Q&A with Amy Laiken
By Stacy Jeziorowski
Click Link for a picture of Amy

Amy Laiken, former administrative hearing officer for the Illinois State Department of Human Services, is now the fundraising chair at Voices-Exchange. She has both a B.A. in sociology and a M.A. in education. She is currently involved with the Chicago Women's Liberation Union Herstory Project, the Chicago Public Radio pledge drive, the Alliance Francaise, the Chicago Latino Film Festival and the Postpartum Depression Illinois Alliance.

How and when did you become involved with Voices-Exchange? What is your title?

Estelle Carol, whom I have known for many years, recruited me to work with Voices-Exchange in September of 2004. I don't have an official title. I've been doing research on funding possibilities, and suppose I could be called "fundraising chair."

What do you believe that Voices Exchange can provide the community with and what is your role in this?

I believe Voices-Exchange can provide the community with independent, grass roots speakers on a variety of subjects including economic justice, interfaith understanding, peacemaking, universal health coverage, global conflicts, etcetera. It can also provide thought-provoking and challenging films, videos and performers whose presentations reflect their belief in social justice. My role so far has been to explore fundraising options, and, of course, to act as a liason with programs such as your online journalism class.

How important is it for the community to have access to speakers on these topics?

I think it's critical for communities to have access to speakers who can provide alternative viewpoints to those that are expressed in the commercial media today. Unfortunately, in an era in which sound bites often pass for news, the public is frequently exposed largely to simplistic responses to the complex problems facing the world, and our country today. I can think of two examples as to why exposure to progressive speakers is so important. First, I remember a talk show I saw on a cable station a couple of years ago, which featured Jesse Ventura, the former governor of Minnesota, and Paul Krugman, a professor of economics at Princeton and a NY Times columnist. With respect to economic policy, Jesse Ventura said something like, "I think we should have a national sales tax. That way, everyone pays." The audience erupted into applause, leading Paul Krugman to grab his head in consternation. He retorted that such a tax would be highly regressive, thereby having the greatest negative impact on those that earn the least. In this case, of course, Paul Krugman was there to make his opinion known. However, there are many occasions when someone on television or radio offers a public policy suggestion that may seem fair at face value, but in reality is anything but. Often, no one is present to offer an alternative.

The second thing I'd like to mention is the proliferation of video "news" releases (VRN's), which are prepackaged segments narrated by employees of govenrnment agencies, or public relations people hired by them, providing information about programs offered by those agencies. These VRN's are provided to local television stations, and are generally designed to depict the current adminstration's policies in a favorable light, omitting opposing viewpoints. A recent (maybe a couple of months ago) article in a Sunday New York Times revealed that some stations broadcast these vnr's with no attribution, leading viewers to believe they are watching a news story delivered by an impartial reporter.

These are two reasons why I believe it's important that local groups have access to independent speakers who have the expertise and willingness to challenge flawed policies.

What do you believe is the most important thing for people to know about Voices-Exchange?
Right now, I'd like people to know that Voices-Exchange is operated entirely on a volunteer basis by a small group of people with long-standing ties to peace and social justice movements, and that we are committed to providing grass roots organizations and faith-based groups with speakers who believe in challenging the status quo.

What impact do you imagine Voices-Exchange having in the future?
Hopefully, Voices-Exchange will have organized a large enough number of speaking engagements that will have engendered a groundswell of support for changing the direction of our country.

Do your political beliefs play a large part in your life?
Absolutely. Even though, particularly in later years, my parents and I did not always agree, I was raised with the idea that government (and society in general) has a duty to develop policies that would benefit people who had little or no access to economic or political opportunities. My upbringing informed my decisions to volunteer my time with various peace and social justice groups over the years, even while I was working.
What is the most important value that you possess and is it evident in your work?
I think valuing the concept that society has the obligation to see that those in this world who have the least can gain access to opportunities to improve their own lives. That concept has led me to work with the anti-nuclear and anti-intervention (when the U.S. was funding the contrast in Nicaragua and training Salvadoran troops who were shown to disregard human rights) movements, as well as the women's health movement.

What should people know about you and why?
That I take responsibility seriously, but also have a sense of humor.

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