Perhaps the single most crucial issue facing uninsured citizens and voters in Georgia this November is Medicaid Expansion.  This issue has significant implications for the individuals and families who come to the Lokey Center at Emmaus House every day for help with medical bills, prescriptions, and co-pays.  

Medicaid expansion in Georgia would qualify our state for a 100% federal match of funding for three years, and a 90% federal match thereafter.  This translates to $40 billion our state could receive in the span of just ten years, with a staggering 650,000 currently uninsured Georgians obtaining medical coverage.

Not insuring those who cannot afford the high costs of healthcare ultimately affects everyone.  Neglecting any one portion of the community affects the health of the whole through unseen and unintended repercussions.  Emory and Morehouse medical schools estimate that 10 Georgians are dying preventable deaths each day due to lack of access to healthcare.  With the expansion of Medicaid, we could save up to 3,600 lives per year!

Medicaid expansion not only alleviates suffering and saves lives.  It also provides health outcomes that create personal economic independence.  Healthy individuals are able to remain gainfully employed rather than slip into chronic illness, unemployment, and poverty.  Chronically ill populations create an enormous burden on local and state government health, support, and administrative services that must be garnered from local and state taxes.  On the other hand, healthy populations contribute to the economic health of a region.

In addition, expanding Medicaid would contribute to job creation of an estimated 56,000 jobs in Georgia, which increases the tax base.  An expanded tax base funds improvements such as education, employment, urban redevelopment, and public transit that benefit everyone.  An expanded tax base also contributes to finding solutions to other social justice issues such as crime (yes, it is a social justice issue), nutrition, housing and homelessness.  If not addressed, these issues combine and reverberate throughout the social order to compound as negative effects that contribute to ever-increasing poverty and crime within and upon the larger communities of city and state.  Denying health care for a few, by rejecting Medicaid expansion being offered through the Affordable Care Act, reduces quality of life and increases overall total economic costs thereby reducing quality of life for everyone in the region.  The myriad sector services that are required to respond to the combined effects of illness, poverty, and crime will far outstrip the costs of providing healthcare to those who would qualify under Medicaid Expansion in our state.

The AJC reports that 57% of Georgians support the expansion of Medicaid.  That leaves a significant percentage of folks who do not.  As individuals, we can suffer from tunnel vision that blinds us to the big picture.  We tend to respond to things that only directly affect us.  However, when we expand our thinking beyond our own daily lives, we see that the welfare of others is, in reality, our own.  Each of us is a part of the larger whole.  No one lives in isolation.  We all affect each other's welfare.  Will you keep this perspective in mind as you enter the ballot box on Tuesday?  Be wise, and vote!

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"Vote" Photographer: Theresa Thompson License

Many are discouraged from voting in an 'off year election'.  But the term is disparagingly misleading. The so-called ‘off year’ or non-presidential election cycle is tremendously important at the local and state levels.  It is the opportunity to affect grassroots changes at home; the time to hold local, state & federal representatives accountable.  In addition, it is a time to voice one's opinion on important ballot issues that directly affect our daily lives.  As Jay Bookman, award-winning journalist, political columnist and blogger for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution put it, "Here in Georgia, if black Georgians voted in larger numbers, they might not have a government that refuses Medicaid expansion for hundreds of thousands of lower-income working people... they might not have a Legislature that recoils so instinctively from mass transit and other perceived “urban” amenities."

NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks put it this way, “Voting is not a social luxury, it is our civic responsibility."  In truth, voting is an action of responsibility to ourselves and our loved ones.  

Black voter turnout six years ago was nearly 70%; but election analysts mainly attribute this to Barack Obama’s name on the ballot.  According to United States census data, over 66% of registered Black voters went to the polls for the November 2012 election. That’s 2% higher than registered White voters, and nearly 6% higher than U.S. voters overall.  

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease" is an American idiom used to convey the idea that the most noticeable (or loudest) problems (or people) are the ones most likely to get attention.

Source: Wikipedia

African Americans, along with unmarried women, youth voters and other voters of color also make up a rising population of eligible voters, according to a 2013 Voter Participation Center report. Together, this group makes up more than half of the eligible U.S. voting population. And yet, statistics show that in “off year elections” African Americans still don’t turn out to vote in proportion to the rest of eligible voters.  

Clearly, some of the causes can be attributed to access - restrictions imposed by social and economic factors.  While Emmaus House of Atlanta does not advocate nor endorse any political party or persuasion we do advocate engagement in the political process.  We encourage self-empowerment by encouraging voting participation through sponsoring voter registration and turnout by partnering with social justice and political educational groups such as The Georgia Justice Project.

Here are a few reasons why everyone who is interested in social and economic justice, including our neighbors in Peoplestown should vote:

1. Earlier generations fought and died for this right.

We can't afford to lose the hard won gains nor dishonor the lives of so many who have given their blood, sweat, tears and some their very lives for us, the beneficiaries of their struggles for social justice.  We as individuals and a people, no matter our ethnicity, cannot afford to relinquish the hard won rights of the Labor Movement in the early 20th century or the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s.  We must ask ourselves: how can we honor the personal sacrifices of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. here in America during the 1960’s, and of Mahatma Gandhi in India in the 1940’s who was a model for Dr. King?  We must continue to claim their victories.   We must keep Dr. King's dream alive.  We must make our voices heard. We must vote. As Gandhi enjoined, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

2. African Americans are an important voting bloc.

Statistically this was most evident proven in the 2008 & 2012 presidential elections.  This should be our rallying cry to continue turning out in all elections, especially so at the all important local and state levels.  Without a concerted voice, politicians won't address the needs of whole populations.  

3. Everything to gain, and much to lose.

Issues such as unemployment, housing, education and health could worsen if voters don’t express their needs to elected officials.  If voters don't demand changes, their needs most likely won’t be addressed.

4. Fighting against embedded apathy.

Many subscribe to the ‘I don’t feel like my vote counts’ school of thought and won’t vote in any election.  African Americans need to vote and show that their vote is important.  If we don't vote, we're sending the message that we don't count.  A major way to express political will is through voting.  As well, we need to ensure that politicians take our votes very seriously by showing up en masse. We need to hold our elected officials accountable by voting out those who are unresponsive to the needs of everyone.

We urge everyone in our neighborhood, and across the state, to vote at next Tuesday’s election. Let our voices be heard.  

Listed below is the closest voting precinct to Peoplestown. But each registered voter is assigned a polling place, so please refer to you voter information card. If you you are unsure of your polling location, you can visit www.fultonelections.com or call 404-612-7020. Election Day - November 4th

Atlanta South Side Health Center

1046 Ridge Avenue SW

Atlanta, GA 30315

Information about Voting From Fulton County's Website

Polls to open at 7:00 am on Tuesday, November 4th

On  Tuesday, November 4, 2014, all 370 precincts in Fulton County will open to welcome voters. The Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections is confident that pre-election preparations will result in an easy and pleasant voting experience for all electors. As always, administrative and technical support is available in the field and at the Election phone bank to address questions that may arise.

As of October 30, 2014, 75,051 voters have cast ballots during Early Voting and 5,942 via Absentee Ballot. 

Voters who plan to vote in person on November 4th should keep the following points in mind:

• Voters must vote at their assigned polling place listed on their voter information card. Any voter who is unsure of where to vote should go to the Elections Department website at www.fultonelections.com or call 404-612-7020.
• Voters must provide identification that contains both a photo and signature in order to vote. Acceptable forms of ID include Georgia driver’s license (or ID card issued by a Georgia Department of Georgia Voters are required to show one of six forms of valid photo identification when voting in person, during the absentee or advanced voting period or at the polls on Election Day. The valid forms of identification are as follows:

1. A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired.
2. Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
3. Valid U.S. passport.
4. Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state.
5. Valid U.S. military photo ID.
6. Valid tribal photo ID.

If a voter does not have one of these forms of photo identification, they can obtain a FREE Voter ID card at their County Registrars’ office or the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services.

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Tricycle. Photographer: Florian Klauer

One-sixth of Americans don't have enough food to eat.  According to Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2014 report, 1 in 7.5 people, or an estimated 755,400 people in metro Atlanta and north Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year.  This includes more than 164,000 children and more than 64,000 seniors.

The causes of hunger in the land of plenty can be summed up in one word: access.  In a nation of unprecedented abundance, there is no actual shortage of food and nutrition assistance programs, both charitable and governmental.  Rather, it is simple access to nutrition that is a growing problem fueled by increasing pressures throughout the economic system.  These pressures create both socio-economic and physical barriers to access to food.  The effects of chronic poverty amplify educational and physical obstacles to nutrition.  These hurdles can be as simple as limited transportation to grocers and markets and as complex as lack of knowledge of how to negotiate food assistance programs and resources.

At Emmaus House, we focus our efforts at the local level to provide solutions and relief to both types of access obstacles.  Emmaus House, located in Peoplestown at 1017 Hank Aaron Drive SW, serves the residents of the Peoplestown neighborhood in downtown Atlanta through programs that help residents attain higher levels of economic security, education, and personal development, as well as programs that alleviate hunger.  Addressing the immediate issue of hunger, Emmaus House issues referrals to area agencies that run food pantries, and even operates its own food pantry on Friday mornings for residents in the 30315 zip code.  In addition, it assists families and individuals in the application and renewal eligibility for Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, and other government benefits.  Emmaus House offers a community supper on the third Thursday of each month, and annually sponsors a Thanksgiving meal program.

Thanksgiving, the nation's big meal, is only about a month away.  It is our time to give thanks for the bounty that Americans have traditionally enjoyed.  However, Atlanta is no exception to the rise of hunger across the nation.  Many Atlantans don't know where their next meal will come from much less give thought to enjoying the traditional family Thanksgiving Feast.  Emmaus House's efforts in alleviating hunger pains for well over four decades include sharing the bounty of our nation's traditional feast of thanks through a Thanksgiving at Home Program for our neighbors in Peoplestown.  We provide 350 households with turkeys and 'fixings' so that they may have a Thanksgiving meal to prepare and enjoy at home.

Please!  

We need loving donations to buy turkeys (Visit our Turkeys for Families Fundraiser Here) and bags filled with ingredients to make Thanksgiving side dishes.  Please deliver bags of sides to Emmaus House between Nov 17 and 21.  (For grocery lists and more details, click here.)

Your generosity and love are rewards in themselves.  

Help us at Emmaus House to put some holiday cheer in the lives of our fellow Atlantans who are less fortunate than we are.  Thank you!

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Photo Title: "Market" Photographer: Guy Evans License: CC BY 2.0 

Thank you for playing a part in removing barriers and creating opportunity for our neighbors in Peoplestown.

It seems hard to believe that my tenure with Emmaus House began just three months ago. In that short space of time, I’ve been humbled and amazed by your generosity and by the resilience of our neighbors here in Peoplestown. Generosity and resilience.

It seems that these two phenomena characterize so much of the work that you make possible at Emmaus House, and it is a distinct privilege to bear witness to both.

Read the rest of Joseph's message here.

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Joseph Mole, Executive Director of Emmaus House. 

Join the Campaign!

Each November, Emmaus House sponsors a Thanksgiving at Home program for our neighbors in Peoplestown.  We provide more than 350 households with turkeys and groceries so that they may have a Thanksgiving meal to prepare and enjoy at home.

This year we are crowd funding for turkeys. Check out our campaign here.

Our goal is to raise $3,000 to purchase turkeys for more than 350 Families this Thanksgiving. 

Our Thanksgiving at Home program is in its 6th year, and has successfully served hundreds of Peoplestown families each year, and all funds raised in this campaign will go directly to pay for turkeys for Thanksgiving 2014. Donations are tax deductible. 

Can you help us set the table for our Peoplestown neighbors this Thanksgiving? Contribute via our campaign page.

$10 buys one turkey. How many families can you feed?

Visit our campaign page to make donation & help spread the word! 

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The following was written by Kevin Daniels, our Program Fellow, who is spending a year with the Episcopal Service Corp.

Prior to this year’s Walk the Road event, I did not realize the devastation that has resulted from the increase of food deserts in the local neighborhoods of Atlanta, such as Peoplestown.  After attending the event, I became more aware of and knowledgeable about the socioeconomic plight caused by the food insecurities that pervade urban communities.  Our executive director, Joseph Mole, addressed participants at the beginning of the event to define its purpose and to invite us to engage in dialogue and education.  In his opening address, he mentioned that Atlanta ranks third in terms of food deserts.

By definition, a food desert is an area where there is no grocery store or food market within a one to two-mile radius of an urban residential community.  At the panel discussion during the Walk the Road event, a panelist suggested an optional solution known as limited resource farming.  In limited resource farming, independent farmers advertise and sell their own produce to third-party markets or stores in urban neighborhoods.  Both farmer and consumer benefit from the flow of profitable capital from those businesses and from the experience of being a stakeholder in their community.  This strategy also provides more cost-efficient and healthy food options for consumers with limited food budgets.  Most importantly, this method would help to eliminate food disparities in urban areas.

Legally, a perceived disregard for equal opportunity in the judicial branch of government hinders the implementation of this solution.  The prospect of expanding urban agriculture has faced a prolonged effort to block increased opportunities and access to more resources for urban farmers.  For example, a 1999 class action lawsuit between the USDA and a considerable number of African-American farmers resulted in a promised that over $1.3 million dollars would be accessible to aid the minority farmers in boosting their revenue and to nurture entrepreneurial potential in urban agriculture.  In actuality, less than 2 percent urban farmers received funds that in total equaled no more than $55,000.  The discriminatory practices of the USDA have resulted in the denial of once guaranteed benefits and resources.

As a participant of this year’s Walk the Road experience, I have been compelled to commit my life to help reform policies that enhance and uphold the total welfare of all people.  Access to food is a fundamental human right that we must pursue by advocating fair opportunities and resources for urban farmers and by subverting the injustices associated with food disparities in low-income neighborhoods.  In the spirit of Psalm 24, the earth’s fullness must be savored and shared impartially and its bounty must not be constrained. 

Kevin J. Daniels

Episcopal Service Corps

2014-15 Community Service Fellow

Emmaus House / Lokey Center

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