Knowledge is power – so go online and learn more about how to be an effective Citizen Advocate!
Here are some useful resources that will help you understand the process of citizen advocacy:
Wellstone Action! – Being A Successful Citizen Advocacy Wellstone Action! outlines a six (6) step process for more effective citizen advocacy. The steps are: (1) Get organized, (2) Get educated, (3) Develop an effective message, (4) Communicate with your representative, (5) Set up a face-to-face meeting, and (6) Keep the momentum going Visit Wellstone Action! for more information today.
Learn More About Why Learning Arabic Is Important Arabic language, and other languages including Mandarin and Russian, have been designated as critical languages as part of the National Security Language Initiative. The Initiative is a joint effort of the Secretaries of State, Education, and Defense and the Director of National Intelligence to dramatically increase the number of Americans learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages, as a matter both of national security and global competitiveness. The Initiative is backed by federal money for language instruction, chiefly Foreign Language Assistance Program (“FLAP”) grants and StarTalk grants for summer programs. Illinois is startlingly under-represented among FLAP grant recipients to date in spite of its large and diverse Muslim and Arab population. Learning Arabic will provide a competitive advantage to our students and open many doors for them for employment in business, Commerce, trade, State Department and Law Enforcement agencies. Look at 10 great reasons to start learning Arabic by clicking here Why We Need School Funding Reform in Illinois NOW!
In Illinois public education is not equal. Those who are blessed to live in areas where property values are high have better funded public schools than those live in areas where property values are low.
Although the Illinois constitution requires the State to Illinois to provide the majority of public school funding, the reality is that it actually provides less than 1/3 of the total public school funding! The rest of the money comes from local property taxes. The result: rich neighborhoods get the well funded schools and the poor neighborhoods get under-funded schools.
All of Illinois’ public school students should be treated equally. The quality of education cannot and must not be predicated on economic wealth! We need to stand up and fight public education funding reform now! Read the FAQ on Illinois Public Education Funding Reform from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability here Read about a similar citizen lobbying effort by Protestants for the Common Good in Illinois here To learn more about Illinois public education in general visit A+ Illinois here Why Online Gambling is Bad for Illinois!
Illinois is considering a law that would allow online gambling. This is a bad idea. Gambling is addictive. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling’s March 2003 study, approximately 2 million Americans are compulsive gamblers and another 4 to 6 million Americans very serious gambling problems. A study reported in American Family Physician (February 2000) found that a major depressive disorder is likely to occur in 76 percent of pathological gamblers! A 2002 gambling treatment programs evaluation by Dr. Thomas L. Moore found that 10 percent of gamblers enrolled in treatment programs considered and formulated plans to commit suicide. Allowing gambling to expand onto the internet just makes it that much easier for people to engage in this risky and dangerous behavior. Making gambling available online also makes gambling more accessible to children and teenagers. WHY IMPLEMENT A CAP AND INVEST PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS ? - The costs of inaction are high. Illinois can expect more extreme heat and more frequent rains,
flooding and droughts if global warming is unabated. Rising sea levels could displace hundreds of
millions of people around the globe, creating widespread civil and economic disruption.
- It's good for the economy. An analysis of 24 strategies recommended by the Illinois Climate Change
Advisory Group, including cap and invest, found positive impacts on jobs and economic output.
- It may be years before the federal government acts. Most everyone agrees a federal cap and invest
program is preferable to state and regional programs. Yet, despite President Obama's support, a
federal program may be years away while the "tipping point" to avoid devastating climate change
impacts is approaching faster than previously anticipated.
- Support the President's cap and invest plan. For many years states have acted ahead of the federal
government to tackle environmental problems in ways that serve as models for federal policy. There's
no better way to advance the President's cap and invest proposal than by creating a program in Illinois
modeled after his. Illinois can merge with the federal program once it is adopted.
- Create a substantial new source of revenue to invest in the "green tech" revolution. Millions of
"green jobs" are expected to be created from the next generation of industries that produce and sell
alternative fuels, export renewable energy, design high-tech energy efficiency solutions, and sell
carbon emission reduction credits. This program provides the funds needed to jump start Illinois'
green tech sectors.
Illinois Climate Action Network |