Here’s a voting block that I DARE YOU TO COURT…… African-American and Latino-American mothers whose children attend public schools. This group of citizens is continually overlooked when “leaders” are planning for neighborhoods and education. They are not your ever visible soccer moms, they are virtually invisible in certain parts of our community. You have to be in certain neighborhoods to even see them. IF they are working in Peoria, they are more than likely the only one of color doing so in their place of employment (unless you work in District 150 Administration).
These are the parents who are blamed for everything that is wrong in our cities and schools, yet they are never consulted about what their needs are when folks decide to run for office.
Locally, leaders are beginning feel the sting of just what it looks like when the voices in inner city neighborhoods are oppressed for generations. They have learned the hard way, that all citizens must be considered when we are talking about the development and well-being of the City of Peoria.
What can the City do to get inner city parents to realize that they do have a voice in this City? What would help them to see that people need to/want to hear from them? Who will court this voting block? Who will arm folks with the facts and encourage them to get out and vote for the change that directly affects them and their children? Who?
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Who Is for Kids? Who Is Just Kidding?
Years ago a campaign slogan asked, Who's for Kids? and Who's Just Kidding? It's time to turn our rhetoric into votes for those who understand the impact of our schools on our communities. Now is the time to vote for those who are for kids because they will strengthen your schools and your communities at a time when political courage is needed most.
Here's a notion that is difficult to dispute: Communities are known by the schools they keep.
Are your local or county governing boards, your local, state and federal elected officials, your real estate officials, your local business leaders, and your local faith community paying attention to the impact of funding on their schools and their communities?
If schools begin to slip in achievement, facility upkeep, and overall characteristics that make schools effective, enrollment will decline, parents will seek alternatives, real estate values will sink, businesses will not move into or will even move out of your community. You will be left with a community that it is just a shadow of itself.
Telling Our Story That Stings and Sticks with Community Leaders
Now I am not necessarily advocating the "sky-is-falling" approach, but we all need to become more proactive in telling our story that stings and sticks with our community leaders. And we need to find ways to get our government officials — those with education funding responsibilities — to know that making the commitment to education is making the critical choice to maintain and develop a prosperous community in a negative time. Standing up for what's right for our communities should make them a candidate for the next local edition of a "profiles-in-courage" piece in their media outlets. And it will also get them re-elected. Source
4 comments:
You know me -- I always have a story. Just before school let out, my child along with other Hispanic students was rounded up at Richwoods and called to a meeting in which an ICC representative alluded to the fact you do not need to be a legal resident in order to attend ICC.
My child is a U.S. citizen, however, one of her friends at the meeting was not. He was, however, planning to attend ICC and was under the impression that he could attend under Peoria Promise. He is a bright and talented individual and did all the right things in school and earned good grades.
So . . . I did a little investigating and . . . the Director of Peoria Promise said "NO" he would not receive Peoria Promise dollars because it is tied to the FASFA form which requires you to have citizenship to be eligible for financial aid.
Then, I spoke to several parties at ICC and said what services do you offer to assist students that attend ICC in becoming a legal resident or obtain citizenship. Answer - don't know of any.
Finally, I contacted Friendship House, which offers a dedicated Latino Outreach program and reached a similar dead end. Friendship House could offer contacts numbers of a couple immigration attorneys but as an organization did not really offer guidance or service to individuals seeking citizenship.
As my daughter heads off to her great college and hopefully a bright future, I cannot stop thinking about her friend,whose future looks so bleak. Last time I heard, he could not even find a job because of his legal status.
Emerge, this is a post that I have to agree with 100%. Those who live in the inner cities are usually neglected or forgotten except when it comes time for election campaigns. Candidates show up, promise better times, get elected, and you don't see them again for another 2-4 years. (not all lawmakers are like this: Dave Koehler, Jehan Gordon-Booth stay in touch with issues) Aaron Schock, since being in Congress, has never appeared at a NAACP Candidates forum.
The public should consider candidates stance on education, then decide whether to vote for them. But education is just one issue. Economy will be the big one.
Voting is power. Minorities need to realize their power is in their vote. And this year, that power will be needed more than ever, at all levels of elections.
Barriers are created when decisions are made void of a clear understanding of what the community needs and feels.
Dennis,
nor is he welcome. you left that part out. He does, however meet with numerous "black" constituents and organizations.
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