Speaking of unions in politics: Nationally, the trend is to link with faith-based, nonprofit and neighborhood organizations. It's no different in Greater New Haven. "Union members alone aren't enough to turn the corporate onslaught," said Gwendolyn Mills, a training facilitator and organizer for the Federation of Hospital and University Employees. The Rev. Emilio Hernandez, of Knowing God Ministries, said churches throughout New Haven neighborhoods are standing with organized labor in the "social contract" movement. "For the first time, there is an awakening in the people," Hernandez said. He said citizens are registering to vote, learning more about elections and how town committees operate. "We have the power at our fingertips to bring change to our communities by talking to people and by being organized," Hernandez said. Actually, it is different in New Haven, and not only because Emilio Hernandez and Gwen Mills are rockstars of the progressive movement - also insofar as the breadth and depth of New Haven's social contract movement, and of its strategic allies, is too rare these days in this country. But it'll continue, God willing, to spread.