What we stand for:
WRC is opposed to welfare cuts. There is not a kinder, gentler way to cut welfare. Welfare is what many of us need to survive, and already it's not enough. We cannot compromise with people's lives. Welfare Rights are Human Rights!
WRC works to put out the big picture: What we all really need are living wage jobs, affordable housing, free education, childcare, and healthcare. This society needs to recognize raising children as valuable work. Until these things are in place for everyone there will be a need for welfare.
We know that it is up to us, welfare recipients and low income people, to lead the fight.
We see the current attacks on welfare as racist, sexist, anti-poor and anti-immigrant. We are committed to fighting all these systems of oppression.
Who we are:
WRC is a Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) based organization dedicated to fighting welfare cuts.
WRC has been fighting for 14 years.
WRC members are all welfare recipients and/or working poor.
WRC is mostly women and we have always been women-led.
WRC members are from many nationalities: Black, Hmong, Somali, American Indian, Chicana, Latina, and white.
WRC has been all volunteer, since we began.
What we do:
WRC is committed to educating our community--the low income community--about what our rights are and how to fight for them.We leaflet and petition outside the welfare office 1-4 times a week, all year long.
We analyze current law and policy from our perspective--we, the women, children and men on assistance, are the real experts on poverty and welfare.
We make the issues understandable to our community
We engage our members and other low income people in all aspects of fighting welfare cuts: Protests, testifying, public speaking, meetings with policy makers, media work, letter writing, petitioning, drafting legislation, and outreach.
How we do it.
We are all organizers.
WRC provides free childcare, transportation, and food at all our meetings.
WRC provides transportation to all protests and rallies.
WRC speaks 4 languages so far: English, Hmong, Spanish and Somali.
Current Issues
We are opposed to the Welfare "Reform" bill signed by President Clinton in 1996, and want it repealed. Until then, we call on the state of MN and the counties to use their own money if needed to make up for the federal cuts and avoid punitive federal rules. Specifically, we are opposed to:
Time limits on welfare
Workfare in all its forms, including forced work at low wage jobs.
Limits on getting an education while we are on welfare.
All discrimination against immigrants.
Grant cuts and food stamp cuts.
Any cuts in entitlement to anti-poverty programs