Other Recent News

Time For A New Game Plan

The private insurance industry's latest talking point against the only way of ensuring affordable health care coverage for everyone, a robust public health insurance choice, is to accuse the government of trying to be a "player and a referee in the same game." It's telling that the private insurance lobbyists see the health care crisis as a 'game.' It's not a game.

Addressing America's Health Apartheid

We have a storied history in this country of not talking about issues of race and ethnicity. The health care reform debate is proceeding no differently. In the midst of the broadest and weightiest debate that the nation has had on health care in many years, there is little attention being paid to racial inequality.

The Bloody Truth Behind Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

A week after a white supremacist attacked the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, and on the day that three teenagers are being sentenced in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, for brutally beating and killing a Mexican immigrant, it's time we confront the fact that behind violently anti-immigrant and supremacist rhetoric is a real urge and a real encouragement for actual violence.

Our Economic Woes May Be Bad - But They Aren't New

A central tenet driving environmentalism is that we should leave the world better than we found it. As we think about reviving our stumbling economy, the same principle should apply — if we simply restore the economy to its pre-crisis footing, we have not only missed the opportunity for more sweeping reforms but paved the way for future crises by neglecting to address the fundamental failings that caused this one.

Health Care From Your Faucet?

What do health care reform and drinking water have in common? Just as we spend more than any nation in the developed world on health care, Americans spend over $15 billion a year on bottled water.

Health Care: Lobbyists, Blue Dogs and the 'No, We Can't Coalition'

It's mind boggling. Mere months after a historic election in which Americans demanded real change - the forces for business as usual have returned with a vengeance. We knew Republicans would try to scuttle health care reform by protecting private health insurance companies from having to compete with a public health insurance option. After all, they are the party of "no" and the party that represents powerful corporate interests. It's their job to side with greedy insurance lobbyists.

The Campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America Launches!

Torrential rain, booming thunder, shocking lightning and the launch of the Campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America! What a week! To local and national acclaim, during the week of June 1, 2009 our Campaign launched with press events, phone calls, faxes and a Summit of nearly 800 organizers and leaders from across the nation. We could not have done it without your support. Thank you!

Public Health Insurance is Not a Bargaining Chip

Private insurers are once again fighting against the will and interests of most Americans, and Washington insiders seem intent on treating public health insurance as a mere bargaining chip.

Deepak Bhargava and CCC selected as one of The Power 100 Non-Profits

 

Deepak Bhargava and others keep the pressure on the Obama administration for healthcare reform

 

The Center for Community Change Honored as a Progressive Champion

 

Health Insurance You Can Trust

Americans Deserve a Public Health Insurance Option. Most Americans fear private health insurance companies won't be there for them when they get sick. As the debate heats up, it's really clear that a strong public health insurance plan must be a no-compromise element of any health care reform package.

Who Really Killed Luis Ramirez?

A few days ago two teens, accused in the fatal beating of Mexican immigrant Luis Ramirez in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania were acquitted of all serious charges by an all white jury. But who really killed Luis Ramirez?

Small businesses want a real choice for health care

Small businesses are a key voice in the debate over health care reform, and Members of Congress are looking to them to see what they have to say about fixing health care. But DC lobby groups claiming to represent small businesses are trying to defeat any attempts at real reform.

Rene's Story: An Immigrant In His Own Words

Meet Rene from Atlanta, GA. After years serving in the Marine Corps, he still does not have his citizenship. What does his story say about the state of our immigration system? Watch this powerful new video today!

Is The Media (And Blogosphere) Killing Immigration Reform?

The mainstream media hasn’t been skeptical about the commitment to health care reform and budget priorities and for these priorities, the blogosphere has shown its clear support. What about immigration reform? Will the media cover it, the blogosphere champion it, or both be culpable in killing it?

Implications of Obama's National Service Act

Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director of the Center for Community Change, makes a guest appearance on NPR to explain the potential impact of President Obama's recently signed National Service Act.

Recipe for Recovery: As Easy As Blueberry Pie

Recovery for our communities is a lot easier than we think. Maine People's Alliance says it's as easy as making blueberry pie. The simple recipe includes supporting 2 crucial pieces of legislation.

Fire Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis

The US government is the largest stakeholder in Bank of America, with nearly $200 billion in taxpayer funds. While Bank of America's CEO, Ken Lewis, is calling for business as usual (i.e. flying corporate jets, receiving millions in bonuses, and using government funds to coordinate anti-union strategies), taxpayers are calling for change. Sign the taxpayer proxy card to fire Ken Lewis and help restore integrity to our nation's banking systems.

Children of Undocumented Immigrants Deserve a Public Education

Marissa Graciosa, Director of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) appears on Fox News to defend the right to a public school education for children of undocumented immigrants. Watch the clip here.

Community Organizing: The New Fad?

On April 10, the New York Times featured community organizing in its Fashion & Style section. Sally Kohn, Director of the Movement Vision Lab and Senior Strategist with the Center sits with Marshall Ganz, a lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government to talk about the Obama "movement" and the future of community organizing. Watch the GritTV segment here.

Nonprofits and the Financial Crisis

Marjorie Fine, Director of the Linchpin Campaign here at the Center, participates in this roundtable about the impact of the financial crisis on the nonprofit sector. Watch the roundtable at GritTV here.

Immigrants Help Keep Washington's Economy Strong

Because of the too-often polarizing debate about immigration reform, the real economic contributions that immigrants make are often overlooked. In this post, an immigration advocate and a business advocate discuss a new Washington state-specific report that suggests helping immigrants better integrate into society helps everyone.

Giving Thanks for Tax Day

While some anti-tax radicals act like turkeys with their ‘tea-bagging’ protests, I’m thankful that the rest of us are happy to contribute our fair share to keeping our democracy and government running.

Immigration Reform Is An Urgent Priority

Our immigration system is broken. We all know it. And it’s time to do something about it. Why now?

Obama Declares Support for Immigration Reform This Year

The New York Times reports that President Obama is committed to comprehensive immigration reform. Now is the time to let President Obama that we are ready for reform too. How do you get involved? What can you do right now?

No More Heroes

My heroes are less well known. They are working to keep their families together and silently fighting for their communities. We should have a country that has no need for these heroes. One in which you can get health care, save your home, work in peace. And we have the ability to do this.

Japan's management approaches offer lessons for U.S. corporations

While Japan has been used as a cautionary tale in the U.S. economic downturn, we argue that management approaches common in Japan offer lessons for U.S. companies as they recover.

FIRM generates 1000 calls to the Senate for DREAM Act

The DREAM Act was officially introduced in Congress yesterday. Those connected to CCC's Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) network were among the first to know and among the first to act by generating over 1000 calls to the Senate in support of this crucial piece of immigration legislation.

President Obama Trumpets Community Values at National Press Conference

In his latest press conference, President Obama used community values to chart a new course for the American people.

Deepak Bhargava Interviewed for Documentary

Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director of the Center for Community Change, was interviewed for the upcoming documentary named Heist. Check out what he had to say.

BLUE DOGS? BRING ON THE PURPLE CATS!

Am I the only one frustrated that now that we finally have a President who looks out for the greater good of average Americans, his own party won’t join the fight to take the country back from special interests?

AIG Makes Me Laugh

With children going hungry and working families without health coverage, what's a few extra billion dollars to prop up the AIG executives who caused this mess in the first place? The AIG scandal is no laughing matter. But sometimes, laughter is the best medicine.

Bias In Policing Hits Across The Board

Recently, news stories have shown how abusive policing affects people on the basis of race, immigration status, sexuality, and religion. It's time to work together to make sure no community gets targeted or profiled.

How Does Race Factor In The National Discourse On Immigration?

Dial in to ARC's Compact for Racial Justice Forum tomorrow as organizers and leaders in the struggle for just immigration reform discuss the intersections of race and immigration. Marissa Graciosa, Director of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement of CCC, will be featured as one of the panelists.

Thinking BIG: Progressive Ideas for a New Era

As the movement struggles to define its role in the Obama era, important questions remain unanswered: What is the role of progressive organizations in Washington and how can they best create political space for Obama to act? On what issues should the movement compromise and on which take strong stands? Panelists include Deepak Bhargava, Wendy Puriefoy, Miles Rapoport, and Mike Lux. Listen to this panel now!

Grassroots Groups Mobilize, Napolitano Orders Review of First Workplace Raid Under Obama Administration

The Center for Community Change today met with representatives of the Department of Homeland Security to continue discussing the first workplace raid under President Obama.

FIRM Denounces Bellingham Raid, Asks President to Stop Raids and Recommit to Immigration Reform

FIRM, a national grassroots coalition, strongly condemns the first workplace raid under the Obama Administration.

Relaunch of the MVL Podcast: How do we make sense of the economic crisis?

Tune into the newest episode of our MVL podcast. Sally and Dennis talk with James Mumm of National People's Action and Max Rameau of Take Back the Land to help make sense of what has happened in the past 2 months in our economy.

Center for Community Change at the White House

Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director at the Center for Community Change joined other nationally prominent progressive leaders for a social call last night at the White House with President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

How To Spend $787 Billion In Stimulus Money

Check out this new video about how stimulus money is being spent.

Obama Beyond the Beltway

The New York Times asks me what President Obama's return to campaign-style rallies says about his style of leadership and his approach to presidential power.

Stimulus Compromise a Big Victory for Poor Communities and President Obama

The Center for Community Change and community organizations across the country today heralded the package as a “down payment” on change and called for both houses of Congress to pass the recovery plan to start getting America working again.

Change Comes to Washington: Interpreting the First 97 Days

Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change offers his thoughts on the first 97 days of the new administration.

Senate Republicans: Please Help

It is time for conservatives -- including Senate Republicans -- to finally support an economy that supports all of us.

Campaign for Community Values Applauds Passage of SCHIP in the Senate

 

Diverse Nashville Coalition Defeats English-Only Initiative

During a special election last Thursday, the people of Nashville voted against an English-only initiative. The coalition to oppose the amendment was incredibly diverse and included key allies of the Center.

Grassroots Community Values Leaders Arrive in Washington

Today I had the honor of being in the room as a dozen community leaders from across the country convened in Washington with the Campaign for Community Values. Leaders just like them will be lobbying Congress every week during the first 100 days of the new Administration.

Children Lobby For Health Care With Artwork

Student artists and their families joined Members of Congress and community organizations to call for swift action to be taken so that no child is waiting for health care.

I Am Here to Give a Better Life . . . to Immigrant Children

People from across the country are arriving for the inauguration of America's first black president. Who are these people? In their stories is a portrait of a nation. One in a series.

A New Day for America, But Not for Immigrants?

President Obama urged our nation to choose hope over fear. But for those who are undocumented immigrants, this is impossible. For them, every day is wrought with fear.

Honoring the Moment by Demanding More

President Barack Obama's victory is a victory for centuries of organizers and community leaders who blazed the trail that we walk today. We - the people - have the power to turn this victory into an even bigger moment. Here's how.

THINKING BIG -- a new book for your reading list

The Center contributed an essay for this collection of ideas and policies that chart a new direction for the country. It's mandatory reading for anyone looking for a progressive perspective on the issues that we'll all be talking about throughout 2009.

Stimulus For All?

Trying to revive our stalled and stumbling economy without addressing the fundamental problem of inequality that got us here is like trying to fix the flat tire on your car just by adding air. It’s no solution at all: there’s still a hole in your tire.

Community Organizers Seek Unity, Leverage

NPR story by Pam Fessler on the Center's "Realizing the Promise" Forum and strategy of bringing 10 grassroots leaders to DC every week for the first 100 days.

Beyond His Email List

National Journal article on the new role of grassroots community organizers under Obama. The article focuses the Realizing the Promise Forum hosted by the Center for Community Change and Gamaliel Foundation, and extensively quotes CCC's Executive Director Deepak Bhargava and CCC's Campaign for Community Values Director Gabe Gonzalez.

Hope for the Holidays

This holiday season, as we celebrate change, we want to know what's your one big wish for change for the new year? Watch our video and tell us what your one big gift of change would be!

Community Organizing Arrives in Washington

Watch clips from Realizing The Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith & Democracy. Clips include the inspiring opening video and speeches by Ms. Valerie Jarrett and Rep. Chris Van Hollen. Check back here for more clips later this week!

How Do We Keep Obama's Youth Mobilized?

Barack Obama's campaign politicized and organized more youth than any campaign has in recent history. The American Prospect asked Sally Kohn, director of the Movement Vision Lab, and Kevin Simowitz, a Generation Change Fellow, to suggest one way of incorporating these youth into the progressive movement.

Critical Friendship: Obama & Us

One of the central principles in community organizing is that there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. Barack Obama won by convincing millions of Americans that there are no permanent enemies of progressive change. In the same spirit, Obama’s supporters must not become permanent friends to our new President.

Center for Community Change Receives Award For its Investment in Leadership

The Center for Community Change is honored for its development of leaders for social and economic justice with the American Express Building Leadership Award. Presented by the Independent Sector during their annual conference in Philadelphia, executive director Deepak Bhargava accepted the plaque and $10,000 gift on behalf of the Center.

Realizing the Promise: The Meaning of This Moment

Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director of the Center for Community Change, reflects on the meaning of this historic election.

Announcing CCC's Official Election Day Blog

CCC launches its official Election Day Blog called Community Values Vote. On November 4th, tune in for up-to-the-minute stories on new voters, voter suppression, and Election Day trends from grassroots organizations across the country. Community Values Vote is THE alternative to the talking heads.

Are You Prepared For Election Day?

November 4th is right around the corner. Make sure you are prepared for Election Day with these tools. And fight voter suppression using the latest mobile technology!

Voter Work and Movement Building

The elections are only a few days away. But no matter who wins the elections, our work as organizers and activists continue. Stay tuned this week as our 2008 Taproots Fellows explore the intersections of voter work and movement building.

Fundraising Success In A Time of Financial Crisis-It Is Possible!

How should organizations fundraise during this economic downturn? Marjorie Fine, director of the Linchpin Campaign, a special project of the Center for Community Change, weighs in with essential and practical advice for fundraisers.

MVL Podcast: George Goehl, National Training & Information Center Part 1

Kate Van Winkle interviews George Goehl, executive director of the National Training & Information Center. In the podcast, he talks about community organizing, his work throughout the years, and transitioning into his role as an executive director of an organization.

Canaries, Coalmines, And Our Shared Fate

As the country’s attention is transfixed on the machinations of Congress and the Bush Administration to secure agreement on a bailout deal, I’ve been thinking about what this crisis teaches us and how we should respond. Here are my top four takeaways.