Hope in An Age of Crisis

SOUL STUDENT NETWORK

Where We Are Today:

An Age of Crisis

A Land Whose Leaders Have Turned Against the

Will of God[The land’s] officials … are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Its prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the LORD says’—when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.Ezekiel 22:27-30

Economic Crisis:The Poor & Working

ClassAre Under Attack

High Unemployment

Cuts to Education& the Safety Net

Cuts to Schools:$200 million cut in Illinois in 2012$400 million cut threatened this

year

Other cuts:Mental health services, Medicaid,

addiction prevention and counseling, youth programs,

public transportation

Record Corporate Profits

Rising Income Inequality

Source: http://www.cbpp.org/files/11-28-11pov.pdf

Behold, the wages of the laborerswho mowed your fields,which you kept back by fraud,are crying out against you,and the cries of the harvestershave reached the ears of the Lordof hosts.James 5:4

Declining Tax Revenue

Environmental Crisis:

Endangering Our Planet& Our Communities

Where We’re Heading

Predicted Impacts Permanent Dust Bowl conditions over

the U.S. Southwest, large parts of Africa, and other populous areas

Massive species loss on land and sea More extreme weather, more frequently Large Scale Food Insecurity – Affecting

up to 4 billion people by the end of the next century

EXTREME POLITICAL INSTABILITYSource: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/09/28/330109/science-of-global-warming-impacts/

Social Crisis:Structural Racism& Scapegoating

Violence &

Poverty

Mass Incarceration of Black and Latino

Men

Immigrants

Political Crisis:Government Held

Hostage

Case Study:Illinois SB 282

Unequivocal Public Support

Source: PPP Poll, Dec. 18-19, 2012

Outcome: Killed by Democrats

Michael J. Zalewski

Frank J. Mautino

Michael Madigan

Corporate Control of Elections

How does this crisis impact our communities and

families?

A Brief History:Crisis & Social Change

The Great Depression

Labor Movement & New Deal

Civil Rights Movement

IIRON’s Vision:

OrganizingFor a New Movement

Getting at the Root Causes

Naming Our Crisis

Neo-liberalism(Reaganomics)

A War of Values

IIRON’s Values

Economic Justice The Common

Good Protect

Democracy Living Wage &

Workers’ Rights Environmental

Sustainability

Neoliberalism’s Values

Individualism Structural

Greed Regressive

Taxes Deregulation of

Banks & Businesses

Privatization of Public Services

Specific Issues Enact Corporate Tax Disclosure Close Corporate Loopholes Protect Social Security,

Medicare, Medicaid, and other Human Services

Force Banks to Reduce Loan Debt for Underwater Homeowners

Stop Corporatization of Schools

How Do We Make Systemic

Change?

Public Meetings

Direct Action

Organizing Statewide Power

Lobbying for the 99%

Building Electoral Power

A Divine Challenge

A Divine PromiseIf you take away from the midst of you the yoke,    the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,if you pour yourself out for the hungry    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,then shall your light rise in the darkness    and your gloom be as the noonday.And the LORD will guide you continually,    and satisfy your desire with good things,    and make your bones strong;and you shall be like a watered garden,    like a spring of water whose waters fail not.And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;you shall be called the repairer of the breach,    the restorer of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:9-12