Stories From Grassroots Leaders

Normita Rodriquez, JOB from California

If I were being asked to sum up this last week in Washington DC in one word, I would say: powerful. As a leader from Justice Overcoming Boundaries in San Diego, who is dedicated to my community, it was energizing, inspiring and powerful to connect with other leaders from across the country within the Center For Community Change. To hear my passion for positive change within our communities, echoed across the room from people all across the country (Illinois, New York, Ohio, Colorado just to name a few), in everyone else's stories and accomplishments was incredible. I think that we all felt the interconnection of our work and saw how at the national level we are all connected to each other, and that all of our communities are united together by our shared values.

I was excited in learning how to handle legislative visits and also knowing how to speak about our goals through the lens of community values. The staff at Center for Community Change was key and did a great job preparing us for our legislative visits. Their reminder that we have no reason to be intimidated by the representatives because they work for us, further helped get over any trepidation I may have felt about the meetings. I along, with my two other team members, had an amazing time working together during the meetings. We quickly figured each others strengths out and helped each other out during the meetings, fed off of each others lines and proceeded to have an amazing time speaking to the legislative representatives we spoke to. Marching down the halls of Congress  and sharing what our communities need in those meetings was a pure rush. This past week showed me the connections at the national level with our over 200 partner groups and the amazing things they are doing in their communities; furthermore it showed me the structures at the federal level and what is needed from us in order to continue fighting for equality and justice. I am pumped up and excited to continue doing my part in San Diego, and I am sure it is a sentiment by my newest group of friends and colleagues from all across the country share. Thank you Center for Community change for this amazing opportunity. I have no doubt that with organizations like this, we can bring back community values to the forefront of our nation!!!

Will Wallace, Contact Center from Ohio

The experience I participated in was exciting, informative and very memorable. The reason I say that is because we, (meaning the ten participants), were asked to do extraordinary and challenging tasks. And I can say for me personally, I have never been in a situation that required so much attention to detail as well as thinking on your feet.

I learned a great deal about the legislative process. I also want to express my sincere thanks to all the staff. You were great. And a special thank you my team leader, Eddy. Thanks Eddy for believing in me and helping me to believe in myself.

Alonzo Barron, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition 

My experience in DC working with the Campaign for Community Values was really moving. I was met with open arms, open minds and a group of hearts united to work for change in this country. The simple appearance of these buildings for congressmen and women, senators and staff, creates this aura of invincibility and might. However, in realizing that I, someone a generation removed from 3rd World poverty, would be given an opportunity to step inside those buildings, a shift occurred in the balance of power. Suddenly, I felt invincible and strong. My word had made it inside those walls....that was in itself a victory for me and my people.

Marie Langenes

Two D.C. taxi cab drivers told me this week that our capitol is a happier, nicer place since the Inauguration! They feel less tension and people are friendlier.
 
This is my second report as a volunteer coordinator of a First 100 Days Program at Center for Community Change whose mission is to build the power and capacity of low-income people, especially of color, to change their communities and our public policies for the better. Ten leaders from grassroots organizations across the country are brought in each week of the first 100 days of the Obama Administration to lobby Congress.
 
We, a team of five, visited four New Hampshire and four Nebraska Congresspersons, one Nebraska senator in person, unusual as we generally meet with staffers. We must have been meeting with a staff person in Senator Gregg’s (R-NH) office at the same time he was meeting with Obama to withdraw his nomination as Secretary of Commerce, which Gregg had originally sought. In every Congressional office I have been in, a muted TV is turned to a news channel or CSpan broadcast of the floor activities. In Gregg’s office, the TV was tuned to FOX News. In explaining his withdrawal, Gregg says he can’t square his politics with Obama’s, and my guess, probably couldn’t stand the grilling he’d get from fellow Republicans.
 
Another story from Marie:

Many congressional offices targeted by the First 100 Days effort welcome our community-building work. Other offices don't. The aide of a conservative Nebraska representative described Obama speeches as “rhetoric” – usually a word reserved for dictators and leaders of countries with whom we are at war. He was the most conservatively aggressive person we met. The Representative voted against the stimulus bill and wants to secure our borders. Our community organization leader from Lincoln, Nebraska, Ever Keny Preciado, asked the aide for support for the Child Tax Credit, E-Verify and jobs for poor people. The aide responded with, "You're a businessman; why aren't you asking for more small business tax breaks, since the stimulus package provides only .08% for small business." Ever answered, “I am not only a businessman” and gave examples of his volunteer work: tutoring high school students and supporting them in taking leadership roles; inviting Spanish teachers to use his restaurant as an academic testing site; making a commitment to meet regularly in small groups or one-on-one with 30 students struggling academically.
    
Ever's explanation of his generous community work fell on deaf ears in this conservative congressman's office. The staff person's business-oriented question revealed a 'what's in it for me' orientation to government aid. So why do we make calls on unreceptive offices? So they hear a different point of view from local constituents, so the ground work can be laid for future lobbying, so a relationship can begin to be built, and so when these organizers return home they can meet with their hometown media and report back to their cohorts.

Gisela Jones, United Valley Interfaith Project

My roommate in Washington, DC was Jolene from Idaho. She represented the community organization ICAN  (Idaho Community Action Network). “I grew up in a conservative white Northwestern family with strong anti immigration views” she told me. “But over the years my view of immigrants has changed. After meeting and talking with many of them I realized they are much like me, trying to make a living and providing for their families. I see them exploited and often treated with contempt and indignity.” She then proceeded to tell me about an incident where migrant workers on a farm were sprayed with pesticides from an over flying plane while they were working in the fields. The workers, men, women and children, were rounded up in an open area. They had to strip in front of one another without any privacy, and were then hosed down with the powerful water stream from fire truck hoses.

Other stories emerged as I spent 3 days with leaders from 8 community organizations from New York, Massachusetts, Tennessee, New Mexico, Idaho, Illinois, and Kansas. They all had either experienced injustice themselves or had witnessed it in their communities. All of them were passionate in trying to change things for the better. All of them had been active in community organization actions for many years, so I felt like “the new kid on the block.”

At the Center for Community Change, whose essential belief is “that we are all connected to each other and interdependent, that American community includes everyone and leaves no one behind, that we care for each other and believe in shared responsibility and shared sacrifice, that we know everyone has inherent value and worth in the American story”, we gathered to take part in a 100 day campaign to promote and push for policy changes i.e. an economy that works for everyone, just and humane immigration reform, and healthcare for all.

The goal of our group was threefold: 1) Urge our congressional leaders to pass the Stimulus Package sooner than later to try and turn the economy around (two in our group had lost their jobs recently, and one was not sure if he would have a job on his return), and also ask that part of the new jobs created would go to single women, minorities and low income families. 2) Educate members of Congress on community values, and the over 200 community organizations whose leaders will continue to converge on their offices to push for just legislation. 3) Find out which priorities each congressional is focused on in the first 100 days.

We listened to tips and pointers on a successful visit, did some role playing, and then headed in groups of 4 to “The Hill”. Since UVIP is active in NH and VT I met with a staff member each from Senators  Shaheen’s, Gregg’s and Sander’s offices as well as staff from Representatives Hodes’s  and Welch’s offices. We were welcomed and carefully listened to. It was at times nerve wrecking but also empowering. Will our visits make a difference? We hope so. Listening to some of the experienced community leaders small as well as large victories can be won against racial discrimination, predatory lending, and unjust housing practices, to name a few. It takes persistence and love for your neighbor.

Sharon, Granite State Organizing Project

I have had the opportunity to be a member of The Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP) since 2006. It has been a wonderful experience exploring issues in our community that need advocacy. Health, Housing, Employment, Education and Immigration are the five main areas of focus. These five areas resonated with me, because I am the Adult Education Counselor from the Nashua Adult Learning Center. These are the 5 areas that present many difficult challenges to our adult students. GSOP enabled me to be the voice of some of our adult students as they are dealing with and overcoming some of these obstacles to success. The group is made up of people from Religious groups, labor unions, government agencies and both for profit and non-profit businesses and agencies. Recently I had the chance to represent New Hampshire as part of GSOP in Washington, DC. My task was to lobby with the Center for Community Change as part of their “First 100 Days” campaign.

Invitations went out from the Center for Community Change to over 200 Community Organizing Projects through-out the United States.  I was very excited to be included as the representative from NH in February. I arrived in DC at the time when the Stimulus Package was still being debated but being resolved in a smaller sub-committee. The mood in Washington DC was still extremely positive from the hopes that the Inauguration had stirred up just the month before. Even the cab drivers were extra friendly.

I arrived at the Center around noon on a Tuesday. We ate a delicious lunch and worked all afternoon getting to know each other and to practice how to lobby on the “Hill”. I had no previous experience and felt a little apprehensive until I discovered that  there were many concerned individuals, like myself, that had never done anything like this before. During this week the Center for Community Change was focusing on three main points of the Stimulus Package. We were lobbying for…

• 15% of the jobs in the package to target workers that were undereducated, low income, Veterans', disabled and individuals that had been incarcerated.
• the child tax credit to be available to those that made even less than $8,100 last year.
• to not require employers to use e-verify

We practiced Tuesday to be ready for a full day of lobbying on Wednesday. We had made appointments with our legislators before we arrived in Washington. I was assigned to a group with Maria from Colorado and Evers from Nebraska. We had two members from The Center to guide us through the day. My first visit was with NH Congressman Paul Hodes. He invited me, with some other DC visitors, to an 8AM coffee at his office. There were maybe 6 people in all and each one of us had a chance to speak with Congressman Hodes, who was very attentive. Being part of the Nashua Adult Learning Center, I couldn’t help but throw in a plug for funding Adult Education. Next our group went to Carol Shea- Porter’s office. We were warmly welcomed and listened to by Naomi Andrews, a staff member for the Shea-Porter office. By 10:30 we were at Senator Judd Gregg’s office. At that time he was seriously considering accepting President Obama’s appointment as Secretary of Commerce. We were still very warmly welcomed by Allison Dembeck, Gregg’s chief of staff. By 11:15 we had made it to Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s office. Senator Shaheen welcomed us, spoke with our group briefly and introduced her staff person, Jack Nelson to meet with us. We had a quick lunch and continued on to Colorado and Nebraska Legislators. In my impression our New Hampshire Legislators seemed friendlier and more welcoming than the other two States. One story that will always remain in my memory was the interaction in Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry’s Office. The man from Nebraska representing our group was Evers. He was an immigrant. His dad was from Guatemala and his mother was from Mexico. He came to the United States when he was 10 years old. He now was a US citizen; college graduate, community organizer and he owns 3 businesses in Nebraska. The following is my recollection of that meeting.

An experience that I will never forget was listening to a conversation between Evers from Nebraska and Bradley, a staff person from Nebraska Congressman Lee Terry’s office. Our group of five sat down and Evers went over the three main issues that he hoped were part of the Stimulus Package. After Evers talked sincerely about the need for jobs, child tax credit and Immigration issues, Bradley sat up straight pushed back in his chair and began his reply. Bradley said how surprised that he was that Evers, a small business owner, would have listen to the people at the Center for Community Change when all three talking points that he brought up were not going to help his businesses at all. He asked Evers if he realized that this stimulus package will not protect Evers’ interests at all. Bradley said that only .8% of that Package was targeted to ease the tax burden of small business owners. “I would have expected that you would be here to talk about that!”, Bradley declared.

Evers looked a little puzzled as he replied, “Oh no sir, I have had so much opportunity, to graduate from high school, to earn my bachelor’s degree in business with a minor in Social Work…..Thanks to America and all you people I now have the education to take care of my own business. I know the importance of advertising and marketing and I know how to get in touch with important people like you …..But when you go a little deeper into our communities in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska you find so many people that are not so fortunate. ….so many people that do not even know who their Senators and Representatives are…….they do not know how to tell you what they need…These are the people that I have come to ask you to help. I can take care of my business but for those people living deeper in our neighborhoods……it is for them that I come to ask your help.”

I flew back to New Hampshire the next night with a wonderful feeling about all our New Hampshire Representatives. The whole experience was valuable but I will never forget the lesson that I learned from the humble, powerful, impact that Evers displayed at that meeting with Nebraska.