Civic Participation and Community Action Sourcebook

Section Two

Vermont Students Win Resources and Action

by Carolyn Bronz and Lou Dorwaldt

Our Goalseekers class is a group of single mothers who are facing time limits on their welfare benefits and are trying to build their academic and work skills quickly. The class has invited legislators in to visit and discuss issues for the last three years. This year students were prepared to discuss and ask questions about an issue that was very important to them – welfare reform.

The students have been concerned that Vermont’s welfare reform initiative does not emphasize the importance of getting an adequate education in preparation for a tough job market. They also feel it doesn’t effectively address the issue of transportation. Almost every member of the class has problems with transportation which make it difficult if not impossible to hold down jobs and keep appointments. Not being able to buy, maintain, register, and insure vehicles means that students must depend on others or drive illegally in order to meet the obligations under welfare reform. Other issues of concern are child care, housing, lack of jobs that pay a living wage, and loss of medical insurance when moving from welfare to work. The legislators were so impressed with what they heard that day that they invited the whole class to go to Montpelier and testify before the state’s Joint Committee on Health and Welfare.

It took us months of preparation to get ready. We studied the policies of welfare and welfare reform. We discussed and debated issues of public assistance, jobs, and education. We researched the many different forms of welfare, and discovered that many rich individuals and corporations receive massive assistance which is not called “welfare” and does not carry a stigma. We discussed the successes and the inequities of the system that we live with. We all came to Montpelier armed with this knowledge, and with our own experience. We came in the spirit of presenting good information and feedback to our lawmakers so that they could use our testimony to make changes and fine-tune the process of reform.

Four students spoke, telling about the problems they face everyday as mothers who are expected to get jobs. Because each story was intensely personal and heartfelt the legislators were transfixed, and kept us there long beyond our scheduled hour. They asked us to stay through several rounds of votes on the floor. They asked each speaker many questions and were clearly surprised and touched by what they heard. Some of the women got immediate assistance with tough problems they were dealing with, and extra funds were allocated for two public transportation initiatives – a twice daily bus into the city, and more money for the “Good New Garage,” a place that fixes up cars and gives them to low-income people. The experience made a huge impression on the students. As one said, “The committee really seemed interested in what we had to say about our situation. I thought we were going to go down there and just be blown off. But I was wrong.” Every one of the students came out of there feeling empowered.

Another outcome of the testimony was that legislators contacted Reach Up, the office that administers welfare-to-work, to encourage a meeting between staff and the women who are affected by their decisions. We thought that if the Reach Up people could learn more about some of the problems we were having, maybe the program would become more beneficial to people who are trying to get off welfare and find jobs. We did more research, drew up an extensive list of questions, and practiced by holding mock interviews. And again, we had a very successful meeting that resulted in action in several areas.

The women we work with continue to be active in advocating for their needs. Our current class has written and won a $4,000 grant to fund emergency child care and transportation. They are learning how to write proposals, raise funds, administer a grant, and manage a budget. It is exciting to be along for the ride!

Carolyn Bronz and Lou Dorwaldt teach in St. Albans for the Vermont Adult Learning Program.

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