Progressive Ponderings: Community Organizers

by Joe Mayer

Last Saturday, Dec. 6, we spent a delightful evening with over 800 progressive "community organizers." The occasion was the annual Awards Dinner of TakeAction Minnesota. Receiving recognition was the Transit Partners Coalition – the organization that led a successful bipartisan effort to pass a transportation bill – and the progressive movement in Rochester, Minn. The theme this year was "This Is Our Time."

TakeAction is a coalition of thirty-two progressive organizations including unions, cultural associations, rural groups, homeless advocates and urban organizations. Printed in the program was its goal: "The mission of TakeAction Minnesota is to unite and expand the power of diverse individuals, organizations and communities in active grassroots democracy that builds social, racial and economic justice. We work collectively with our members and allies to make lasting change by building the power to govern…."

One story of hope is about how Rochester brought about change in just four to six years, a story about what can happen when citizens take responsibility for their own governance.

First District Congressman Tim Walz introduced the Rochester award recipients. His words: "Just four years ago Rochester was considered a Republican stronghold. The area had not sent a Democrat to the State House or Senate in 30 years. This year progressives (three state representatives and Rep. Walz himself) were re-elected in races that weren't even close (each won with over 60% of the vote). What happened? Activists and organizers in Rochester have led and won community campaigns for years, shifting the balance of power in the city…."

Walz went on to name numerous organizations and individuals responsible. He concluded: "Tonight, that movement will be represented by segments of the movement… AFSCME and SE MN Area Labor Council, Livable Rochester, The New Faces of America (a Somali group), SE MN Alliance of Peacemakers, and the Earth Community Coalition of Olmsted."

Being an activist and working within some of these organizations, it is often difficult to recognize the sea-change surrounding us. The gruesome pronouncements and news emanating from Washington and the Bush administration caused us to think that, at best, we were treading water.

But the 2006 elections brought hope. Then 2008 exploded with millions of new voters and thousands of new activists becoming involved. This is democracy at work! As one Saturday speaker noted, "We are the ones we have been waiting for." Another stated, "This change didn't happen to us. It changed because of us."

The progressives we elected need us more than ever as they begin governance. Conservative money will thwart them on every issue. The "right" ridiculed Obama, the "community organizer." We all need to become C-O-M-M-U-N-I-T-Y O-R-G-A-N-I-Z-E-R-S.