“Our voice will be heard.” When low income people of color, African American or Hispanic, have all the facts and moral values on their side, predominately white middle groups, no matter their good intentions, just cannot hear or do not want to hear the facts and moral values being presented. Some call this racism. Often the poor or low income just give up trying and settle for what the white establishment gives them. Sometimes they speak and act out.
Here is a statement of low income and marginalized persons. When they peacefully picketed with the message they were threaten with arrest if they did not leave the property. (See No Room for the Poor in SVDP) When they respectfully asked for a dialog with leaders and staff of Milwaukee SVDP they were ignored. To give up or to keep struggling is the question they face. So far they will struggle on. If you would like to join in the struggle of this unnamed group send you name to be added to this petition. If you want to join the group send you name and email to
We the people, voice for people in need,
Because the mission of “Society of St. Vincent de Paul is “Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering…”.(1)
Because “St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores throughout the United States are an association of lay employees and volunteers dedicated to serve our needy sisters and brothers. All who come to are stores are welcomed with dignity and respect. We hope they leave as friends to shop with us again. Those who cannot afford the clothing, furniture and other household items they need will be provided for through a Vincentian initiated referral system……Serving Christ’s needy is the first purpose of all St. Vincent de Paul stores.” (2)
Because Milwaukee is one of the poorest cities in the U.S.A., the most racially segregated city in the USA, with the highest rate of incarceration of African American males in Wisconsin with highest rate of incarceration in the USA which has the incarceration rate of citizens of any country in the world, (5)
Because “In the Society, all our money, (income, donations, and debts) belongs to the poor. The Society has held from the beginning that the funds donated to the Conference belong to the poor. …… Like Conferences, Councils act as custodians of funds given to the Society, understanding that they belong, ultimately, to the poor.” (3)
Because “Councils may receive funding requests from charitable organizations outside the Society. Funds donated to the Society, however, must be used only for works that involve the personal service of Society members.”(3)
‘’Because home visits to people in racially impoverished are being severely limited by Central Office of SVDP,
Because the Milwaukee SVDP Greenfield store, after seven months of operation and over four million dollars of investment* shows no signs of being sustainable let along profitable,(4)
Therefore, We the people, who all SVDP money belongs to, demand No More Money of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Milwaukee County be invested in the Greenfield SVDP thrift store but rather but rather being invested in SVDP conferences that serve the needy and to create, not investigate, a SVDP Thrift store in North Central Milwaukee.
(1)Rule of Society of St. Vincent de Paul
(2) Mission Statement of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
(3)Manuel of St. Vincent de Paul Society of USA
(4)Based on the projected and approved 2014–2015 SVDP budget and small bits of information given to members of Milwaukee SVDP.
3.2 million dollars of loans from Securant Bank and Investment firm managing SVDP Trust Fund.
Interest on two loans $160, 000 per year
$500, 000 of Money being raised in present campaign
Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) to City of Greenfield $15, 000 per year
Property Management Fees $37, 940 per year
Condo Association Fees $15, 000 per year
Compensation (40 employees) and Operating Cost for Greenfield Store not covered by sales.
Equals ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four Million Dollars Plus of Money Belonging to Poor investing in Greenfield Store
(5) See MAPS http://www.nonviolentworm.org/Main/MAPS
“We must do what is most agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the Gospel. Let us go to the poor. ” Blessed Frederic Ozanam founder of Society of St. Vincent de Paul (1813–1853)
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