Voices from the March (March, 2010)

Jennifer Cost: AFT local 1931 member and San Diego Mesa College professor of English

By Jennifer Cost on March 31

Marching these two days, I feel something powerful stirring in people. This march is the beginning of something remarkable and unstoppable. I drove up from San Diego on Monday with another teacher, Berta Harris, and I thought we’d join people and create a good sight: marchers with a noble cause.

Walking ... Walking

By Jenn Laskin on March 31

Our message is getting stronger and so are we! On Friday, we walked with more than 20 community college students from LA and San Diego. CFT President Marty Hittleman drove up along side of us and walked with us into the town of Le Grand (population 1,700).

Clay Gallardo: Student at Los Angeles Valley College

By Clay Gallardo on March 31

Hello. My name is Clay Gallardo. I am a student at Los Angeles Valley College and an American Federation of Teachers (AFT) intern. For the past 2 semesters, I have been organizing students at rallies and Town Hall meetings, calling attention to the budget cuts and its effects on our education system.

AFSCME Local 2703 and Planada Elementary School host the March for California's Future!

By 260 Miles of Blogging on March 31

Our caravan of marchers, UDW vans and the Blogmobile entered Planada Elementary as all the students assembled outside.

LeGrand Resident: Entire Music Program Cut

By 260 Miles of Blogging on March 29

I just spoke with Robert, a father who has spent most of his life in LeGrand. As soon as our entire caravan arrived, he was immediately intrigued. He started casually talking about the fact that his son's high school has had its entire music program cut. I couldn't believe it.

California United Homecare Workers, Local 4034

By Mike Garcia on March 28

My name is Mike Garcia and I am a member of the California United Homecare Workers Local 4034 in Madera County. I have been a homecare provider for 5 going on years now. I am currently working for an 89 year old woman who is paralyzed. I'm afraid that if Sacramento continues to go down the path they have been going, she'll lose her care and be at the mercy of whatever system the government institutes to replace our current system. I have few statistics that illustrate the situation we are currently in:

465,000 low-income seniors and disabled residents will lose all of their services

Our Walk to Chowchilla: CUHW, SEIU and many surprises

By 260 Miles of Blogging on March 28

Yesterday we had over 50 episodic walkers from Madera to Chowchilla. People joined us on the route. Some, we already expected. Others just saw us passing through and joined. Our march really picked up some great momentum yesterday!

AFSCME Local 2703 Madera County Employees

By 260 Miles of Blogging on March 28

On Friday evening, we were hosted by AFSCME Local 2703 at Burrito King in Madera. Irene Gonzalez, core marcher and member of AFSCME 685 in Los Angeles and Chris, AFSCME Local 2703 Madera County Employees Association E-Board President skyped with Cheryl Brown and the rest of AFSCME Local 57 in Oakland.

Ah, the wonders of technology!

We rearranged all of the tables in the back room of the restaurant so that we'd be sitting in roundtable fashion. After the skype session was over, everyone at the restaurant introduced themselves and reiterated their commitment to our fight.

Poverty in Fresno

By 260 Miles of Blogging on March 25

I have seen poverty in many places, but an urban section of Johannesburg, South Africa called Soweto has always served as a benchmark for me. A kind of barometer for just how terribly people in the very same world in which I am living, could be living. In Soweto, a patchwork of AIDS-ridden shanty villages contrast with affluent malls and housing complexes in the suburban foothills. The poor always walk. The wealthy drive. The poor serve. The wealthy consume. In short, the poverty is incredible not only in itself but because resources and opportunity are so nearby.

Faces of the budget crisis

By Brandon Ortiz on March 25

Here is our third installment in an occasional series looking at the stories of San Diego parents and students hurt by state budget cuts.

TINA SOLORZANO FLETCHER, San Diego State University Student and Parent