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Community Organizing: What Gop Minneapolis Mn and North can learn from the Obama campaign

On Thursday, February 19, 2009 I was invited to Black Macy's first History Month Celebration, held on the second floor between the men's suits and shoes. The highlight of this event was a roundtable a newspaper editor in northern Minneapolis. Panel members included the University of Minnesota Trent Tucker; IAMMOODY.com 's Richard Moody, Tene's women venture Wells, (former) Judge Pamela Alexander, City Council Member Ralph Remington and Don Samuels and others.

I discussed this event because the panelists were asked not reflected in Black history, but in the inauguration of Obama, which means having a Black president and other "biased questions" in my opinion not reflect the fight or uphill battle still ongoing in the U.S. are as a people of color. Every day I hear Black people say, "Yes, we have a Black president, things are fine now. "But that's not the case.

President Obama does not descend from a cloud in the sky and shake his magic wand and chant: "All your problems will disappear now." But listening to people, you might think that Obama's election ushered in the Second Coming of Christ.

I am not against President Barack Obama, I think the election of a Black man as President of the United States is the best thing that has happened to our nation. Having a Black man hold the highest position in the office has provided to our nation and the world the opportunity to see a positive image of a Black man who is educated, married to a Black woman and raising a family. This image is in direct contrast to the barrage of images that have come to reflect the male Black, the family and culture.

In addition, the election of President Obama sheds light on the practices of my party, the Republican Party, which tend to reinforce old practices white. I hate to be the one to tell the GOP old white male died. As a matter of fact, the Republican Party brand is outdated. In order to compete with the progressive practices of the Obama campaign, the Republican Party needs to develop a more effective way to imply that the European Community, ie, the Republican Party should be inclusive.

I encourage the Republicans to adopt strategies of President Obama's election campaign. If anyone has read some early writings of the President, you will see a pattern of community involvement that focuses on organizing and mobilizing people. During his years as an organizer Community, the President was astute enough to realize that to achieve a goal, and had to bring all people had the skills appropriate necessary to do the job. There were no hand outs. Here in the Twin Cities, Local Black "self-appointed" leaders have thrown the ball to the President Obama: "Obama will give us some of that money to encourage." Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but President Obama will not "give" you shit!

Obama met some of the same problems as a community organizer in Chicago that we face here in Minneapolis. For example, where the organization of Black people in the community level, which often are a few who take positions in a new attempt to "get money" and ultimatley exclude the true stakeholders in the community. The proof of this "positioning" occurred in 2008 during the community discussions with the University of Minnesota / Urban Research and Extension Center (UROC) and other projects financed by the state. (I am very grateful that the representatives of the U of M could see through information presented and work in a more dynamic, open, transparent).

Organizting Black people in the community level is a of the most difficult challenges for North Minneapolis. People gathered in the room are not a true representation of the community make up. The Young Black not graduated from high school and is unemployed with three children will not be in the room. In addition, the young man just released from prison and desperately in search of employment not be in the room. Although these two types of people are members of our community will not have a place in the room, as they have been excluded and ignored intentionally. As a result, outreach efforts are sabotaged.

During the roundtable, the publisher informed potential customers that your organization can deliver ("sell") Black community for a dollar amount. Those of us in the media and marketing professionals and public relations uncertain in Minneapolis / St. Pablo a single newspaper can not and do not reach the diverse Black and African populations that exist in the Twin Cities. Moreover, it is imperative that corporations (as) Macy's to look beyond rhetoric to realize that there are a number of minority ethnic media, which are able to meet your advertising / marketing objective, not just a means of communication has this capability.

To be successful in outreach to the community / organization, must include each and every one of members of our community. local outreach coordinators must show "unconditional understanding, compassion and care" to help the percentage of community through the installation of "Take Ownership 2.0.

Community outreach conducted in the non-profit levels is not removed or comes of heights should one or both of the following reasons:

· No budget for advertising and marketing.

• The Agency has become in an institution himself, the promotion of extension staff for participation. (This happens on many occasions and continues in 2009 in the agencies North Minneapolis nonprofit social service).

Community President Obama and his campaign to recognize and respect the organization of effective strategies which has mobilized an entire nation. If you happened to look in the room "war" in Chicago during his election campaign that saw only white faces on phones and computers, getting his talking points "ping" around the world. Moreover, the campaign was very selective about who was seen with candidate Barack Obama in public, as well as who appeard in photo opportunities. But their outreach efforts include everyone! They engaged the student in the campus home university and the guy in, but includes single mothers and their children, but also includes Hispanics, blacks, whites and homosexuals and heterosexuals.

The Obama campaign election – Unlike the Republican Party or extension activities in the north of Minneapolis – was based on the key element of inclusion mass and the philosophy of "Take Ownership 2.0", giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to act as representatives of the presidential campaign Barak Obama.

About the Author

Donald is the Executive V.P./GM of V-Media in Minneapolis.

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