As presidential candidates prepare to spread freedom around the world, I would like to focus our attention closer to home. Local communities must demand that government and corporate decision-makers in our nation make good on the promise of democracy by creating better schools, better jobs, housing and lending.
I believe that local neighborhood residents are the experts about the issues and policies that affect their lives. We need to go back to the base of community organizing, local grassroots neighborhoods, working in a coalition to fight for social and economic justice in neighborhoods around the country, whether, the issue is rural residents battling factory farms, inner-city homeowners demanding affordable credit, or access to higher education. We need local community leaders working to help guide people at the local level to addressing issues, decide what the best solutions are, and then working with those who have the power to make changes.
Democracy means that local communities have the opportunity to hold government and corporate decision makers accountable for fair policies and practices. We need to create a sense of community.
At the core of community organizing is a strong belief in democracy and resident participation.
In 1971 youth protests led Congress to extend the franchise to 18 to 20 year olds, who were barred from the voting booth, but who were old enough to be drafted in the war; today the voting age is changed.
Today’s issues, better jobs, public education, criminal justice and environmental justice can once again be led by young people.
Our focus needs to be on the local community support networks.
We need to organize groups of people in local communities with the goals of developing capacity necessary to provide organizing skills trainings, campaign workshops and the political education.
Corry Stevenson, executive director of S.C. United Action, Darlington
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement