Document Actions
The Center for Community Change Announces Nationwide Mobilization of Community Values Voters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grassroots Community Organizations Show Strength As Community Values Define Movement For Change, Emerge As Important Voting Block
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008
For an audio recording from a telephonic press conference related to this release, click here. For a transcript of the press conference, click here.
Today the Center for Community Change announced that it has partnered with more than 300 grassroots organizations to launch a massive mobilization of community values voters this election. As part of the national Campaign for Community Values, grassroots organizations from throughout the country are recruiting and empowering voters who want healthcare for all, workable and just immigration reform, and an economy of shared responsibility and shared prosperity. The Center will provide resources, funding and training for key organizations to conduct locally based, long term voter registration and mobilization efforts throughout the country.
“Community values represents deep wells in the American tradition, people working together to do more than they can do alone,” said Gabe Gonzalez, director of the Campaign for Community Values. “Our greatest accomplishments as a nation have always come from pulling together and investing in the common good.”
The Campaign for Community Values represents an emerging trend in the American political landscape. In this election cycle candidates for local, state and federal office are learning and responding to the fact that voters want change. Americans want policies that serve the common good not elite interests.
The driving principle of this registration and mobilization initiative is the recognition that issues as diverse as immigration, healthcare and the economy are connected. The significance of community values was apparent when a number of presidential contenders, including an eventual nominee, participated in the “Heartland Presidential Forum” hosted by the campaign in Des Moines last December.
In Seattle, OneAmerica, which works mostly in immigrant communities is teaming up with Washington Citizen Action, which organizes small business owners and low-income and working class communities around health care reform, to register voters in Washington’s 8th congressional district.
“We expect that together, we’ll register another 30,000 new voters and turnout 40,000 voters on Election Day across the region,” said Pramila Jayapal, executive director of OneAmerica. “Together we’re registering more voters and seeing a new convergence of community values voters with common concerns.”
In Virginia, the Virginia Organizing Project (VOP) is going door-to-door across the state identifying community values voters.
“We have 50 college interns from across the state of Virginia who will knock on 300,000 doors by end of July to identify and engage community values voters,” said Sandra Cook, vice chair of VOP. “Already, we’ve knocked on 65,000 doors despite a week of 100-degree heat, two dog bites and five flat tires.”
Since 1968, the Center for Community Change has strengthened the leadership, voice and power of low-income communities nationwide to confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements of tomorrow.
Files available for download:
