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The Center for the Working Poor is an inter-faith intentional community inspired by the Catholic Worker movement and New Monasticism, which is committed to strategic non-violent social change.  These are our core principles and programs: 1) Strategic Nonviolence 2) Voluntary Simplicity and Intentional Community 3) Hospitality and Mutual Aid Mental Health Community 4) The Burning Bush Newsletter and website 5) Community Building 6) Spirituality and Faith in Action.

Some of our community members live and work as full-time volunteers at the Center, and other community members work in careers outside the Center. We all share a commitment to live in community, share a few meals a week, and a common vision of non-violent social change to benefit the most oppressed in our society. Volunteer members run the Center for the Working Poor, which is a non-profit that provides services for poor, and organizes protest and social movement activity. Our specialty is helping to organize social movements, and facilitating the use of strategic nonviolence throughout the world. We are a spiritual community which observes Christian contemplative practices; however, this is not a requirement for participation or membership at the Center. We have people of many faiths and beliefs in our community.

Mutual Aid Mental Health

We provide mutual aid mental health community and services to people in need and people in social justice movements.

Articles About Us

 

Monasticism, Indigenous Cultures, Burning Man, and/or Kingdom of God?: My trip to Taize.


December 27th, 2019

After being invited to Barcelona, Spain this fall for a chaotic tour of book talks, TV appearances, and radio interviews, I needed a place to recover from all the activity. And one of the greatest realizations of my life has … Continue reading



House Journal 2018


December 24th, 2018

Greetings from the Center for the Working Poor, aka The Center, aka the Burning Bush community! Things at the house have been settling down since the midterm elections. We jokingly say that two members of our community, Judy and Danielle, … Continue reading



Are We Cells in a Mystical Body? Center Update 2018


December 24th, 2018

As many of you know, I am a social justice geek. I compulsively read and think about social movements, and have been doing this for a long time, and am now considered a specialist in the field commonly referred to … Continue reading



Get Empathy: Bringing A Community to High School Students


January 22nd, 2018

I first got involved in social justice work at the age of 14, the summer after my freshman year of high school. I was totally politicized by a youth-led service learning trip to New Orleans that I went on with … Continue reading



Resistance Guide: A Gift and a Struggle


January 22nd, 2018

Last year, during my senior year of college at Occidental, I was tasked with writing a senior thesis— a capstone research project that served as a graduation requirement for the Urban and Environment Policy program. I wanted this project to … Continue reading



House Journal 2017


January 22nd, 2018

It is amazing that the Trump election and inauguration was over a year ago. The Center for the Working poor (aka the Center), has been dramatically affected by these cycles of Trump and the protest movement. In the weeks after … Continue reading



Building a Community of Vulnerability and Common Struggle


January 22nd, 2018

We’re doing a three hour workshop called Get Empathy with students at New Roads, a high school in Santa Monica. It’s program is designed to create a space where people can learn how to tell their stories and listen to … Continue reading



CENTER UPDATE 2017


January 18th, 2018

The election of Trump was like somebody threw a political bomb into the middle of a crowded room. For undocumented people, it meant fear of losing DACA and being deported. For labor unions and the working poor, it meant losing … Continue reading



CENTER UPDATE 2016: STILL OTHER SEEDS FELL ON GOOD SOIL


January 9th, 2017

Many have asked how I am feeling after Trump was elected to President of the US. The largest natural disaster in my lifetime just hit my community. It reminds me of both the day after my father died in my … Continue reading



House Journal 2016


January 9th, 2017

The House has been more active than usual—its seems like a renaissance of activity at the Center for the Working Poor that includes more centering prayer activities, collective social outings, and board games. Over the last year, we have had … Continue reading



HOUSE JOURNAL 2015: CENTER FOR THE WORKING POOR


December 26th, 2015

The Center for the Working Poor in the last year has had a lot of coming and going. After forming 99Rise in our living room just after the Occupy movement in 2012, we have held weekly meetings at the Center. … Continue reading



The Care Bear Revolution: Get Empathy– the student anti-bullying and leadership program


December 31st, 2014

A few years ago, I was asked one day by the director of a prominent non-profit in the area, ”With a little grant money and a powerful position, what would you do to stop bullying?” Having been a middle school … Continue reading



Centering Prayer at Center For The Working Poor in 2014


December 31st, 2014

Monday evenings you will find a group of 5-12 people sitting silently, with eyes closed, in the living room of the Center For The Working Poor. Centering Prayer, a meditation practice rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition, was developed by … Continue reading



Center for the Working Poor House Journal Old and New Faces at the Center


December 31st, 2014

Paul Engler, in addition to administering the house and services of the Center For The Working Poor, has been writing a bit with his brother, Mark Engler. They are proud to announce they have a book deal from The Nation … Continue reading



Plan For the Revolution, But Keep Everyone Washing the Dishes: A New Year’s Update


December 31st, 2014

Dear Friends, I started the Center for the Working Poor in 2006. I donated all my money and my car, and slept on the floor of my shared, cramped apartment with our first full time volunteer, Clayton Perry. We ate … Continue reading



Hunger Strike for Philadelphia Public Schools


September 12th, 2013

At the end of June, a threat arose in the Philadelphia school district of budget cuts that would eliminate many workers. I would like again to congratulate the parents, and staff, with UNITE HERE local 274, for their amazing 14 … Continue reading



Click Here to Kick Glenn Beck Off the Air: Web Activism’s Big Wins—and What to Do Next


August 5th, 2013

You may find the original article in Yes! Magazine or read the full text below. It was also published on Truthout.org. Click Here to Kick Glenn Beck Off the Air: Web Activism’s Big Wins—and What to Do Next Monday, 24 … Continue reading



Climate of Change: What Does an Inside-Outside Strategy Mean?


August 5th, 2013

I wrote this article with my brother Mark Engler about strategy in the movement to combat climate change. It was published in Dissent magazine and Truthout.org. You can read the complete article below or read it on Truthout.org: Climate of … Continue reading



Keeping the flame alive: an appeal for our movement and community


December 18th, 2012

Dear Friends, In our journey to build a more just, a more democratic, and a more sustainable world, there are many challenges: cynicism, fear, despairs. But this holiday season, we are lifted up by the words Dr. Martin Luther King … Continue reading



Christmas Update From Paul Engler & The Center


December 17th, 2012

The Center for the Working Poor, (aka the Burning Bush Community), continues to share in the wonderful mix of serving the poor, communal living, prayer and meditation, and nonviolent movement organizing that distinguishes our beautiful home. In addition to delivering … Continue reading



A Moment of Hope for a New Movement: Update from the Center for the Working Poor


December 15th, 2011

By Paul Engler Every once in a while, a rare and special moment comes when you realize that you are doing more than turning out for just another protest. Instead, you realize that you are in the middle of true … Continue reading



Center for the Working Poor House Journal


December 14th, 2011

By Paul Engler The Center for the Working Poor (aka the Burning Bush Community) is continuing to live in our balance of communal life, serving the poor, prayer and meditation, and organizing a non-violent movement. Paul Engler has been much … Continue reading



Five Things That #OccupyWallStreet Has Done Right


September 21st, 2011

#OccupyWallStreet protests are now well into their second week, and they are increasingly capturing the public spotlight. This is because, whatever limitations their occupation has, the protesters have done many things right. I will admit that I was skeptical about … Continue reading



Christmas Appeal: Hope: If We Follow the Spirit, Great Things Will Come to Pass.


December 17th, 2010

We are again in need of your support, to feed the poor, and maintain our community. The Christian Faith as well as the great mystical traditions put so much emphasis on hope. It is one thing to have faith in … Continue reading



Helping Teachers in Their Hunger Strike


December 17th, 2010

We were called to help train this group of teachers on their hunger strike last spring. They said our experience from our previous fast and our medical contacts were very helpful to them. This is a short summary of their … Continue reading



Bus Riders Hunger Strike and The Center For The Working Poor


December 17th, 2010

We consulted with these Bus Riders in their hunger strike against fare increases. These fare hikes are a tax on the poorest of the poor in Los Angeles. In addition to helping them find doctors to supervise their fasters and … Continue reading



The First Letter from a Spiritual Director: Ears to Hear. By Paul Engler


December 17th, 2010

I have been providing some spiritual direction in the Christian Contemplative Tradition to a few people from my church. One of my directees really wanted me to write some of my lessons to him in a letter. He thought it … Continue reading



Paul Engler Update: The Story Which Needs To Be Told


December 23rd, 2009

I apologize for the long wait for an update about myself and the Center for the Working Poor, the Burning Bush community. We have been very busy. This year we are serving more families than ever due to the economy, … Continue reading



Our Christmas appeal: Pray for God’s Plan


December 16th, 2009

What is your plan? How are you going to survive? I would ask while serving soup to the poor, or washing dishes at every Catholic Worker house, I visited across the country a few years ago. Many of the workers, … Continue reading



A Vision of Nonviolent Resistance


December 13th, 2008

One morning this past summer I was seated on the back porch of our house, meeting with the nonviolent discussion group for the Center for the Working Poor, when I was seized by a vision of nonviolent resistance that resonated … Continue reading



The Fast for Our Future and the Future of Our Center


December 13th, 2008

I know it has been a full year since you last received a copy of The Burning Bush, and many of our readers may have been wondering just what we at the Center for the Working Poor have been doing. … Continue reading



Climate Change and the Crisis for the Poor: Why I am Going to Jail


September 23rd, 2008

In a few days, Sam Pullen and I will be going to jail in Washington DC. We are participating in a civil disobedience designed to pressure the government to change from coal to renewable energy. But when I mention to supporters … Continue reading



Dumpster Diving Interview with Paul Engler


March 20th, 2008

This is a updated video short with a commentary by Paul Engler, founder of Center for the Working Poor. We dubbed his radio interview with 89.3 KPCC FM into the footage that Faith/Activism Collective took at our recent dumpster dive. … Continue reading



Living Large at the Center for the Working Poor (aka the Burning Bush Community)


December 6th, 2007

Summary: I am still living in an intentional community called the Center for the Working Poor, or the Burning Bush community. Over a year ago, when I said that I was starting a community and a “non-profit organization”–and then started … Continue reading



Trent’s Burning Bush Article


November 27th, 2007

11/19/07 I was walking down the street the other day here in Los Angeles, and I saw a billboard that stopped me in my tracks. On the bottom was the familiar image of a half-naked couple in an embrace. Above … Continue reading



Clayton Update


September 5th, 2007

Hi everyone, On the advice of a great friend I’ve decided to start sending out email updates about my life. If you’ve received this email it means that I like you and that I want to get these updates. Congratulations! … Continue reading



Looking For Flowers In The Dumpster


May 17th, 2007

I am still running the Center for the Working Poor (aka the Burning Bush Community), delivering food to families of the working poor, writing and speaking about issues of poverty, and supporting local living wage and immigrant rights campaigns. In the last seven months, there have been some big changes at “the Center.” Then again, the whole journey thus far has been a whirlwind. Continue reading



Starting The Center for the Working Poor: Don’t Mess With God’s Crazy Plan


November 22nd, 2006

By Paul Engler The Summary I still run the Center for the Working Poor, delivering food to impoverished workers, writing, speaking at churches, and supporting living wage boycotts. While doing this, the House of Representatives passed a law designed to … Continue reading



The Birth of The Burning Bush: The Center for the Working Poor


May 12th, 2006

BY PAUL ENGLER Our project is called The Burning Bush: Center for the Working Poor, and has a fancy new website which can be reached at: centerfortheworkingpoor.org. We take our biblical name from the unexpected signal God gave Moses to … Continue reading



The Catholic Worker Movement


March 29th, 2006

This essay was written by Jim Forest on the Catholic Worker Movement for The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History to be published by the Liturgical Press. Jim Forest, once a managing editor of The Catholic Worker, is the author of … Continue reading



Wal-Mart, Largest Employer of the Working poor, is losing Public Support


March 29th, 2006

Wal-Mart has been closely watched by many corporate leaders that see it as a model for the new Economy: rapid growth, poverty wages, few health benefits, no unions, race and gender discrimination, and the destruction of small family businesses. In … Continue reading







We will All Become Pilgrims: 2022 Newsletter Summary

December 19th, 2022

By Paul Engler Whenever I write my newsletter, I am afraid a subtle or not-so-subtle repetition will be noticed—I fear I write the same thing over and over again! Generally the theme has something to do with change, uncertainty, and … Continue reading

Liminality is a Recipe for Navigating Winter: Becoming a Pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago

December 19th, 2022

Whether you’re in a midlife, quarter life, or general life crisis, the proverbial crap hits the wall. You break up with your girlfriend, your community starts falling apart, your movement dies, your organization goes bankrupt, you lose the political campaign. … Continue reading

2022 House Journal

December 19th, 2022

I’m happy to report that our community has stabilized at the Center for the Working Poor house. We haven’t had one person leave in the past year! A welcome contrast to 2021, when we had so many people come and … Continue reading

2021 CWP Newsletter Summary

December 15th, 2021

There is a big debate among economists about a curious phenomenon unfolding right now called “The Great Resignation”. We have an immense labor shortage because people are not returning to work as the experts expected (common after a recession). There … Continue reading

2021 Center Update: Ring the Bell of Hope… Again, and Again

December 15th, 2021

This fall, in one of my first trips to visit my coworkers from the Ayni Institute in Boston, I stopped by New York City to visit one of my closest friends, Eric Stoner. And I was sitting on his couch, … Continue reading

2021 House Journal

December 15th, 2021

The Center for the Working Poor was founded in 2006, but we didn’t move into our large Victorian house until 2007. Therefore, we have been in the house for 14 years now; and throughout this time, only Paul Engler has … Continue reading

The Story of Community Counseling

December 15th, 2021

Over the last year, we have started beta groups for a new model of mutual aid counseling, called Community Counseling that has engaged dozens in weekly small group counseling practice and training. In November, I went to Boston to lead … Continue reading

2020 Center Update: Surrender and Become Attentive

December 17th, 2020

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die …” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 “Surrender to what is dying, and become attentive to what is emerging.”  — … Continue reading