4WCW was in Beijing, 1995. 5WCW would be a 21st Century conference with the internet, smart phones, satellite technology, simultaneous conferences; fostering feminist networks, ongoing women's circles including virtual ones. This would energize a global women's movement, which creates political will, without which women and women's issues are sidelined. Since 2009, I have been working toward this at the UN. Active support from the White House looks to be all that is needed for passage of a consensus resolution in the General Assembly, preparation takes 2 -3 years, with 2017 the likely date.

Raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would boost the paychecks of over 30 million workers in the U.S. The majority are adults with full-time jobs, and nearly half have some college education. If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation since 1968, it would be $10.60 today. Tell Rep. Michael Grimm you support this fix.

In the last 10 years our communities in Madison County have lost the good paying manufacturing jobs, forcing productive skilled labor into low paying service jobs. By raising the minimum wage more workers can afford to buy a home, a car or shop in our neighborhood stores.

Family members and friends work hard each and every week, yet they are considered 'working poor.' The American dream tells us that if we work hard enough every citizen can have enough to take care of their family. Increasing the minimum wage will help workers earn enough to sufficiently support their families and their futures. Representative Denham should do the right thing and support the working people of his constituency instead of siding with corporations and big business.

Millions will be lifted from poverty. Our nation's children will grow smart and strong. Productivity will skyrocket and healthcare costs will plummet.

When working people aren't paid living wage, their children suffer and never achieve their full potential as citizens.

Standing up for the middle class

TO GET THE JUSTICE FOR WILLIAM HUFFSTETLER FROM BEING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN FEBRUARY OF 2014 IN SHELBY NC BUT WHAT THEY KEEP OUT OF THE PAPERS IS THEY HAD NO NONE NOT A BIT OF EVIDENCE AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS ALREADY IN JAIL AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME SHOULD HAVE MADE A BIG IMPACT BUT NO THEY FOUND HIM GUILTY AND WE CANT UNDERSTAND WHY THE SIMMONS FAMILY SAYS THEY HAVE JUSTICE BUT NO THEY DONT CAUSE THE KILLER IS STILL OUTTHERE

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Years ago, I started decorating cakes. And because of a recently passed law in my home state of Illinois, I can now sell my cakes at the Farmers Market to make some money while also watching my grandkids three days a week. This is wonderful! But surprisingly, I am prohibited from handing the very same buttercream-topped cake to someone at the front door. The cake is the same cake yet selling it from the controlled environment of my home is not legal while selling it in conditions that are often less than ideal – like a hot, dusty and buggy Farmers Market in the summer – is perfectly fine. I want Illinois legislators to expand the laws around Cottage Foods (foods made at home) so that home cooks like me can sell the food we make more easily and safely. Being able to do so would mean more financial independence and stability for families like mine because these are skills and resources I already have and can make use of right at home. And it could mean more money for the state, too, through certification fees and licensing. Most importantly, people all over Illinois would be able to buy foods made by someone they know, and that they know were made with great care. They would know their purchase was helping support local families, too, and the state. Please sign my petition and tell Illinois's legislators to expand the overly restrictive Cottage Food Laws to better support Illinois home cooks like me.

Right now, the childhood hunger problem in America is inexcusably big – affecting more than 1 in 5 children. We know that adequate food and good nutrition, particularly in a young child’s life, has a very important impact on a child’s capacity for future learning and on their lifelong economic productivity. But our leaders are not giving this problem the attention it warrants. In the name of deficit reduction, members of Congress are considering deep spending cuts to anti-hunger programs as part of this fall and winter’s budget debate. (In reality, cutting funding for programs like SNAP that alleviate hunger and poverty for children won’t make much of a dent in reducing our deficit: right now children receive less than 8% of federal funding. ) That debate provides and important opportunity for us to demonstrate public support for our vision of a country where everyone gets a fair shot in life. Hunger in America is big and is getting worse as income inequality becomes more extreme. This is a trend that we need to reverse now. Sign this petition to urge our state legislators to work together to end childhood hunger in Arizona. Thanks for your help!

Right now, the childhood hunger problem in America is inexcusably big – affecting more than 1 in 5 children. We know that adequate food and good nutrition, particularly in a young child’s life, has a very important impact on a child’s capacity for future learning and on their lifelong economic productivity. But our leaders are not giving this problem the attention it warrants. In the name of deficit reduction, members of Congress are considering deep spending cuts to anti-hunger programs as part of this fall and winter’s budget debate. (In reality, cutting funding for programs like SNAP that alleviate hunger and poverty for children won’t make much of a dent in reducing our deficit: right now children receive less than 8% of federal funding. ) That debate provides and important opportunity for us to demonstrate public support for our vision of a country where everyone gets a fair shot in life. Hunger in America is big and is getting worse as income inequality becomes more extreme. This is a trend that we need to reverse now.