Earning trust the old-fashion way
Greg Lyons—Ohio
In Lima I spoke with an elderly woman who was reluctant to join because she was distrustful of people coming to her door. I could see she wasn't comfortable so I politely thanked her and went on my way.
Later that night I was on her street doing call backs, she saw me, called me over and became a member. She said of I were that committed I must be working on something important. I know that being polite earlier in the night had impressed her and gave me the opportunity to later sign her up as a member.
Old Mother Hubbard
Rebecca Hawkins—Ohio
The other night I met a woman on turf whose husband had been laid off from his auto manufacturing job. He has not been able to find steady work and has been working for a temp agency in a desperate attempt to support his family. The woman related to me that she often doesn't have enough money to feed her children. I asked if she was registered to vote; she said no. She then asked for a voter registration form because she finally realized she could help to make a change by voting.
The Reasons are Ever Present
by Joe Bonenfant—Ohio
The other day I was canvassing in Hamilton, Ohio. I came to a house on the corner of two main streets on my turf. 2 small children were playing in the front yard. I asked to speak with one of their parents. An older woman came out to speak with me. I gave her my rap and I noticed she didn't have any hair. When I asked which issue was most important I knew she was going to say health care.
She explained to me how she was in the middle of chemotherapy. There were better procedures to treat her breast cancer but the insurance company said they were "experimental." I told her to stay strong and wished her and her children a blessed evening. This story was so important because when I was only three, the same thing happened to my mom. She suffered through chemo and as a result, early menopause. This put a tremendous strain on our family dynamic. I was reminded of myself in her two children. People like this, who are going through hard times but can still help their fellow man, are the reason I love this job so much.
He totally gets it !!!!
by Ebony Taylor—Pennsylvania
We were in Shaler, PA and he was my first contact of the evening. I started out telling him my name and when I told him that I was from Working America a really big smile came across his face. He said that he received phone calls from Working America that informed him about Melissa Hart's voting record. He also talked about voting for her in the past, and not knowing that she was not for issues that concern working people. He said, "we kicked her butt, I loved it and I love Working America!" He was just as excited about renewing his membership, which he displayed by quickly pulling out the money from his pocket and informing me that he did not need a receipt. I think he said "I love Working America" three times before our conversation ended.
Met My Match
by Angel Gober—Pennsylvania
I knocked on a door three times. No answer. I left to go to the next house when I heard people at the first home getting their mail. Naturally, I went back and I apologized for not giving them enough time to answer the door, and I proceeded into my rap. This man told me, "I'm a registered Conservative Republican!".
I said, "Ok, that's great. Well, I'm a registered Democrat, but that doesn't mean that we can't agree that our economy is a disaster. That's what Working America is about. We're a non-profit organization fighting for working people and reiterees!"
He invited me in, and I sat down with him and his wife. We talked about how our politicians are getting rich w/our tax dollars and have free healthcare. After a few minutes, I felt that they trusted me. The wife signed down and told me that she didn't have $5 for dues. She told me, "Before you knocked on our door, we were making a list of all of the creditors that we owe."
She said that her husband couldn't find work for six months, and he finally landed a job, but their wages, combined are still not enough to cover their cost of living.
I felt this woman become very insecure and vulnerable. It was amazing to know that at first they were hard-core conservative, and they turned into your everyday struggling family worrying, like so many, how they were going to survive.
I left feeling very confident that this family had a real change of heart.
Giving hope
by Nathan Rose—Minnesota
I was canvassing in Brooklyn Park where I met a woman whose child was hit by a car. She lost her home to pay for her children's health care and lost her job while nursing her injured child. She said that she now just wants to help fix the health care system however she can, even if it's through volunteer work. "I don't even want money," she said. "I just want to help people by doing something that matters.: Then she gave me an apple and a DPM, despite the fact that "every dollar is precious," she said. "Thank you. This gives me hope."
Keeping our jobs here!
by Patricia Penton—Ohio
I asked a man what issue was most important to him and he eagerly replied, "Keeping our jobs here!" I was so excited I told him that that was one of our most important issues. He went on to explain that he was in jeopardy of losing his job in the manufacturing business and sincerely thanked me for being out in his neighborhood that evening.
Children…what sweethearts!
by Erin Bogle—Missouri
I young boy was hanging out while I was canvassing houses in his neighborhood. When I arrived at his house he appeared with a bag of pennies. He felt Working America needed these pennies more than him. His mother couldn't afford the 5 dollars and he insisted that we take it, so that we could "make schools better!"
Dad Died at Pennsylvania Steel Company
by Kara Kukovich—Pennsylvania
I was canvassing in Bethlehem when I came across a woman sittin on her porch. When I told her who I was, she got excited and eager to sign on. She said she always signs anything in support of the AFL-CIO because her (deceased) father was such a big supporter and member of the union. She began telling me the story of how her dad worked at a local steel company and was killed in August of 1984 when the roofing rafters fell through - something the union had been trying to get fixed because of the imposing danger. Her family got paid $200-400 for her dad's death.
House Reps Cringe When WA Canvassers Show Up
by Jackie Lima—Pennsylvania
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 was "Rally Day." The "A-team" was fired up and ready to go! Across the street from Congressman Charlie Dent's office in Bethlehem, PA, we outfitted ourselves with crutches, bandages, whistles and a megaphone. We carried clothes lines of Working America health care petition signatures from the 15th Congressional District encircling the lawn and sidewalk in front of Rep. Dent's office building. We chanted: "What do we want?" "Health Care!" "When do we want it?" "Now!" "Charlie Dent - health care is bent!" Posters read "Honk for health care reform!" and passers by honked in support. The press and the police stopped by to see what was going on. Several workers from the office building came out also. Two of them were not registered to vote and true-to-form were given voter registration forms by WA canvassers. One of them addressed the crowd through the megaphone to have her voice and story heard. PA State Director, Jenn Jannon and Allentown's Canvass Director, Jennifer Hofelich spoke to us about the critical need for health care in America. Congressman Dent was given a "Get Well" card and pieces of the petition signed by Working America members from his district - letting him know that his constituents DO CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE!
Where is the safety net?
by Curtis Neff—Minnesota
I am a field manager in the Twin Cities. Yesterday I was taking out a potential new activist on their observation day. The woman we canvassed in the trailer park was very sad. Her lights were being shut off. She had just lost her job due to downsizing. We have AFl-CIO community Services cards we hand out to people falling between the cracks. Unfortunately in this economy we find more and more of these people. Our services lead people assistance with food, utilities, health care programs, workers rights, unemployment assistance, job training, English language programs, volunteer opportunities, and community activist training. I was taken aback by her appreciation for the opportunity to have some help where it seems like there is none to be found. I was choked up over this and had to take a minute to get to the next door. My observer was able to see the real compassion and empathy we have as Working America activists. Some folks are making it through life real swell while the majority of us are struggling or not making it at all.
Exxon Mobile just made 11 Billion dollars in the second quarter and we can't afford to drive to an interview to keep the lights on. Where is the Safety NET!
Doing the right thing
by Abdirisak Farah—Minnesota
I met a young lady who was really in a hurry. She asked, "What can I do for you? I introduced myself and told her that we are fighting for health care. Then she said: "I don't care if I am going to be late for work. I will sign this because I'm one of the 47 million people without health care that you are fighting for. Keep up the fight! You are doing the right thing!"
I was so pleased.
Unions - yes!
by Rose Bonesso—Pennsylvania
As the office manager in Pittsburgh, I rarely get the opportunity to talk to the people whose lives' are being affected daily by a struggling economy and inadequate health care the way our Organizers do. Last week; however, I answered the phone and spoke to a woman who had been canvassed the prior evening. She said that she spent most of her adult life thinking that Unions were the "problem", but after talking with one of our Organizers, she felt differently. She opened about her own workplace where she had always made a good living in commission sales, but now, the corporation was demanding more and more and offering less and less in terms of pay, benefits and incentives. She said she was about 10 years away from retirement, and wanted to try and organize a Union!!
She went from being anti-Union to establishing herself as a Union organizer!
It's always amazing to me the real, tangible difference that our organizers are making out in the field every single day.
Only in America can you work 3 jobs
by Erin Brainard—Colorado
This week at a door I met a single mother of three who was working three jobs to get by. She said she slept an average of three to four hours a night. She said that she had gotten a promotion recently at one of her jobs but because she was salary she was not eligible for overtime. Therefore even though she had more responsibility & was working a great deal more she was actually making far less per hour than she had been previously.
Give people hope
by Donald Pettyjohn—Ohio
While canvassing in Middletown, I met a husband and wife who were taking care of their son and his wife. The son had been locked out of his manufacturing company and lost his job and developed a rare disease since and couldn't work. The son's wife was battling breast cancer and also couldn't work. The parents were retired and the father was also battling cancer. They couldn't pay to help their son and his wife and everything else. They had to take out a mortgage on their home and file bankruptcy as well. The mother was weeping as she continued and I couldn't help but think of all the similar stories I've heard since I started canvassing five moths ago and the other peoples' doorsteps I stood on watching them weep and pour their hearts out to a complete stranger and it hit me how widespread the problem really is. You're not supposed to take your work home with you but I can't help it sometimes. I'm just thankful Working America gives me a chance to give these people some hope that someone is doing something about it! Go Working America! Let's change this country one doorstep at a time!
Three Dues Paying Members in One Second
by Jon Caldwell—Ohio
Yesterday in Mt. Healthy I walked up to three people talking by their cars. I told them about Ohio's job loss, and they could relate. They all signed up as members and signed EFCA postcards. When it came for dues they all said they wished they could but they had no money on them at that time. I thanked them for their support and made my way back to the rest of my call-backs. After 5-7 minutes one of the guys drove to find me with a dues payment for him and both of his friends.
Signing up the whole family
by Octavio Armendariz—Ohio
I was canvassing in the area of Lakewood. I had been having a rough night because I kept running into very negative people. However I went up to a door and knocked, and this really nice lady answered the door. I gave her my rap and she seemed very interested. What amazed me most was her three kids who all signed the band-aid petition. But what really got me was their involvement. As I asked what issues mattered most to them, her daughter--who must have only been thirteen if that--started to comment on how important good jobs were. The other two younger kids also gave their input on the economy and health care. I thought to myself: "Maybe there is hope for the younger generation!"
Health care nightmare
by Michael Dice—Colorado
While canvassing, I signed up a new member for Working America who is passionate about health care reform in this country. She was diagnosed several years ago with a serious autoimmune disease. She was forced to take medical retirement from a good job in California and to move to Colorado to be near family members to assist her with her physical needs. Her latest hospital bill was $95,000 dollars and she may have to file bankruptcy as a result. She had a very compelling story and wants to help out!
Sneaky Company
by Becky Angelo—Ohio
I talked to a woman in Akron area, who is retired from a company who has sold out to another company who is outsourcing. The way they are doing it is that if a current employee refuses to train people from India they are bringing in they will be fired no questions asked. They are also getting rid of a few employees at a time instead of all at once. This isn't all. All former employee's that are retired are losing their health care insurance starting jan 09.
“I Was Just Talking About This”
by David Weston—Pennsylvania
One woman was outraged at the rising price of gas. "I was just talking about this!" she told me. She reminded me that, "if this was the 70's, we'd be out protesting and demonstrating with signs in hand!". I let her know that her mentality was exactly the reason that I was out in the community building up that support. I realized the universality of the Working America message and the outrage of average Americans at the state of the economy. She and I both knew that if our politicians maintained the status quo, people would stand up and fight back, especially with their ballots at the polls.
Outsourced after 9-11
by Kara Kukovich—Pennsylvania
I was canvassing in Alburtis, PA when a woman answered the door. I had been to her house earlier and met her son. I told her we were fighting job outsourcing. She said, "I know. My husband was one of them." She told me how her husband was working and that shortly after 9-11-2001, he lost his job because of outsourcing. "Wow. That must have been a hard time for your family," I said. "Yeah, she replied, it was."
The “nursing home”
by Arthur Benson—Pennsylvania
I came to the door of a soon-to-be-member and met an elderly couple. They were bedding in a cluttered living room with most necessities at arm's length. The husband informed me that they were ineligible for any form of government assistance...
A very committed member
by Jay Rosen—Pennsylvania
Today I had the distinct pleasure of meeting a wonderful couple. He works in construction and his wife is a hair-stylist. Their passion for our cause is so profound and we talked for at least 10 minutes. They are struggling as many people that I have come across in this line of work. They asked me to sit with them, gave me some bottled water and paid their dues as well. It was a fruitful endeavor as I also signed up three other people that were visiting them. Meeting people like these helped make our mission worthwhile and meaningful.
Paying her dues
by Sheldon Vaughn—Colorado
Yesterday while canvassing, I met a woman outside her home who was nothing short of amazing. I approached her and gave my intro and she immediately was hooked on the idea of Working America...
“Say no more!”
by Michael Dice—Colorado
During my first few days of canvassing, a lady interrupted my introduction, grabbed my clipboard and said emphatically, "That's enough! Say no more!" She grabbed my clipboard...
Fighting the good fight
by Jeulia Russell—Ohio
I knocked on a senior's door. She was a nice older woman. I told her who I was and with and what we were doing--fighting to lower the costs of health care. She told me she had never had health insurance until she was 65 years old, and she said it was hard because she's on a fixed income...
No leave for hospital worker
by Wes Gadsden—Pennsylvania
I canvassed a great lady who had worked for a local hospital for 30 years. When she got ill and has to take off a few months of work, she was denied Family Medical Leave...
Moved by our members, moved by our work
by Sue Burke—Ohio
I signed up a member after talking with her about health care. She told me that her son had Parkinson's disease. She found out a friend of hers was in the same situation. They decided they would feel better if they talked about it over coffee.
We both cried. I, because I was so moved and she because she was impressed by what Working America was all about and because we care enough to do what we do everyday.
Jumping for joy
by J Russell—Ohio
I was canvassing in Wapakeneton, Ohio, and ran in to a teacher. I gave him my rap and he was very excited that I had stopped by his doorstep. He was having trouble paying his medical bills so he became a member and he jumped up for joy as I assured him we're joining together to fight for affordable health care...
Failing system
by Chad Rein—Missouri
A member signed up with us because she was fed up with the health care system. She was fighting cancer and was on chemotherapy. Not only was she dealing with her cancer, but was fighting a failing health care system. She was only too happy to sign up with us. I was very happy to add her as a member and get her support. I told her that it was for people like her that we go out each day and fight to improve a system that is failing the people.
Sorry, wrong address
by D. Anthony Gildon—Missouri
knocked on a woman's door and she invited me in. We sat and talked as she signed up as a member because of her concern about health care. She had surgery and needed medications which cost $500.00...
More than art
by Tom Richmond III—Michigan
It was my second day at my second real job in my life. The day was brisk, a foreshadow of work to come. After a knock and a ring, the door was opened by a middle-aged woman. The rap went well, and I had the pleasure of an audience with her son front row. As she was flipping through my clipboard, the son handed me a folded note, saying...
“Keep up the good work!”
by David Delanoy—Pennsylvania
While I was out canvassing, I met an older man who lost his job to outsourcing. He had tears in his eyes as he told me about the steel mill that he had loved and lost. I told him how we were fighting back and his face list up with excitement. He jumped at the chance to do anything he could to help. It made me feel good to know that I had made his day. As I left he asked to shake my hand and he told me to "keep up the good work!"
Empty houses for blocks
by Kyle Morehead—Missouri
Last Friday as I was canvassing in Independence, Missouri I came across two blocks that were essentially empty. It seemed that house after house was in foreclosure or just empty. When we did make contact with a resident the majority were unemployed or scared of losing their jobs...
Army man left bankrupt
by Jaclyn Scudiero—Missouri
A man that I was talking to used to be in the Army. He was very supportive of what we were doing. He told me that after he got out of the Army he ended up bankrupt because he was injured during his service and couldn't find a job that payed enough.
Dumped by her insurance
by Chris Bowman—Missouri
One day while canvassing, I talked to a woman who informed me that she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago. She continued to explain that shortly after her visit to the hospital, her insurance company upped her premium to just over $1,000 a month...
Not a real retirement
by Rick Snodgrass—Missouri
A retired man and a semi-retired woman in their late 60's having to pay over $700 per month on insurance. With SSI and retirement pay she had to continue work as a book keeper to make ends meet.
Small towns need good jobs
by Sergio D. Acosta—Missouri
I met with a young man that was passionate about ending tax credits to big corporations that send American "blue collar" jobs out of the country.
It was awesome to talk with someone that understood the struggle and supported our cause.
A good day on turf
by DeAndra McCollum—Ohio
One of the great inspirations that I had on turf was when I knocked on an elderly person's door. I was told her who I was, and explained that I was fighting to keep jobs in Ohio and lower the cost of health care. She said it was a coincidence because her husband's job was just shipped to Mexico and told me how hard it was for them to pay their bills...
Health care and job loss a REAL crisis
by Jennifer Hofelich—Pennsylvania
This elderly woman I spoke to in Duryea, PA told me that many years ago she was hurt in a fork lift accident at her job, leaving her unable to work. Years later, her company shipped their jobs overseas along with her health care benefits. She has had two strokes since and is relying on Medicare to pay 80% of her medical costs...
From scrap-booking to keeping jobs
by Chris Antonneau—Michigan
We were out canvassing in Royal Oak, MI the other night when I met this great older lady. I talked with her about the importance of correcting the problems with our health care system. She agreed we need change and need it soon...
Jobs being outsourced
by Kara Kukovich—Pennsylvania
Recently, while canvassing in Forks Township, I knocked on a gentlemen's door and told him we were fighting to keep our jobs from being outsourced. "Yeah, my job's being outsourced," he said. He said he worked for a company designing dyes and tools and that in August, his job is going to Mexico and China!
Video: Organizing her neighbors
Ed Donaldson has an inspiring story about a member who was so motivated by our work that she came with him to canvass her whole neighborhood.
Video: Health care affects us all
Chris Antonneau speaks with a Marine family about health care. At first they're not sure the issue affects them, but Chris lets them know about the struggle for children's health care and it becomes clear -- the need for quality affordable health care for all affects all of us.