Public Policy
Arise Chicago has joined several coalitions in order to advocate for public policy changes most effectively.
Raise the Illinois Minimum Wage
Arise Chicago is an active member in the coalition of 36 organizations, Raise Illinois, made up of community, business, faith, and labor organizations along with minimum wage workers and supporters that are committed to advocating for a raise to $10.65 an hour and tie it to inflation thereafter.
If you are a religious leader, you can add your name to list of hundreds of religious leaders who support the raise. Sign the Religious Leaders Petition
If you live in Illinois, you can add your name to thousands of citizens who support the minimum wage. Sign the Voters Petition
If you are a responsible business owner or the director of a non-profit who wants to help lift families out of poverty, you can also add your signature. Sign the Business Owner Petition
End Exploitation of Domestic Workers
The National Domestic Workers Alliance is one of the most innovative and powerful new worker organizations.
In 2012 Arise Chicago joined the National Domestic Workers Alliance to advocate for Polish domestic workers, which comprise 25% of the Chicagoland work force. Arise has established its Domestic Workers Organizing Committee and is a member of the “Caring Across Generations” coalition with other social justice and public policy advocates. “Caring Across Generations” seeks to establish a law in Illinois, similar to the one passed in New York, that would protect domestic workers, improve job quality, and develop national training standards. Learn more
Towards Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Arise Chicago is a very active member of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. ICIRR works on a variety of campaigns and programs to empower immigrants in Illinois and nationally.
Additionally, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez, a national leader in the movement for comprehensive immigration reform, invited Arise Executive Director Rev. Hawking to join his Family Unity Advisory Group. The group meets on a regular basis to challenge Immigration Customs and Enforcement to advocate for a sharp decrease in deportations by invoking ICE’s discretionary power with greater frequency. Learn more
End Downgrading of City of Chicago Jobs
After the City of Chicago fired dozens of workers, most of whom worked decades cleaning public buildings, and replaced them with low-wage contracted labor with no benefits, a Responsible Bidders Ordinance was introduced which would require companies to pay a living wage with benefits, in order to gain a city contract. Arise Chicago joins with dozens of community partners to support the Responsible Bidders Ordinance.
Everyone Should Pay Their Fair Share
What do Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bill Gates, Kofi Annan, eleven European nations, and Arise Chicago have in common? All support the Robin Hood Tax.
For many months, nurses, healthcare, environmental, labor, consumer, faith-based and other community activists have rallied on Wall Street, at banks and legislative offices, and outside the White House and Treasury Department, saying it is time to tax Wall Street to help revive our economy and nation.
Now it’s no longer just a movement. It’s also legislation, H.R. 6411, the Robin Hood tax, has been introduced in Congress. Learn more
