Thursday, May 24, 2012
Community Participation: Taking Control and Creating Change
Creating Change is the People’s Job
We—not just the
president—have to be the agents of change in our society. How do we extend our
electoral organizing beyond the elections?
by Deepak
Bhargava posted May 23, 2012
There is a grumble being repeated in some progressive circles.
It goes like this: “President Obama has been a disappointment. But what’s the
alternative?” It’s usually followed by a sigh and a plea for work to save the
“few minor” things we did get done in the last three years.
But this grumbling is largely wrong. Some of the disappointment is
understandable. For instance, on the President’s watch, thousands of immigrant
families have been torn apart by inhumane deportation policies
Even so, our achievements are by no means minor. The stimulus
contained the largest expansion of anti-poverty programs in a generation,
health care reform is already expanding coverage for millions of people, “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell” has been consigned to the history books, and efforts to slash
Medicare and Social Security have been held in check.
From where I stand, something more interesting is going on. We’ve
examined ourselves and found a fundamental weakness: We placed too much hope
and faith in the president. It was a mistake, but not because this president
has somehow betrayed us. He’s done what presidents do: governed under all the
stresses of competing pressures.
Abolitionists gave us abolition, not Lincoln. The civil
rights movement gave us voting rights for blacks. The suffragette movement gave
women the right to vote.
It was a mistake because we—not just the president—have to be the
agents of change in our society. Electoral victories without sustained
movements will never address inequality, poverty, or any of the major issues we
face. Abolitionists gave us abolition, not Lincoln. Powerful movements focus on
issues, not on presidents.
The civil rights movement gave us voting rights for blacks. The
suffragette movement gave women the right to vote. The gay rights movement gave
gays the right to marry and put an end to “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Union
victories created the modern middle class.
Increasingly, those who are engaging in this more
interesting conversation are asking: How do we extend our electoral organizing beyond the
elections?
This is a far more exciting question because answering it correctly
will give us a chance at the real prize: building a society governed by
progressive values and policies that move us all forward together.
At the Center for Community Change, we’ve been doing
this with immigration policy. We are turning outrage over the administration’s
massive deportations into action to enhance the power of immigrants in our
society. Our “Change Takes Courage” campaign holds the White House accountable
for tearing families apart. At the same time, we send a clear message to all
those who oppose immigration reform by making our voter registration and voter turnout work be first and foremost about
raising the power of immigrants to make sure their voices are heard in all
ways, not just at the ballot box.
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/making-it-home/creating-change-is-our-job?utm_source=mayjun12&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CreatingChange
U.S. Humanitarian Assistance: Honduras.
Honduras: Missouri Army Guard Soldiers celebrate building a schoolhouse for Hondurans
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Walter Van OchtenU.S. Army South
Army
South's Task Force Tropic, commanded by Army Lt. Col. Robert L. Jones, Missouri
Army National Guard, and Leonidas Matamoros, a community leader who had been
instrumental in getting this project for his community, thanked each for their
mutual help in building a school, in Micheletti, Honduras, May 8, 2012. (U.S.
Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Walter Van Ochten)(Released)
download hi-res photo
U.S. Army South’s Task Force Tropic, commanded by Army Lt. Col. Robert L. Jones, Missouri Army National Guard joined with Micheletti key community leaders and San Pedro Sula officials for a “First Stone” ceremony at the site of a two-room school that is under construction as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Beyond the Horizon 2012.
Beyond the Horizon 2012 is a U.S. Army South planned exercise that deploys military engineers and medical professionals to Honduras for training, while providing services to rural communities. BTHs are conducted annually in the U.S Southern Command area of responsibility and are part of its humanitarian and civic assistance program.
The local leaders got a tour of the partially finished schoolhouse and bathroom.
Jones along with project manager, Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Vitale, 294th Engineer Company, 203rd Engineering Battalion, 35th Engineering Brigade; San Pedro Sulas’ vice-mayor Dr. Reiner A. Laitano; project manager for all villages at San Pedro de Sula, Dunia Jimenez, Preecidente de Patronatos, San Pedrd Sula, and Col. Calixto Tejada Honduran 14th Infantry Battalion executive officer, grabbed some shovels and dug into the earth symbolically displaying the commitment they have to the people living in this community.
Jones then stood in the midst of the large crowd as the Honduran officials gave speeches showing their gratitude to the Americans for their effort in building the school.
Once they finished, Jones stepped forward from the crowd to return the favor, his words echoed those of the Honduran speakers by stating he was “to the local community for their support of his Soldiers' training and commitment to the schoolhouse under construction.”
Before he said those words, on his way to the microphone, he encountered Leonidas Matamoros, a community leader who all day long had been leading his community in cheering and applauding and had been instrumental in getting this project for his community.
Jones stopped and with a hardy handshake and a bear hug the two thanked each for their mutual help in building the school.
The day, however, wasn’t just for the dignitaries and the commanders; it was for all those standing out in the heat, humidity and sun whose partnership is bringing a new school to this community.
http://www.nationalguard.mil/news/archives/2012/05/052312-Honduras.aspx?src=rss
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
USDA: Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=FBCI | |||
USDA has a long history of working with faith-based and community
organizations to help those in need, by providing federal assistance through domestic nutrition assistance programs, international food aid, rural development opportunities, and natural resource conservation. As we continue strengthening USDA's existing relationships and build new ones, the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will be instrumental in working with our community partners, faith-based and secular, to reach even more people in need throughout our country. On behalf of everyone at USDA, Secretary Tom Vilsack would like to thank each and every partner for their dedication to this important work. Please let us know how we can support your efforts. I Want To... |
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The USDA nutrition assistance programs help one in every five Americans get the nutrition assistance they need. We rely on local organizations and various partners to help get food to those in need. |
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Rural communities are a vital asset to our nation's economic and social well-being. USDA has various grant and loan programs to help develop housing, community facilities and businesses in our small towns. |
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USDA has a leadership role in developing partnerships to help America's private land owners conserve their soil, water and other natural resources. Additionally, USDA is the steward of our national forests. |
Feed a Neighbor
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Gleaning Guide
Download the Toolkit |
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Let's Move Faith and Communities
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Know Your Farmer
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High School Students Engage Environment Management Program
EM News Flash | May 22
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High School Students
Engage EM Program, Teach Classmates about Nuclear Cleanup
LAS VEGAS – Two high school students are aspiring to
educate their classmates on the Nevada National Security Site’s (NNSS)
environmental cleanup program after surveying them to gauge their knowledge
of it.
After
West Career and Technical Academy (WCTA) juniors Justine Leavitt and Cielo
Gumabon analyze the survey results, they will develop an educational tool to
boost students’ familiarity with NNSS’s work to clean up the environmental
legacy of historic nuclear weapons related activities. Leavitt and Gumabon
are considering several ideas for the tool, from a short documentary and audience-interactive
school assembly to a rap song or comic book.
Leavitt
and Gumabon are undertaking the project as part of their roles as the
first-ever student liaisons to the Nevada Site-Specific Advisory Board (NSSAB).
Representing Nevada stakeholders, members of the board review and comment on
environmental restoration and waste management activities at NNSS and provide
recommendations to the EM program on issues of concern to the region
surrounding NNSS.
The board
hopes to obtain a fresh perspective on environmental issues from the
pioneering student liaisons, who are encouraged to raise environmental
concerns on behalf of their classmates and the greater community. In turn,
the students learn about environmental and technical issues impacting the
region, build their portfolios and gain insight into potential college
studies and career tracks.
The
liaisons' year-long project is a first of a kind for WCTA, NNSS and NSSAB as
they come together for WCTA’s inaugural Student Liaison Project. Similar
partnerships exist at other DOE EM sites as well, including Oak Ridge in
Tennessee.
“Cielo and Justine have put a tremendous amount of work into this
project, and all the while they are juggling coursework and other
activities,” said NSSAB member Michael Moore, a mentor to the liaisons who
helped coordinate the project. “They are succeeding in creating a path for
other student liaisons who want to become involved with the environmental
work at NNSS and its impact on the community.”
Liaison Program Draws
Together School, NNSS and Community
Moore
said the project integrates the school with NNSS and the community, providing
the students leadership and educational opportunities outside the classroom.
“The
students already have had an introduction to environmental management, and
this project provides them with a real-world educational opportunity.
Hopefully this project will encourage and inspire the students to continue
forward on this path to college and later a career in environmental
management,” Moore said.
He said
the project’s goal of increasing the surveyed students’ NNSS knowledge is
important since the site is an integral part of the Las Vegas community. He
recalled his school days in the 1980s when he saw workers stand in line for
buses to transport them to the site. Many people in the community also
remember the nuclear testing viewing parties held decades ago.
“Las
Vegas has always been hand in hand with the site in one way or another,”
Moore said.
Gumabon
said that the research she and Leavitt perform to try to educate the WCTA
community will be a great skill to apply in her college and post-college
careers.
“I hope
to become an environmental and materials engineer, and research will play an
integral role,” she said.
Liaison: Students
Should Know about Environmental Cleanup
Leavitt
believes it’s important for WCTA students to have knowledge of the NNSS EM
program.
“Students
at WCTA are always trying to connect with their surroundings, and this is a
great way to do so,” she said of the liaison project. “It will help increase their
knowledge and awareness by us telling them what is happening. They should be
aware because they are living with the changes the site makes.”
Leavitt
and Gumabon worked with their high school and NNSS to craft the survey
questions. The surveys are emailed to the estimated 980 WCTA students for
completion during English classes. Once all surveys are received, the
liaisons will analyze the results and begin work on the educational tool this
fall.
This
month, Leavitt and Gumabon briefed NSSAB on their progress. Board members
responded positively, Moore said. The liaisons will update the board later
this year with the complete survey results.
Among the
survey questions:
Oak Ridge Students
Reflect on Advisory Board Experience
At Oak
Ridge, two non-voting student representatives from area high schools sit on
the Oak Ridge Site-Specific Advisory Board (ORSSAB)
and participate in the board’s working committees. ORSSAB’s outgoing student
representatives, Kasey McMaster and Amira Sakalla, were recently recognized
for their service at the board’s April meeting.
“I’ve
really enjoyed my time on ORSSAB. It gave me a taste of how decisions and
planning are carried out in the real world,” said Sakalla, a senior at Hardin
Valley Academy. “It’s a gradual process that requires patience, but results
in great progress. I plan on going into health care as a pediatrician, and
the ORSSAB has helped me make connections between two seemingly unrelated
fields. People often focus on how environmental issues affect the earth and
overlook how these issues affect humans and their health.”
McMaster,
a senior, said she found her experience on the board interesting and
enriching.
“I
learned about so many new things involving the environmental well-being of
the Oak Ridge Reservation I probably would never have known about had I not
taken the opportunity to be a student representative. I am thankful that I
was given the chance to participate,” McMaster said.
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