Signing up the whole family
by Octavio Armendariz—Ohio
I was canvassing in the area of Lakewood. I had been having a rough night because I kept running into very negative people. However I went up to a door and knocked, and this really nice lady answered the door. I gave her my rap and she seemed very interested. What amazed me most was her three kids who all signed the band-aid petition. But what really got me was their involvement. As I asked what issues mattered most to them, her daughter--who must have only been thirteen if that--started to comment on how important good jobs were. The other two younger kids also gave their input on the economy and health care. I thought to myself: "Maybe there is hope for the younger generation!"
Sneaky Company
by Becky Angelo—Ohio
I talked to a woman in Akron area, who is retired from a company who has sold out to another company who is outsourcing. The way they are doing it is that if a current employee refuses to train people from India they are bringing in they will be fired no questions asked. They are also getting rid of a few employees at a time instead of all at once. This isn't all. All former employee's that are retired are losing their health care insurance starting jan 09.
Fighting the good fight
by Jeulia Russell—Ohio
I knocked on a senior's door. She was a nice older woman. I told her who I was and with and what we were doing--fighting to lower the costs of health care. She told me she had never had health insurance until she was 65 years old, and she said it was hard because she's on a fixed income...
Moved by our members, moved by our work
by Sue Burke—Ohio
I signed up a member after talking with her about health care. She told me that her son had Parkinson's disease. She found out a friend of hers was in the same situation. They decided they would feel better if they talked about it over coffee.
We both cried. I, because I was so moved and she because she was impressed by what Working America was all about and because we care enough to do what we do everyday.
Jumping for joy
by J Russell—Ohio
I was canvassing in Wapakeneton, Ohio, and ran in to a teacher. I gave him my rap and he was very excited that I had stopped by his doorstep. He was having trouble paying his medical bills so he became a member and he jumped up for joy as I assured him we're joining together to fight for affordable health care...
A good day on turf
by DeAndra McCollum—Ohio
One of the great inspirations that I had on turf was when I knocked on an elderly person's door. I was told her who I was, and explained that I was fighting to keep jobs in Ohio and lower the cost of health care. She said it was a coincidence because her husband's job was just shipped to Mexico and told me how hard it was for them to pay their bills...
She kept me pushing on
by Tamara Stanley—Ohio
It was the first day of sweat-breaking heat in Dayton, Ohio. The weather was hot in Dayton's working class west side, but my efforts were not futile. I met a diverse group of people. Prior to my interaction, my night as a trainee was not going as planned, but the influence of my contacts, and their expressed need for change, strengthened my need to push on...
Jobs are shrinking
by Donald Pettyjohn—Ohio
While canvassing in Dayton, Ohio (the second rated city in America for job loss), I met a man who told me his job had been outsourced to Asia after working there for 13 years. This man was a very big, well-built gentleman and when he talked about his job with a lump in his throat...
Working overtime to find a job
by Jonathon Vogt—Ohio
Wednesday was one of the first warm days our office has had after a long winter of canvassing. I walked down a street in west Dayton thirsty and unprepared for the heat.
Then I met this woman. I told her that we were fighting to keep good jobs in Ohio and we needed members to hold our politicians accountable. She told me that she would sign up but that she was very tired; she had been awake for the last eighteen hours...
Personal experience with our issues
by Shane Gleason—Ohio
One day I came across a man who almost immediately invited me in. He had been outsourced himself and had to take a one third cut in income. As he signed up we talked...
Generous even in hard times
by Donald Pettyjohn—Ohio
On my ninth day of canvassing in Dayton for Working America, I met a woman with an interesting and inspiring story. She was in her late fifties and raising her ten-year-old grandson, whose mother and father didn't want anything to do with him. She didn't want to see the boy sent to a foster home and so took custody of him...
The night I saved a life
by Johnny Masters—Ohio
A while back I was out on turf in Dayton, OH with my fellow canvasser Jarrett Siler when we had a remarkable encounter.
It was getting dark, just after 7pm, when I came to a door that directed me to come to the back door. I went around and knocked on the door, and saw an older man collapsed on the floor, with his arm outstretched towards the telephone...
Video: Why we need preventative care
Lisa Supik spoke with a woman who has no health insurance and a brain tumor.
Video: He said he doesn’t vote
Patricia Penton spoke with a man who said he doesn't vote...until she changed his mind.
Outsourcing devastates Ohio town
by Rebecka Hawkins—Ohio
Canvassing in Fostoria has made me realize how important our job really is to strengthening our country. Outsourcing is sweeping Fostoria, and the fear and sadness in the voices of the people I spoke to was heartbreaking. This outsourcing may destroy the economy of Fostoria. I am glad that Working America is here to do something about it and reverse the trend of our jobs moving overseas.
Outsourcing plaguing northwest Ohio
by John Spalding—Ohio
People are talking about Ohio's job loss. Whether or not we canvass them and sign them up as members, citizens in northwest Ohio are aware of the huge losses of manufacturing jobs in our state...
Sign up serenade
by Greg Lyons—Ohio
I knocked on a door and heard an instrument being tuned. A young woman came to the door, I canvassed her. She was very enthusiastic about our issues, signed up as a member, signed a band aid, and gave a dues payment...
Joining for her daughter
by Jennifer Tschappat—Ohio
I was in Fostoria, Ohio and canvassing to put a stop to job outsourcing. A woman who had just had her 90th birthday explained to me that her daughter was losing her factory job to Mexico. She was happy that Working America was helping change public policies involving outsourcing. When she gave me the $5 dues payment, she said it was for her daughter and all her daughter's friends that were losing their jobs.
Her son to became a doctor
by Tyler Boas—Ohio
While in Fostoria, Ohio I spoke to a woman who had spent her entire life without health coverage. She had raised four children who were unable to see a doctor while growing up. Because of these experiences her son decided to become a doctor so he could help people in a way that his family had needed help for themselves...
He needs a secure retirement
by Frank Holmes—Ohio
I spoke to a guy who worked for a local factory for 31 years and was forced into early retirement. Two months ago he went to the social security office twice to get his benefits started. He has to return two more times and each appointment requires a month and a half wait -- so it will be at least five months before he sees any of his social security benefits...
Paying absurd amounts for family coverage
by Michael Smida—Ohio
Last week I was able to change the mind of a man that was at first not interested in becoming a member of Working America. After proposing health care reform to the gentleman he became very interested in our organization, telling me that he pays $1,180 per month of provide coverage for his family...
The dad of a lobbyist
by Cicily King—Ohio
I was canvassing on a beautiful day in January and signed up a retiree whose daughter is a lobbyist. He also showed me a picture of his daughter and former President Bill Clinton. He also paid membership dues for the year. It was a rewarding experience!
Three strikes, become an accountant!
by Cicily King—Ohio
I met a woman who worked many years at three different factories until one closed down its U.S. offices and went to Mexico (courtesy of NAFTA). The second factory job she got went down to South Carolina to go non-union. She didn't give up...
Downsizing and determination
by Cicily King—Ohio
While canvassing in Newark, OH, I signed up a woman who was disabled. Her husband is the bread winner of the family. While signing, she told me about how he worked a factory union job for 18 years and they closed down due to outsourcing. He now drives an hour each way to work in Columbus and provide for his family.
Video: Health care worker wants a better system
Jonathan Middleton was motivated by a conversation with a woman who had been working in the health care industry for 18 years. She was sickened by the problems with our current system and was excited by Working America's work to fix it...
Video: Keeping good jobs in Ohio
During Kevin Pape's first week of training, he met a guy who was confrontational at first, but was passionate about the fight to keep good jobs in Ohio. He shared how his family is trying to survive in the face of outsourcing...
Video: Older couple glad to hear from us
Marvenus Daniels met an older couple in west Columbus concerned about health care. They had had to move recently because her husband had lost his job and was diagnosed with cancer. They were surprised and glad to know there's an organization engaging on the issues that matter to them...
Video: Can’t afford her son’s medical bills
Cicily King spoke with the mother of an autistic son who can't afford his medical expenses, which total approximately $1,200 a month...
Ohio canvasser visits New Jersey
by David Hinton—Ohio
I'm writing today to share my experiences while canvassing in New Jersey this fall.
The people I met in Pleasantville and Egg Harbor City were very nice, but many were distressed about the high taxes and relatively low amount of social programs being implemented to help the residents of their communities...
Coming soon to a school near you?
by Jonathan Middleton—Ohio
While canvassing tonight, I met a single father who works hard every day to support his children. He was formerly a Teamster, and still supports unions wholeheartedly. We talked for a while about jobs, the SCHIP program
Such nice people!
by Monica Walker—Ohio
I knocked on a door tonight and told the man who answered that I was fighting to keep jobs in Ohio. The man was joined by another man, and they were both so excited that they tried to take the clipboard at the same time...
SCHIP continues to gain community support
by Jonathan Middleton—Ohio
Today I talked to the mother of an autistic child. She said that he benefits from the
SCHIP program. She was amazed that our "President" would do what he is trying to do to this crucial program...
We’ll leave the light on for you
by Shane Gleason—Ohio
While canvassing on a Friday night in Macedonia my observer and I came across a stoic looking man who said little. However, he quickly invited us in out of the cold...
Her last $10
by Shane Gleason—Ohio
I met a lady who told me her medical problems kept her from working and the high cost of medical bills forced her husband to work THREE jobs just to make ends meet, and mind you—these are highly paid medical field jobs...
Neighbor helps bridge the language gap
by Shane Gleason—Ohio
One day I was canvassing a heavily Spanish-speaking area. I tried my best to command my limited Spanish skills to communicate with the people I talked to. One woman could not understand my limited Spanish and I had resigned myself that I would not be able to sign her up as a member...
Taking action for her five grandchildren
by Libby Klancher—Ohio
Yesterday evening I had the opportunity to knock on the door of a single disabled grandmother with five grandchildren. All five of her grandchildren are directly affected by Bush's veto of SCHIP...
Making the case for children’s health insurance
by Kristin Fine—Ohio
As I was canvassing I came upon a house that reminded me much of the house I grew up in. When the couple answered the door, they were accompanied by four young children, all boisterous and hyper as children often are. As I was telling them about Bush's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, they interrupted me by asking how it affected them...
Real people in need
by Renee Henisch—Ohio
While canvassing in Vermilion I came upon a family that was going through some rough times. The main breadwinner in the house, the father, has just recently been laid off from his work...
Getting the whole family involved
by Amber Mann—Ohio
I canvassed a door last night, signed up a member, and confirmed an SCHIP letter. I thanked the new member and then headed to the next door. As I was nearing the next door, a woman from the previous house called me back...
Meeting great people every day
by Ebony James—Ohio
It was the middle of my night and I was starting to feel bad that nobody was answering their doors. Then I walked up to a house and a very kind lady answered the door...
A proud Working America home
by Jesse Kloth—Ohio
I never got to speak to the person who lived at this home but I knocked on her door four different times that night. Eventually her neighbor, who had signed up and written a letter on SCHIP, stuck her head out and said, "She's not there you know..."
Let ‘em know we’re standing together
by Jesse Kloth—Ohio
Met a man last week I wish we had in one of our offices. He was behind us on all of the issues, especially health care. He couldn't be happier to see "young" folks out there fighting for a cause...
Spooky in Cincinnati
Our Cincinnati office canvassers ready for a night of talking about the spooky conditions working families currently face.
Singing happy birthday on turf
by Kellie Hughes—Ohio
I was coming down the street and noticed three little girls, giggling as they sometimes do, in their front yard. As I got closer to the house, I realized they were waiting for me. As I was getting there, their mom came out and called them all back inside...
Children get involved, too
by Kellie Hughes—Ohio
I was canvassing with an observer enjoying a beautiful fall day when I came across a mom and her two girls. As she was signing, I was playing catch with the youngest girl...
Members, a soda and a sandwich
by Athena Stanford—Ohio
As I was canvassing, I met a father walking with his two sons, aged 2 and 6. I spoke with them briefly, while signing up a neighbor. Later that evening I canvassed the father’s apartment, and the 2 year old...