Representatives of CMAA from a variety of departments joined hundreds of representatives of social services groups on Thursday, June 18, 2009, in an attempt to cull the barrage of budget cuts facing their programs. Those rallying sent a strong message to Illinois State legislators whose budget cuts threaten to cut funding and completely cut programs devoted to day care, foster care, special education, home assistance to seniors, domestic violence assistance, as well as low income housing, youth, civil services, ESL, family literacy, and computer literacy programs, among others.

The YWCA, St. Vincent de Paul Center, South Central Community Services, Erie Neighborhood House, Association House of Chicago, Mujeres Latinas in Accion, Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European, and Latino Immigrants of Illinois, Heartland Alliance, The Children’s Place Association, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council were among the protesting throng that marches around the Thompson Center. Groups banged pots with spoons and called out the slogan, “People before politics!”. Signs read everything from “Legislators: need to balance the budget? Take a pay cut!” to “We need to speak English!” and “Non me quites la oportunidad de creer ambiente sano y sin violencia”, which translates into “Do not deny me the opportunity to create a healthy, non-violent environment”.

These organizations, along with CMAA, provide vital services that affect all sectors of society, including youth, immigrants, and the elderly. Cutting funding from these programs also means cutting the jobs of those individuals that manage these programs, which, as one social worker remarked, “will be devastation”. However, all hope is not lost; Nathan Berry, representing the Youth Department of CMAA, is currently in Springfield attending the Human Services Budget Rally that began at 11:30 am this morning on Tuesday, June 23, at the Capitol Rotunda. An estimated 5,000 individuals are predicted to participate.