Over the coming months, we’ll be chronicling the Equal Voice for America’s Families campaign – a national campaign to develop a family-issues platform created and advanced by America’s working families. We’ll be bringing you videos from campaign events, stories from families and campaign staffers, the latest Campaign details, and articles on the issues facing American’s families.
The Campaign so far
When we began the Campaign last October, we had two goals. The first was to spark a national dialogue on the issues facing working families, and the second is to create and advance a national platform that puts families first. We’ve certainly sparked that conversation. Since October, we’ve held sixty-three townhall meetings in different parts of the country. At every townhall, we heard directly from families about the issues that concern them the most – the first step to giving them an equal voice in our nation’s political discourse. By the time the townhall phase of the Campaign ended in May, more than 10,000 people had participated, and made their voices heard. At each townhall, we recorded what families had to say and have used their input as the basis for the Family Platform a blueprint for change based on the voices and experiences of working families.
Ratifying the Family Platform
Last week, more than 40 family delegates from across the country met in Chicago to ratify the Family Platform — and left no doubt of their commitment to social change. They took time away off from their jobs and away from their families over Father’s Day weekend to be there. One elderly woman rode on a bus for 22 hours to participate. One man flew halfway across the country despite a fear of flying. They came with a profound sense that, collectively, they were creating something greater than their individual efforts — something that would bring lasting benefits to families in America. One participant described the experience as “a once in a lifetime opportunity” to make a lasting contribution to the country. One group facilitator said he’d never seen such a high level of energy sustained over multiple days, nor such cooperation and camaraderie. After a day of lively small group sessions (see photo below) devoted to each of the issues outlined in the Family Platform, delegates presented some amendments and then voted to ratify the Family Platform. Click here to view more photos of the Chicago event.
Next up: National Family Convention on September 6
Now that the Family Platform has been completed and ratified, the next Campaign milestone is the National Family Convention.
More than 10,000 families are preparing for the National Family Convention on September 6, 2008, where the final version of the Family Platform will be unveiled. The National Family Convention is being held in three simultaneous location in Birmingham, Chicago and Los Angeles -- with events being simulcast between all three locations.
September 6 promises to be a great day, with 10,000 working families gathering to send a clear message to the policymakers and the country about what is important for the future of America’s families.
What can you do to help out? Sign up for our free email updates (link) and check back frequently on this blog. We’ll be telling you more about the campaign, and how you can help spread the word about this national effort to give America’s working families an equal voice in the national debate.
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