The Demand for Democracy is local
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Posted By: Corry Stevenson on May 27, 2008 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 in our neighborhoods. 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 neighborhood around the country. Whether, the issue is rural resident battling factory farms, inner-city homeowner 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 (Community Organizing). University of Chicago trained Sociologist Saul Alinsky, called on local citizens to develop and exert meaningful control over the social, economic and political conditions in their neighborhoods. At the core of community organizing is a strong belief in democracy and resident participation. Go back to the base, the civil right movement, the black power movement, farm worker movement, the Chicano movement, the free speech movement and the anti-war movements; youth organizing develop many of today’s leaders, teachers, analysts and activists. In 1971 youth protest led congress to extend the franchise to 18 to 20 year olds, who was barred from voting booth, but who was old enough to be drafted in the war; now today the voting age is change to 18 years olds. Today’s issues are better jobs, public education, criminal justice and environmental justice can once again be leaded by young people. Our focus need to be on the local community support networks. We need to organizing groups of people in local communities with the goals to developing capacity, necessary to provide organizing skills trainings, campaign workshops, and the political education. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Corry Stevenson
From Orangeburg, SC Claflin University class of 2008 Member Since July 2006 |
Comments
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Well said. The future of our individual communities is decided less in Washington as it is in our own homes and neighborhoods. When we get complacent, we surrender our own future as well as our childrens' future. Many of the problems that we continue to look to government to solve (better schools, safer streets, job creation) can be solved independently within our own neighborhoods. We just need people with the initiative to stand up and do their respective part. Tuesday, May 27th 2008 at 2:19PM |
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