People Escaping Poverty Project would Like to
Thank the Fargo Human Relations Commission
for their support of our work for justice in the Fargo
Community.
PEPP Appreciates Your Support!
Human Rights Award Event Given "Prairie
Rose" From Fargo Forum
The problems facing People who experience poverty, racism,
prejudice and inequality do not result from a lack of effective solutions
but from a lack of power to implement these solutions. The only way for
communities to build long term power is by organizing people and money
around a common vision. A viable organization can only be achieved if a
broadly based grassroots leadership, ---not one or two charismatic leaders---
can knit together the diverse interests of their local institutions.This
means bringing together churches, block clubs, parent groups, and any other
institutions in a given community to pay dues, hire organizers, conduct
research, develop leadership, hold rallies and education campaigns and
begin drawing up plans on a whole range of issues--jobs, education crime
etc.
Once such a vehicle is formed, it holds the power to make
politicians, agencies and corporations, more responsive to community needs.
Equally important it enables people to break their crippling
isolation from each other, to reshape their mutual values and expectations
and rediscover the possibilities of action collaboratively.
Excerpts taken from an essay by Barack Obama
Why organize? Problems and promise in the inner city.
August & September 1988/Illinois Issues
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