American Friends Service Committee-Kansas City Youth for Social Change

We had a great Social Change Institute - the last here in Kansas City. Check out what the youth who participated had to say about their experience at: https://www.afsc.org//social-change-institute-2017-youths-

I made this inforgraphic to help give important facts about the minimum wage here in KC. I think it is important to see how the current minimum wage ($7.70) is not a living wage. This chart shown in the infographic (curtosy of Fair Economy) helps display the difference between the minimum wage and a living wage. Additionally, I included a section of an article published in the Kansas City Star that proves that it is impossible to survive off of the Federal Minimum wage. Plea...se share this if you are able to help encourage people to help raise the minimum wage. If you are a registered voter in Kansas City, please go out and vote on the August 8th ballot. I encourage you to go out and vote YES on Question 3 which helps provide a living wage to all of the hard workers in Kansas City. This will also give hope to our sister cities to raise their minimum wage as well. For more information check out these organizations. STANDUP KC KC for 15 Thank you, Diana Garbison

Please share with KC area youth who want to gain skills for nonviolent social change. AFSC Social Change Institute will take place June 12 through 23. Check out more info at: https://www.afsc.org/st/summer-social-change-institute-2017

Youth Gathering: February 18, Saturday, 11am to 1:00pm Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead... For High School-aged Youth You are invited to our next Social Change Youth Gathering on Saturday, February 18, 11am to 1pm at the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO. (Also plan on joining us at the March 11th Social Change Youth Gathering.) At the meeting we will reflect on the executive orders issues by Pres. Donald Trump; discuss your concerns; identify actions being taken by local and national organizations; and plan how we want to respond. We will have some fun with an energizer, hear reports on research done by group members, eat pizza and make plans for future actions. Please share with friends and others who might be interested and like and post to the page. Looking forward to seeing you. Let me know if you have any suggestions and questions.

Social Change Youth Gathering is cancelled for today due to the icy weather and bad roads. We will reschedule the meeting for a Saturday in January. Stay safe and warm. Happy Holidays ~Ira

Hhigh School-age youth are invited to our next Social Change Youth Gathering on Saturday, December 17, 11am to 1pm at the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO.... At the meeting we will reflect on the election and what we want to do in response. We will discuss other issues important to you and have some fun with an energizer, hear reports on research done by group members, eat pizza and make plans for future actions. Many are concerned about what the impact of the Trump administration and the other election results will have for immigrants, Muslims, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, women and us all. The only thing that will prevent unjust policies from being carried out is collective actions by people like you and me. Please share with friends and others who might be interested and like and post to the page. Looking forward to seeing you. Let me know if you have any suggestions and questions. Peace, Ira Ira Harritt Kansas City Program Coordinator American Friends Service Committee www.afsc.org/kansascity | [email protected] | 816 931-5256

We invite all area youth to join us this Saturday, November 19, 11am-1pm for a Social Change Gathering of youth wanting to educate themselves, plan and take action. (at AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO) At the meeting we will continue planning and working to mobilize youth for the Low-Wage Workers Action on Tuesday, November 29th at 5pm. Here are some talking points about why we need to raise the wage for low-wage workers. More talking points about living wage:... The idea behind a living wage is very simple: a person should be paid enough to live a decent life and to adequately provide for their family. But low-wage workers in fast food, childcare, home nursing care, Airport TSA and other industries are only making poverty wages. Low wage workers aren’t being paid a living wage, a wage that pays the bills for housing, healthcare, utilities, food for themselves and their families Most low-wage workers aren’t teenagers just needing a little extra spending money. Most are over 20 years old and need their wages to pay to care for children or to pay for their household income. Most employers of low-wage workers are large companies, like McDonalds which had over $25 billion in revenues and made over $ 4.5 billion in profits in 2015. While companies like McDonald’s and some of the U.S.’s other richest corporations pay workers too little for them to live on, the US taxpayers subsidize these corporations by paying for food stamps, school lunch subsidies, rent subsidies, earned income tax credits, and other programs workers need to survive. Raising the wages for low-wage workers not only helps them but helps to raise the wages of all workers!

Join us at our Saturday, November 19, 11am - 1pm Youth Social Change Gathering and on November 29th at 5pm to support Low-wage workers campaign for $15 and a Union. A living wage should not be optional. At the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO. For More info 816 931-5256