by Maggie Nelson-Poole

Poverty rights activist Willie Baptist visited St. John’s Episcopal Church on Nov. 1 in order to speak out against poverty and social injustice. Baptist’s experience ranges from working with the homeless, to organizing steelworkers, to scholarly work at Union Theological Seminary, to working at Poverty University, a branch of the Poor Peo-ple’s Economic Human rights campaign.

by Leslie Cushman

Camp Quixote has moved back downtown from its Westside location at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Church (OUUC). The United Churches of Olympia accepted the request to host the camp when it became clear that other plans for a new site were falling through. The relocated Camp is set up to host up to 20 people and is located on a small parking lot on 11th and Washington, right next to the church building. The OUUC, as well as members from St John's Episcopal Church, pitched in on the move that took place May 19.

Workers construct the foundation for Camp Quixote's relocation to the United Churches of Olympia, located on 11th and Washington. (Photo by Paul Peck)

(Photo by Mindy Chambers)

by Ray Kavick

My name is Ray Kavick, anarchist and member of the Olympia Poor People's Union (PPU). This is a short reflection on the first week of an encampment we set up in Downtown Olympia on Thursday, February 1. We called the encampment Camp Quixote. This piece is not that comprehensive, but gets the basic story out there. My comments do not represent those of the PPU. The PPU is a non-hierarchical group dedicated to improving the lives of the poor and "homeless" in Olympia by whatever means available.

Camp Quixote in its original downtown location, at State and Columbia, February 7, 2007. (Photo by Sandy Mayes)

Camp Quixote residents and guests find ways to entertain themselves, despite the weather. February 7, 2007. (Photo by Sandy Mayes)

by Tony Zaragoza

The Poor People's Union (PPU) won a standoff with Olympia city officials. Despite ongoing objections from the City, the PPU won the right to reestablish the tent city, Camp Quixote, on a new site. According to one of the organizers of Camp Quixote, Rob Richards, "This is a major victory. We get to stay together. We get a place for now, and dialogue has been opened for a permanent site. We developed leadership, organization, and a plan. Now we're getting ready for what comes next."

Pots on the stove at Camp Quixote in its original location at the corner of State and Columbia. (Photo by Tony Zaragosa)