What Happens Now?
November 5th, 2008 by Angela Glover Blackwell
The next chapter of America’s story begins today.
We have seen an historic sea change in this nation–not only in the election of Barack Obama, but in the ascension of hundreds of progressive candidates to our State Houses and Congress. To make real this promise of change, however, we must ensure that our elected officials live up to the ideals that promote equity and opportunity.
- Sustain the deep levels of democratic participation and civic engagement shown during the 2008 presidential election campaign.
- Build an economy that expands opportunity for struggling families and revitalizes distressed communities.
- Make affordable housing available to all, recognizing its historic role as a gateway to opportunity and asset-building.
- Invest in building strong, healthy communities across America.
All Americans–especially those in low-income communities and communities of color–deserve a chance to participate and prosper. We have a real opportunity today to make the change we seek–but we must all work and push and fight together to make it happen.
What principles do you think should guide the Obama Administration? Weigh in the comments!
You can read the full Achieving Equity and Inclusion in America: Policy Principles for the Obama Administration and New Congress document on the PolicyLink site.
Tags: agenda, Angela Glover Blackwell, civic engagement, democracy, election, health and place, healthy communities, housing, obama, president
November 5th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
We, in France, are so happy for you!!!
Congratulations to all of you!
Much love!
November 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Think - before and after acting. Equitable formulations risk being dismissed or back-burnered when a rigor of thinking is not sufficiently applied.
Integrate - principles to one another and across all disciplines of work. As in the adage about the “headbone is connected to the neckbone, etc.” success of the PolicyLink principles must not only link the principles across civic engagement, economies for distressed communities, affordable housing and healthy communities, but also in relationship to education, finances, cultural and recreational resources, and connection to the global community that impacts daily life at home.
Love - like you would want someone driven by if you were to receive their help.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
“The poor” must not be objectified, but rather always engaged as subjects of their own change process; such change needs to be structural; it must support healthy individual aspirations with equally healthy communitarian proclivities. Structures that support both individual and community asset growth are essential. Home equity, employee ownership, the common square, etc. are good examples. the process needs to start at the individual and community level, but be supported by all three levels of government policy.
We need to reverse the paradigm: the economy should be a servant of the people, not the other way around. We should work to live, but not live to work. Finally, politics should not be a hobby or pass-time, reserved for those who find it interesting. Rather it should be a daily habit like brushing one’s teeth or cooking. Barack can’t make change - he can only make it easier for us to do so. And he needs to hear from us about what is and is not working at the community level. As more of our institutions of social reproduction (schools, churches, workplaces, etc.) become more democratized, democracy in the broader political arena is strengthened. A democratic inclination must become one of our “habits of mind,” an element of our social intelligence.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
What Happens now is the actualization of the Democratic Dream Started in 1776. We the People; will now form that more perfect union by participating in this rehab of the American Dream. Focusing on this Country and its need to As Bill Clinton Said “”Build a Bridge to the 21st Century.” By Rebuilding the infrastucture of America Physically and Philosophically. Understanding that We as a Nation MUST not only deal with the present issues, but in the present solultions be mindful of the future challenges, Using all of our resources to the best of our ability while creating those solutions. We must take advantage of the Energy of this Moment and ride this wave to the shore of True Democracy.
November 7th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
The election of our new president along with leadership in the Sentat and Congress is only the beginning; Now, it is necessary to continue with the same emphasis and effort to move forward in advancing the issues that are affecting our communities. Let’s engage in our community at the local level and build from there. We know is time for change…Yes we can!