We donated. We phone-banked. We canvassed. We got out the vote. Yes we did! We made change happen. So now it's time to rest on our laurels, right? Wrong! We all have high expectations for President Obama, but he has high expectations for us as well.
He recognizes that the strength, unity, and determination of the grass roots movement that brought him to the White House must not be squandered or allowed to atrophy. More important, he recognizes that the magnitude of the problems our country is facing will require all the forces we can muster to overcome them. He is asking us to commit to giving back to our communities and our country. Jump the fold to see how Brooklyn For Barack is answering the call and how you can do it in your community.
Join us on Sunday, February 8th when more than more than 65 local nonprofits, charities and advocacy groups will come together for the first-ever "Continue the Change Service Fair." Organized by Brooklyn for Barack and the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, the event will be part of an ongoing effort to harness the incredible energy sparked by the Obama campaign.
Attendees will have an opportunity to speak with representatives of organizations that are offering concrete volunteer opportunities like writing, teaching, tutoring, filmmaking, phonebanking, mentoring, word processing, stocking food pantries, sewing clothes for survivors of domestic violence, working w/ animals, canvassing, gardening and farming, ushering at performances, photography, and job- search mentoring.
There will also be a Make and Take arts table for kids and roundtable discussions on the following subjects: Local Environmental Activism, Using Technology to Monitor and Influence the Legislative Process, Health Care, Voting Rights, and Food Justice.
What: Continue the Change Volunteer Fair
When: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Union Temple, 17 Eastern Parkway (at Grand Army Plaza) 3rd Floor ballroom
Cost: Free, but a box of dried pasta for Union Temple's food drive would be appreciated
To RSVP, please email continuethechange@gmail.com or call 718-757-8572
For a complete list of participating organizations and more information about Brooklyn for Barack, please visit http://www.BrooklynforBarack.org
This is a great opportunity for New Yorkers and people in the surrounding areas to find an organization that matches up with their interests and that can use their energy and talent. If you don't live in the area, there is a great new tool on the web to help you find volunteer/activism opportunties. As reported by Time, President Obama made a commercial advocating service and suggesting that Americans use a new web site that he says is sort of a Craigslist for service to find ways to contribute to our communities and our country:
"I will ask all Americans to make a renewed commitment to serving their community and their country," the President-elect announced this week in a video posted online. "Just visit usaservice.org to find service projects in your community, or even organize your own around the causes you care about."
From usaservice.org:
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we showed what was possible when Americans work together to strengthen our communities. Now that MLK Day is over, we need to keep that same spirit of volunteerism alive throughout the year. You can keep using our site to create or find events, as well as find other service opportunities through some great organizations.
If you're in the Tri-State area, I hope you will consider attending the service fair. If you can't make it, please pass on the information to anyone who might be interested.