Video of the Day: Canada Wins the Gold, Alma Falls Asleep

(from February 28, 2010)

Police to address fears

By Deborah Hirsch • Courier-Post Staff • August 31, 2009

CAMDEN — Seeking to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the immigrant community, Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson and Camden Churches Organized for People will meet tonight to talk about crime prevention and victims' rights.

City and Latino community leaders say that illegal immigrants often do not report criminal activity or unfit housing conditions for fear that they will be reported to immigration enforcement officials. As a result, criminals and landlords have learned to take advantage of them.

(For the complete article, please see the Courier Post.)

Winter Coat Time! And the Death of the 'Stash

Here at Casa de Chisholms, we celebrate the little things. Like the official switching from our fleeces to our winter coats! Doesn't get better. The other day we decorated the house -- ornaments hang from the chandelier and the ceiling fan due to our noticeable lack of tree (next year, next year ...) -- and went out for a drink to celebrate the occasion. May not seem like a big celebration but, for us, it was perfect.

Unfortunately, folks, this is the last photo you will see of Joshua's mustache. It died in a fit of frustration at how much it obstructed the eating process -- "och, that hurt" was a common theme as the mustache tried to be consumed along with dinner. While I loved the 'stache for the first five months, by month six I missed seeing my husbands lovely smile (*ahhhh*).

That mustache first joined us when we were visiting Seattle in July.

It stayed for our first anniversary.

It helped with the house rehab and move.

It stayed for an entire rugby season, a community action, a few tennis matches, a birthday and visit, the creation of four povitisas, a hockey game and a football game.

(Not pictured, a high school reunion, multiple family functions and meeting everyone from the Geography Department ... yup, all those people think that Joshua is a "guy who has a mustache." Pretty funny stuff.)

We went through a lot together, but it was time ... knowing Joshua, I'm sure we are moving into another stage of wonderful hair creation.

Camden Action -- Community Policing

Last night, Camden Churches Organized for People (CCOP) held its first big-league action since Joshua started working for the non-profit. Well over 900 individuals from Camden showed up to share information with Anne Milgram, New Jersey's Attorney General . While she didn't agree to the demands the community made regarding the appointment of some key police positions and the implementation of community policing, the meeting ruffled a lot of feathers ... which, remember, is a good thing in community organizing work (tension = putting pressure on elected officials to do their job).

"Milgram says Camden won't hire new police leaders", New Jersey's Courier-Post

The 35 empty chairs in front of the panel of speakers represent the 35 homicides Camden has endured this year. Each chair was labeled with the names and ages of the victims.

In a presentation by CCOP community leaders, it was reported that last year Philadelphia had over 400 murders. It was noted that if the crime rate per capita in Philadelphia was as bad as Camden, the city would have lost over 700 individuals last year due to homicides. This is an astounding figure -- more than two a day! The fact that such a relatively small city like Camden has such a high crime rate is disheartening.

Most of the meeting had great energy and, of course, included some group songs about marching. All great revolutions include songs about marching!

Even though many people left the meeting feeling frustrated that, once again, Camden's needs are being ignored, this is when Joshua's job gets interesting. Taking that frustration and turning it into more action is not an easy job, but an exciting one!