Broad-Based Organizing: Community Launch Recap

On October 28, 30 Westminster members joined over 270 people from more than 30 institutions at Oakdale Park Church to launch a broad-based organization that will act together on community issues.

 We heard powerful, personal stories about why we must come together across lines that divide us and build power to create a more just and equitable community in Grand Rapids. We were energized by each other’s presence, testimony, and commitment. Westminster was one of 18 institutions committing to membership and pledging over $48,000, every dollar of which will be matched. 25 institutions made commitments to next steps, and more are on their way to membership.
 

With these commitments our organization becomes an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, the nation’s largest and longest-standing broad-based organizing network. The IAF offers training and resources for building relationships of trust, strengthening local institutions, and creating a non-partisan vehicle for developing citizen leaders who can achieve lasting change in their community. Learn more about the IAF at www.industrialareasfoundation.org.

If you want to build with this growing group, we invite you to a Listening Campaign Training on Tuesday, Nov. 9, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Plymouth United Church of Christ. This training will teach us how to do house meetings in our own congregation and across the community to hear from our members and neighbors about the pressures they are experiencing and to identify issues to address together.