Pat Barcas/staff photographer
With too many Illinois workers struggling to survive on $17,160 a year, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Gov. Pat Quinn, Ill. labor leaders, faith leaders and low-wage workers joined the Give America a Raise bus tour, urging Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — A nationwide bus tour is hoping to turn the tide in favor of low wage workers.

The 11 state “Give America a Raise” bus tour supporting President Obama’s plan to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour stopped in Chicago March 31 — with backing from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Gov. Pat Quinn. There is scheduled to be a Senate vote this week on the issue.

The argument is low wage fast food and retail workers are an integral part of the United States economy, and should be able to make enough money working 40 hours per week to live off of. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a living wage in Chicago is $21,790 to be able to afford housing, medical care, transportation and food. If full-time Illinois workers made $10.10 an hour, they’d earn $21,008 a year.

Illinois currently has a minimum wage of $8.25 per hour. A federal minimum wage increase to $10.10 per hour would increase the wages by $4,800 per year for nearly a half million Illinois workers — money that will typically be spent at local businesses on food, clothing, and furniture.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
With too many Illinois workers struggling to survive on $17,160 a year, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Gov. Pat Quinn, Ill. labor leaders, faith leaders and low-wage workers joined the Give America a Raise bus tour, urging Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10.

Opponents such as Sen. Mark Kirk and Republicans in Congress including Adam Kinzinger, Randy Hultgren, Rodney Davis and Peter Roskam say an increase in minimum wage will hurt small business, decrease jobs, increase prices, and block entry level jobs for those with no experience.

Durbin said companies need to step up and pay a living wage in order for them to not rely on tax subsidies.

“When these big companies don’t pay a minimum wage, taxpayers make up the difference. Food stamps, child tax credit, earned income tax credit are all given to people who are working 40 hours per week. The federal treasury and state treasury are subsidizing low wage workers,” he said.

A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that overall, 63 percent of Illinois voters support raising the minimum wage to $10 — while only 33 percent are opposed, which is troubling for Republican lawmakers opposing the increase.

“Some of the hardest working people in Illinois are working 40 hours a week and living in poverty — that is unacceptable. Raising the minimum wage will empower working families and help build an economy that works for everyone,” Said Quinn.

Leaders from large companies such as Costco, Starbucks and Stride Rite agree, supporting a raise in the minimum wage as a way to reduce employee turnover and improve worker productivity.

“Let’s face reality,” said Durbin. “In America, we say we have respect for work. We say there’s a dignity to work. This is a test. If you believe in the dignity of work, supporting $10.10 an hour is the right thing to do.”

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Numerous tradespeople listen to Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council President Tom Villanova explain Chicago and Cook County Project Labor Agreements.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

BELLWOOD — There have been 109 project labor agreements in Cook County alone. With their growing popularity and benefit to the union construction industry, the Construction Industry Service Corporation decided to host an informational presentation March 31 to break down some questions about PLAs.

CISCO presented Tom Villanova, president of the Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council at Cement Masons Local 502 in Bellwood.

Villanova went over a sample Chicago and Cook County PLA to 125 tradespeople, and answered questions. He said PLAs are a valuable tool in protecting union jobs in the city, and one facet was area-wide agreements.

A clause in the sample said in regards to a contractor who is the successful bidder, but is not signatory to the applicable collective bargaining agreement, the collective bargaining agreement executed by the bidder will be relevant area-wide agreements regulating or governing wages, hours and other terms.

“You can’t have job A going union, job B going non-union,” said Villanova. “Once the bid is won, you must agree to a local collective bargaining agreement, or subcontract the job to union labor. It is against the law for us to stop the bidding, though.”

Villanova also said the PLA does not allow a work stoppage on a building site, but does allow lockouts elsewhere with other personnel if there is an off site agreement.

“We cannot strike for anything under this PLA,” he explained.

This does not cover different suppliers off site. For instance, manufacturers of cabinets for a job do not have to be union. It’s just too far reaching. The PLA does not guarantee a work stoppage from a secondary labor action, but it does make it extremely unlikely, not having happened in Cook County since 2010.

This allows for projects to be completed on time while also supporting other lockouts. Workers would also get retroactive pay for whatever collective bargaining agreement is settled on during the job.

“You get retroactive pay for whatever’s settled. This allows work to go on fairly,” said Villanova.

Villanova said it’s typical that union drug testing be satisfactory for jobs in the city, and the clause is noted in the sample PLA.

“We don’t want to double test. It’s expensive and time consuming. The PLA does supersede collective bargaining agreements,” he said.

CISCO Executive Director Dan Allen said the presentation far exceeded expectations.

“There’s been a lot of misinformation out there and I’ve been answering a lot of questions about PLAs,” he said. “Every group had a lot of misconceptions and Tom did a great job clearing things up.”

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Cement Masons local 502, unhappy with Sequoia General Contractor’s use of non-signatory contractors, is protesting Naperville’s Main Street Promenade East development. Several Scabby the Rats outside the site are alerting the public that Core Concrete is not meeting area standards. People can check out installation basics here! 

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

NAPERVILLE — The $30 million Naperville Main Street Promenade East project may mean big business to downtown Naperville, but Cement Masons Local 502 is unhappy with the way the general contractor is handling the construction, namely hiring non-union labor that is not up to area pay standards.

The union set up a couple Scabby the Rats last week at the site at Benton and Main streets to protest Aurora-based Sequoia General Contracting, as well as their subcontractor Core Concrete and Ozinga ready mix concrete — whose cement trucks broke the picket line in their deliveries. The concrete grinding is a very important process of construction. Having a skilled concrete excavation ensures proper depth and stability for construction projects.

“We don’t want to see a downtown development without responsible contractors,” said Mark Warzecha, business representative for Cement Masons Local 502.

“The problem here is, they’re saving money where they can, and the work quality is going to suffer,” Warzecha explained.

He said the project, which broke ground in October of last year, is paying substandard wages and hiring non-union labor for the concrete work.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Cement Masons Local 502 protests in Naperville against Core Concrete for not meeting the area standards and conditions for cement masons in the area.

The two story, 55,000-square-foot retail and office project is expected to be completed this summer in August and is being developed by BBM Inc., which is owned by Dwight and Ruth Yackley.

During the construction, Ozinga concrete trucks pulled in and out of the site, despite being manned by Teamsters.
“Shame on Ozinga. We’re upset and tired of them crossing picket lines,” said Warzecha.

The current construction is phase two of the project, with phase three of the promenade containing more shops and offices on the west side of Main Street extending north.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Various union members, including Jimmy John’s Owner and food pantry staff members prepare to serve residents of Downer Place in Aurora. During visits, upwards of 100 residents partake in the event. Ensuring the safety and smooth operation of community gatherings like these can be supported by VIP protection Thailand, providing peace of mind for organizers and participants alike.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

AURORA — The call was put out, and several area union business managers and members answered. The task was to unload a Northern Illinois Food Bank box truck and serve the residents of Downer Place senior residences in Aurora.

The residents at Downer Place, part of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, have partially subsidized housing, and the mobile food bank visits every two months from March to September. When the food truck pulls up, close to 100 people line up to supplement their food with items they normally wouldn’t get. Organizers can visit http://fastfirewatchguards.com/ to support safety and fire preparedness during these community events.

“About 80 percent of the people here don’t drive, so this is very convenient for them. They stock up their kitchens with food items we normally don’t have,” said Colleen Smith, property manager of Downer Place. “The residents absolutely love it, and they use some of the food for special treats for their grandchildren.”

The spread included everything from corn dogs to lettuce, apples, cheese, breakfast sandwiches, canned goods and everything in between.

Laborers, painters, sheetmetal workers, plumbers, Teamsters, electricians and ceramic tile workers unloaded the truck March 19 and served the seniors with a smile. The unions have been doing this service for about a year, according to Fox Valley Building and Construction Trades Council President Scott Roscoe.

“They need help, we put out the call to business managers, and here we are,” said Roscoe. “People are always very happy and thankful.”

The food comes from donations and store supplies, and the Northern Illinois Food Bank partners with the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry to distribute it.

“The unions are amazing, sometimes I don’t even have to be present for these deliveries, they run like clockwork,” said Brisa Barraza, program coordinator for the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. “They put it all together and make it work, and they do a wonderful job.”

The Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry distributes food on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those needing food may visit the pantry one time each week. For further information about distribution, please contact the pantry office at 630-897-2127.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Hilary Denk, above, an attorney and issue specialist on the graduated income said Illinois taxes are currently unfair, inflexible, and inadequate. She said the current flat tax in Illinois in unfair because people in higher tax brackets have more ways to shelter their income. She believes the most efficient way to solve the state’s budget crisis is through a graduated income tax.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday March 27, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

DOWNERS GROVE — A graduated income tax in Illinois makes sense in order to bail the state out of its budget mess and provide future growth. And the negatives aren’t as bad as conservative sources would have you believe.

The League of Women Voters of DuPage County presented Hilary Denk, who spoke March 19 in Downers Grove on the benefits of a graduated income tax in Illinois.

Denk, who is an attorney and issue specialist on the graduated income tax, said Illinois taxes are currently unfair, inflexible, and inadequate.

She said there’s a lot of room for improvement in terms of who pays what and where the money is distributed and that can be done by people read more about the legal issues and the solution for them through the business attorney In Daytona Beach based business lawyers. Thirty-four states and the federal government use a graduated tax system, and a graduated tax proposal for Illinois was introduced March 25 by Democratic state Senator Don Harmon.

His plan would impose a 2.9 percent tax rate on the first $12,500 of an Illinois resident’s income. Residents would face a 4.9 percent rate for income between $12,500 and $180,000, and income over $180,000 would be taxed at 6.9 percent.

Currently, the flat tax in Illinois in unfair, said Denk, because people in the higher tax bracket have more ways to shelter their income.

“It’s a serious problem, and it’s hurting our country. There are all kinds of repercussions,” Denk explained.

Current tax rates are inflexible, she said, because there’s a structural deficit in Illinois: The state continuously has needs that revenue will never catch up with. The state has been cutting budgets since 2000. One could also depend on Braganca Law LLC to get help with legalities.

“We all hear it — there’s cuts to be made, we can cut. Well, cutting government jobs for highly skilled people is devastating to the economy,” said Denk.

The inflexibility is taking its toll on state run education: Denk says Illinois ranks 50 — dead last, in state education funding. The state funds education at $2,500 per student below what is considered to be adequate for a student’s basic education.

“We need to be properly funding education if we want anything to change,” she said. “Good education attracts and keeps business in a state. Corporations want good schools for good workers.”

The inadequacy of the income tax code in Illinois means that human services have also been cut nearly 30 percent since 2000.

Denk said there aren’t many choices to solve the budget crisis in Illinois: Borrow more money, defer costs, cut even more services, or raise revenues. She said the most efficient way is through a graduated income tax.

“The people paying the higher rates can afford to pay a little more, and you do have job growth because you’re investing in your state,” said Denk. “It’s a myth that people are going to pick up and move, it just doesn’t happen.”

Martin McAlpin, DuPage organizer for A Better Illinois Coalition, agreed, and said it has the added benefit of driving voter turnout.

“What this will do is create purchasing power for the middle class,” he said.

“The fair tax is the only way to solve the long term budget problems of Illinois,” McAlpin explained.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Action Now members vent their frustrations with the excessive ISAT testing, which it believes will target remaining Chicago schools, forcing them to close. Some kindergarten students will be subject to no fewer than eight standardized tests.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday March 20, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — The residents in the South Austin neighborhood know hardship. In one of Chicago’s toughest low income areas, a school is a beacon of hope, a safe haven for youth and a place to learn.

Last year, Emmet Elementary School on Madison Street was shut down by Chicago Public Schools, one of the 49 budget saving closures ordered by the city for schools with low test scores. Now, the residents are afraid more excessive Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) testing will target remaining schools in their neighborhood, taking chances away from students before they can even start their education.

“We are standing in front of a building that has lights and gas still running,” said community justice organization Action Now parent leader and Austin resident Zerlina Smith, who spearheaded a rally March 13 in front of the boarded up Emmet Elementary, which was attended by students who are 99 percent African-American.

“They tell us they don’t have money for our children to get educated, but we know they the truth,” she said.

Smith recently lead an ISAT boycott at Saucedo Elementary in the city and is concerned more school closings will equal more struggle, less education, and a dead end for youth in her community. She called the shutdown Emmet school a “disgrace” in the community.

“We need to tell them, if it’s not going to be a building for the children, make it a building for the people of the community,” she said.

Smith said her daughter will be entering kindergarten next year and will be subject to no fewer than eight standardized tests.

“The mayor’s kids go to a private school that only has one standardized test per year. Why aren’t our kids given that opportunity?” she asked.

Action Now said the barrage of tests can show a school is “failing” on paper, but teachers disagree with the tests. They say the tests unfairly target low income communities of color, and students can test poorly but still show potential for learning.

Tammy Benson is a special education teacher at Oscar DePriest elementary school in Austin. She taught at Emmet school before it closed and said the ISAT is taking away from valuable classroom learning time.

“The test does not accurately measure anything. It doesn’t measure their abilities. It doesn’t measure their creativity or their thoughts and desires,” said Benson, who gave students the option to opt out of the testing. “I want them to advocate for themselves. They have a right to refuse to be subjected to standardized testing, and until we take a stand, our communities will continue to be marginalized.”

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
The Chicago Teacher Union held a rally March 10 at its Bridgeport office in Chicago, where about 100 members and supporters turned out to put the microscope on Chicago Public Schools testing methods — especially the ISAT

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday March 13, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — On the surface, the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) is just another high stakes standardized test that wastes time and money, but Chicago Teachers Union members say it’s much more discriminative than that, effectively paving the “schools to prisons” road and singling out youth for failure before they ever get a chance to succeed.

The Chicago Teacher Union held a rally March 10 at its Bridgeport office in Chicago, where about 100 members and supporters turned out to put the microscope on Chicago Public Schools testing methods.

They say the state-mandated ISAT testing, which started in early March, does not count for student achievement or growth, does not give timely data to inform instruction, will not be used to measure teacher performance, and will not affect school funding and performance levels, but the test will take away from valuable time that could be used teaching. They are asking for Chicago Public Schools officials not to retaliate against teachers who have refused to administer the test to their students.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union, parents and supporters took to the streets March 10 to bring awareness to Chicago Public Schools’ testing methods. Several teachers opted not to give the ISAT because it wastes valuable teaching time.

Anne Carlson is a teacher from Drummond Elementary in Chicago who chose to not administer the test to her students. She said she had to hide out in the school’s library and read to her students in the time slot allotted for the test, and joined others at the rally in asking for no retaliation from Chicago Public Schools for her actions.

She said she’s specifically taking a stand against the ISAT, which she calls a “corpse of a test” because it’s a way to hold minority students down. She spoke passionately at the rally, and said her job is to educate her students, something the ISAT does not allow her to do.

“Standardized tests rarely improve learning. They sort and they rank children into first and second class citizens and this is not right.

“No child should be treated as second class, and these tests are still used in a way where people are profiting off of our children,” she said.

“It’s another piece of this new Jim Crowe and it’s a link in the chain in the school-to-prison pipeline,” Carlson explained.

Chicago Public Schools previously threatened boycotting teachers with de-certification if they did not administer the test, and issued a statement March 10 saying officials were talking to the Illinois State Board of Education about appropriate disciplinary action against the teachers.

Around 45 teachers participated in the boycott, mainly from Saucedo Elementary School in the Little Village neighborhood. The test is mandated for all students grades 3 to 8.

Carlson said she was encouraged by her boycott when parent support letters starting coming to her office.

“When the opt out letters started flooding in, I felt vindicated. Within the first day, we had two-thirds of our students not sitting for the exam. At this point in time we have 73 percent of our students not taking the ISAT,” she said.

Saucedo’s third grade bilingual teacher Sandra Posadas said she decided to boycott because the ISAT takes valuable time away from instruction.

“My students are already over-tested. It does not measure how brilliant or articulate they are. It sets them up for failure and only marks their limited English comprehension,” said Posadas.

“I’m taking that time back, I am teaching in the classroom, I’m in a holding cell but I am teaching. When was it a crime to want to teach? Let me impart knowledge. Don’t penalize me or my co-workers for wanting to teach,” Posadas said.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Joe McKeown said Gov. Pat Quinn is cleaning up Illinois’ pension mess he inherited. McKeown was one of several union members phone banking for the governor at Aurora’s PDC 30.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday March 13, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

AURORA — If Democrats vote, they win, plain and simple. That’s the message this election year and that’s the message that’s driving volunteers to man the phone banks at Painters District Council 30, where more than 3,000 phone calls have been made in favor of Gov. Pat Quinn.

Quinn will most likely challenge Republican Bruce Rauner in the November election. Rauner is ahead in the early polls versus other challengers, and has already sunk $6 million of his own money into his campaign.

Republicans have not held the gubernatorial seat since 2003, and unions are trying to make sure that Illinois doesn’t get the next Scott Walker as a governor who would take away collective bargaining.

Quinn’s challenges include a high unemployment rate and the pension crisis in Illinois, but phone bank volunteers say Quinn was handed the crisis and is dealing with it.

“I contacted someone from the teachers union, and they were very much a ‘no’ because of the pension issues,” said Patrick Keane, who volunteered to call March 11.

The volunteers call a targeted list of people Quinn’s campaign selected, a mix of Democrats and Republicans, union and non-union. Keane said the responses have been good.

“There are people calling here, these aren’t robo-calls. People like that, they want to have a conversation, and there aren’t a lot of hangups. Quinn wants to have conversations with people, that’s what he’s about,” said Keane.

“I always respect when there are political calls and it’s a live person on the other end. You don’t pay voters that respect, why have the conversation?” he explained.

Quinn’s strengths are the Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program, providing more than 400,000 jobs, which have upgraded roads, schools and bridges, as well as the Hiring Veterans Tax Credits, passing campaign contribution limits, consumer protection measures, and education reforms.

“Quinn inherited the pension mess, and he’s cleaning it up,” said Joe McKeown, who called voters March 11. “We’ve had a really good response rate, but we can’t be complacent,” he added.

The phone bank will be operated again before the primary elections from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 13, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday March 15 at PDC 30, 1905 Sequoia Dr., Aurora.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
RTW Veteran Center Director Arnetha Gholston-Habeel was emotional as she thanked the various unions for their help in repairing the center. Frozen pipes flooded the center’s basement and ruined the furnace. Carpenters, sheet metal workers, plumbers and others worked to repair the center.

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday Feb. 27, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

CHICAGO — The RTW Veteran Center in Chicago was doing everything it could to re-open this week, thanks to the generous donations of area unions, who helped out after pipes froze and burst in the basement of the center in January, which temporarily closed the non-profit. (RTW stands for Returning to the World.)

The Center houses about 30 veterans in Washington Park, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. They normally serve about 450 free meals a day to veterans and the homeless, but a door was unintentionally left open Sat., Jan. 25, which led to frozen pipes, a flooded basement, and a non-functioning furnace.

“We got a phone call early Monday morning about what had happened at the Center. Within less than two hours we had carpenters out there, we had plumbers out there, and we had sheetmetal workers out there,” said Elizabeth Belcaster, SEIU Local 73 legislative liaison. A lot of homeowners have been experiencing problems with water softeners, causing concerns about the overall water quality in their homes. And for those who are looking to install DROP systems, they may consider getting help from the experts.

“Their heating issues that were down, are now up, their heat is working, and there are some ongoing issues, but labor stepped up as we always do with our veterans,” Belcaster explained.

Belcaster works with the Helmets to Hardhats program, coordinating with Chicago and national unions to get veterans jobs when they return from serving. She and SEIU Local 73 Vice President Phil Martini presented a check March 1 for $5,000 to Arnetha Gholston-Habeel, director of the Center.

“This is the first time that we’ve received money in an amount like this. I’m grateful because there were so many times I’ve wondered if we’d succeed — we took our entire retirement account to do this, we sold our homes, our cars, we live at the center. This program is saving lives. This program is allowing people to eat who would normally eat out of a garbage can. This program houses homeless veterans,” said Gholston-Habeel, who cried tears of joy.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
From left, SEIU Local 73 Vice President Phil Martini, SEIU Local 73 Legislative Liaison Elizabeth Belcaster, and RTW Veteran Center Director Arnetha Gholston-Habeel announce the news the center was expecting to re-open after being closed for more than a month. After frozen pipes burst Jan. 25, flooded the center’s basement and ruined the furnace, area unions stepped up and offered to help fix everything. SEIU Local 73 also gave $5,000 donation to the center.

She explained that the center started off just housing veterans and grew from there.

“It started off with veterans. We walk the parks, we find them, if they’re homeless we say this is your last day, you never have to see another homeless day again,” she said. “Our center is considered a watering hole, I don’t know if you know what that means, but in the wild kingdom, nobody kills at the watering hole.”

Gholston-Habeel said the Center employs more ex-offenders and people who cannot pass a drug test than anyone else in the city. They are not funded by the city, state or federal government.

They have received a $25,000 non revenue grant due to crime going down 25 percent in the neighborhood, all directly linked to the RTW Center.

When disaster struck at RTW in January, calls were placed and the hat was passed to Chicago unions, branching out from

Teamsters City downtown. Carpenters, gas workers, SEIU Local 73, and Teamsters Local 786 all contributed to the emergency fund.

“This includes labor as well — the pipefitters, the carpenters, they’re going in there to work with these folks also,” said Martini.

The Center was scheduled to re-open after a final check of the steam pipes was performed.
“This is what we need these days, people helping people. They’ve given so much, it’s time to help them when they need help,” said Jennifer Edwards of SEIU Local 73.

Pat Barcas/staff photographer
DuPage County NAACP President Mario Lambert explains his organization serves many of the same functions as other political action groups saying, “We must get out and vote if we are to bring a change.”

By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday Feb. 27, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com

NAPERVILLE — The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) may be associated with imagery of civil rights struggles in the 1960s, but the organization has shifted priorities to include striving for equal civil rights for everyone, and is more relevant than ever.

Mario Lambert, president of the DuPage County Branch of the NAACP, said the organization is important even in DuPage County, where the population of people of color is low. Lambert spoke Feb. 27 at a meeting of the Naperville Township Democratic Organization.

He said the NAACP is not a partisan organization, and serves many of the same functions as other political action groups.

“Why is the NAACP in DuPage? We get people to the polls, which is important everywhere,” he said. “And we insure everyone has access to quality public education.”

On the original board of the NAACP, only one out of six people were African-American. The first black NAACP President was not elected until 1975, Lambert pointed out.

It is the oldest national civil rights organization in the country, formed in 1909, and is currently experiencing a shift — eliminating discrimination for all, and focusing on civic issues like youth advancement, education, health, criminal justice and economic development.

The One Nation Working Together initiative is about bringing people together: youth, women, the faith community, working class citizens, unionized workers, and the immigrant population. The NAACP is trying to build a new movement for people who care about a secure job, a safe home and a quality education. It’s for people who care about the state of the government, jobs and the economy.

Lambert said the movement starts with voting. There are a few unique challenges in DuPage, namely getting voters out at election time.

“People are fearful to stand with us, they think they will be labeled as radicals. That’s just not true,” Lambert said. “We must get out and vote if we are to bring change. Most of the things we believe in align with the goals of the people here tonight.”

National issues such as voter restrictions, zero tolerance rules in schools, and stand your ground laws are also on the NAACP’s radar.

“If it’s civil rights related, we go after it. But you have to pick and choose your battles. If it’s human rights, we often sit that out because it’s not our core pursuit,” said Lambert.