Five people participated in the brainstorming sessions to identify a set of plausible strategies and tactics to support our collective work in the areas of political education, advocacy, registration and engagement. Our work calendar is from September 2009 through December 2010.
Our work product included not only specific actions we recommend to OFN-Jax but also aspirations, desires and values that underscore our proposed actions.
Participants:
Gerri McKinnie seriouslycivil69@yahoo.com
Bruce McGee bmcgee@atlanticmarine.com
Clinton Arrington clintonarrington@yahoo.com
Alia Alvani aliaalvani@mac.com
Phillip W. Miner phillipminer@comcast.net
Proposed Action Outcomes:
- target newly eligible voters (high school seniors who are of age, new citizens, etc)
- support existing registration drives at HS, colleges, community sites, etc
- identify 3-5 likely partners to conduct voter registration drives (faith community, social-civic groups, Greek letter organizations, youth-serving clubs and organizations, etc.)
- Host or support forums or summits to:
i. educate public on the importance of voter registration;
ii. disclose voter registration rules, deadlines & eligibility;
iii. share success stories when the vote was exercised;
iv. increase awareness of critical issues affecting the public
1. redistricting;
2. restoration of ‘rights” e.g. felons right to vote;
3. review of prospective candidates for office;
4. taxes, health care reform, etc
v. increase awareness of and access to on-line and other resources on political-oriented issues
- Develop lists of and access to on-line and other resources on political-oriented issues and organizations;
i. Organizing for America
ii. Democracy for America
iii. Moveon.org
iv. Duval County Democratic Executive Committee (DCDEC)
v. Supervisor of Elections (by county)
vi. Cause-related organizations;
1. seek restoration of rights for felons and remind businesses they can give felons and other ex-cons a second chance;
2. assist people affected by substance abuse; and
3. help advance legislation that afford people who have had a brush with the law know they have a second chance and life is not over
vii. others
- get active with local political/government issues and challenges
i. redistricting;
ii. restoration of ‘rights” e.g. felons right to vote;
iii. review of prospective candidates for office;
iv. taxes, health care reform
v. other
- Increase the number of OFN-Jax members who are formal members of the Duval county Democratic Executive Committee (DCDEC)
- Encourage OFN-Jax members run for elective office or appointed positions
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/?e=14&ref=image
In support of President Obama's call for major national health care revision, Riverside for Change will join with Duval County for Change on June 27, 2009 to help bring this major issue to light. Duval County for Change will be hosting a National Health Care Day of Service at the University of North Florida at 1:00 pm. The event will feature a wellness and prevention medicine panel discussion and a screening of the documentary film, Money Talks, which is about the drug industry. The event will take place at the School of Health, Building 39, Room 1009.
To RSVP for the event or to get more information, contact: yeswecanduval@peacemail.com or register to attend at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpcvbz
The decision for Riverside for Change to join forces with Duval for Change came about during our June 6th health care house party when 25 Riverside neighbors came together to discuss the current health care crisis. We felt that a greater impact would be made if we brought as many voices as possible together during this single day of service. Everyone is encouraged to come out to UNF and help expand our range of influence in order to bring about substantial change in health care policies.
In addition to this single day of service, there are at least two other health care oriented events/organizations that we are currently working on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4NKllI3AfM
Script: http://obama.3cdn.net/f784db384369464c65_nym6b54tr.pdf
By far the most unique and clever Obama memorabiia I have seen so far is the Obama Model Airplane.
WWW.OBAMAPLANE.COM
