[COMM-ORG] The organizer president

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

Here is some evidence that community organizing will remain at least 
some part of the Obama presidency.

-------- Original Message --------
From: 	Virginia Organizing Project <e-action at virginia-organizing.org>



Dear Friends,

On Thursday, December 4, Valerie Jarrett, known as President-elect 
Barack Obama's closest advisor, took time from a long list of tasks to 
speak to a crowd that filled the massive ballroom of the Washington 
Hilton. "You are the experts," Jarrett told her listeners. "We want you 
to work with us, to advise us, to counsel us."

Jarrett wasn't talking to high-priced lobbyists or automobile or bank 
executives. She was talking to working families, immigrants, low-income 
individuals, people struggling against injustice — all 2,500 of them 
actively involved in community organizations in 36 states, including the 
Virginia Organizing Project. T-shirts and caps were emblazoned with the 
slogans and names of groups in all kinds of communities, but even more 
of them wore red caps and sweatshirts with the slogan of the day, 
Realizing the Promise.

The slogan referred to a promise President-elect Obama had made a year 
before, to have this meeting with community organizations during the 
transition period. It also spoke to the fervent belief that a President 
who had worked as a community organizer would respect their 
organizations — and understand that he needed them as much as they 
needed him.

The forum demonstrated the power of community organizing to build a new 
seat at the table where decisions are made by politicians in Washington 
— declaring that we will have an equal say in shaping an inclusive and 
just agenda for our future.

The Realizing the Promise event was organized by the Gamaliel Foundation 
and the Center for Community Change (CCC). In the words of Deepak 
Bhargava, CCC's Executive Director, its goal was to ensure that "the 
people engaged in this election will need to stay engaged to realize the 
promise of this moment." Bhargava describes that promise as one "that 
upholds community values of inclusion, mutual responsibility, and 
connectedness."

"We can't settle any more for just complaining about what we don't like. 
We're planning on working in partnership with key allies not just to 
oppose, but to propose," Bhargava said.

Melody Barnes, named by President-elect Obama to head the Domestic 
Policy Council, also spoke to the group. Barnes' (and Jarrett's) 
presence was significant. Realizing the Promise is the first public 
event that any of the recently named White House staff or cabinet have 
attended.

Barnes referred to the relationship between the roomful of community 
organizations and the incoming Administration as "a partnership." She 
said, "We are counting on you to talk to us, to lend your expertise."

And the community organizations were ready. Jay Johnson, Chairperson of 
the Virginia Organizing Project, told the crowd that when it came to 
green jobs and other initiatives, "You don't wait for a plan to come 
from them. You've got to be able to do your part."

The historic uniqueness of Barack Obama's election won't, by itself, 
bring a new day to the increasing number of unemployed people, to those 
without health care, or to the divided families of immigrants living in 
fear. But thousands of community organizations from coast to coast, with 
a commitment to the common good, can bring a real new day of change. And 
on December 4, they showed they were ready to meet the challenge.

Now it's up to each one of us. The country is at a crossroads — change 
is coming one way or another. It's exciting that more people than ever 
have gotten involved in their communities. Working together, involving 
even more people, we can answer the challenge and be a part of this 
momentous change.

President-elect Barack Obama is asking grassroots leaders, whoever they 
voted for, to be more than supporters. He is asking for full partners, 
who will be heard from in every corner of Washington and in our own 
communities. Are we all ready to meet the challenge?