeeding in life.

BY: Ashely Terrazas