Recommended Reading

• Out of Reach: The Gap Between Housing Costs and Income of Poor People in the U.S. was released by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (www.nlihc.org). The report compares the cost of housing to the minimum wage and shows that nowhere in the U.S. can a family earning minimum wage afford to pay fair market rents. Virginia and New York top the list of least affordable states, with over 50 percent of renters unable to afford two-bedroom fair market rents in those states. State and metro, county, or town data can be downloaded from the Coalition’s website. A hard copy of the complete report is available from the Coalition at 202-662-1530.

• Overcoming Roadblocks on the Way to Work is the most recent report from Public/Private Ventures on workforce development. Written by Mark Elliott, Beth Palubinsky, and Joe Tierney, it examines the key program challenges faced by the five organizations participating in Bridges to Work, a reverse commuting demonstration funded by the federal government and several private foundations. Other recent reports from Public/Private Ventures discuss the “Work First” strategy; employment retention; and sectoral employment strategies. To order, call Public/Private Ventures at 212-822-2400 or write them at 122 East 42nd St., 41st floor, New York, NY 10168.

• The Home Front is a report from a symposium sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation on the implications of welfare reform on the ability of families to maintain their housing. Edited by Sandra J. Newman, The Home Front is available from the Urban Institute Press by calling 817-UIPRESS, writing to 2100 M St., NW, Washington, DC 200037, or online at www.urban.org.

• Fields of Poison: California Farmworkers and Pesticides is a joint report of Pesticide Action Network; United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO; and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. The report documents the tremendous risks faced by California farmworkers for pesticide poisoning and poor enforcement of pesticide regulations. It includes specific recommendations for regulation of pesticide use, worker health and safety, improved law enforcement and farmworker and public right-to-know. Fields of Poison is available from Californians for Pesticide Reform at 415-981-3939 or online at www.panna.org.

• The Policy Shift to Good Jobs is a study of job standards U.S. jurisdictions place on companies receiving publicly-financed economic incentives. Released by Good Jobs First, the study documents a dramatic policy change by development officials. Job standards such as wage and health insurance requirements were found in 26 cities, 16 states, and four counties. The growing trend to require job-quality quid pro quos in exchange for subsidies is documented and information on each of the jurisdictions’ requirements included in the report. Copies of the study are available from Good Jobs First at 202-626-3780, 1311 L St., NW, Washington, DC 20005. 

• The Democratic Promise: Saul Alinsky and His Legacy examines the history of community organizing – from the work of Saul Alinsky to the state of community organizing today – focusing on contemporary organizations in New York and Texas. Documenting community organizing through Alinsky’s pioneering work and showing how these techniques are used today, The Democratic Promise offers a potential course of action to disenfranchised communities across the country. The film has won many awards, including Best Documentary at the Philadelphia International Film Festival. Studs Terkel called The Democratic Promise, “A revelatory and powerful documentary about one of the pioneers of community organizing…never could be more timely than now.” The Democratic Promise runs one hour. It’s written, directed, and produced by Bob Hercules and Bruce Orenstein and narrated by Alec Baldwin. Orenstein is a former community organizer who directs the Chicago Video Project, a nonprofit video production company that provides professional video communications to nonprofit advocacy and social change organizations. A copy of The Democratic Promise is available through the Chicago Video Project at a special rate of $15, plus $3 postage. Send a check to Chicago Video Project, 800 W. Huron, Suite 3 South, Chicago, IL 60622. For more information call 312-666-0195.

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