Post-election prayer: Keep those ‘change’ fires burning

Well, folks, this morning, I think–at least I fervently hope–that we can breathe a collective sigh of relief: The presidential race, one of the longest, hardest-fought and certainly the most historic presidential elections ever, is over.

Well, folks, this morning, I think–at least I fervently hope–that we can breathe a collective sigh of relief: The presidential race, one of the longest, hardest-fought and certainly the most historic presidential elections ever, is over. And, excluding a repeat of the electoral challenge in 2000, the American people have chosen the next president of the United States.

So today, whether you’re excited about the future or disappointed about the election’s outcome, I implore you to hold on a while longer to the energy and grassroots organizing sparked by Decision 2008, particularly among the nation’s young adults.

Young people from both of the major political parties became engaged in this election season in numbers and in ways that were unprecedented in our nation’s history, contributing to off-the-chart fundraising and massive voter turnouts.

I pray: Don’t let it end here.

The spirit of the movement for change must live on past election-year hype in order for real change to occur and to be sustained. Change cannot be simply a word that politicians post on placards and throw around to define their platforms. We cannot go forth with the expectation that change will fall out of the sky or be sparked miraculously out of any one government administration. Change requires your participation, here and now.

Young adults, I’m talking to you and issuing you an invitation as well to join us in making change a reality. By the end of this week, you will be able to go to your computers and type in DriveChangeNow.org, the Chicago Urban League’s new Web page dedicated to building an army of idealistic solution-seekers weary of same-old-same and willing to support new programs and policies designed to work for average people.

The Chicago Urban League could sure use your energy, your ideas, your activism and your contributions to drive our agenda for change by economically empowering African Americans to build wealth, rebuild their communities and to sustain families.

Taking our campaign of volunteerism and giving to the Internet is somewhat new for us as an organization, but recruiting young people to drive the movement for social change has defined our agenda, and that of the Civil Rights Movement, for generations.

Young people have always been at the crux of any movement for social change, from sit-ins and freedom riders in the 1960s to anti-war demonstrators in the 1970s and to the present day. We always need new ideas and lifeblood to meet the ever changing needs of our communities, to deal with new challenges – many of them not of our own making.

At the Urban League, for the last 25 years, we have been fortunate to have the Metropolitan Board, an auxiliary of young adults that has performed hundreds of thousands of hours of service to the community and provided a training ground for young leaders.

Today, DriveChangeNow.org focuses on solutions to the economic and social challenges we face in these tough times such as finding better jobs, developing leaders, growing businesses, preparing youth, supporting research and saving homes. The site will include success stories from people like Marlene Hopkins, 39, of Chicago, who was at risk of foreclosure but got her loan modified (and $900 shaved off her monthly payments) through our foreclosure prevention program. “I tried everything,” Hopkins says. “The Chicago Urban League saved my house and my credit.”

This Saturday, the Urban League will hold its 47th annual Golden Fellowship Dinner, an event that attracts the who’s who of Chicago and is supported by some of our region’s leading businesses and philanthropists. However, with the understanding that being grassroots requires us to meet people where they are, this year we have decided to do something different: We will host a separate after-party event at a reduced ticket price of $50 called the “Lights. Camera. NextTV Launch Party.” The party is a scholarship fundraiser and marks the official announcement of the Urban League’s new television show to debut on Fox Chicago in February 2009. Hosted by ClearChannel Radio personalities Bionce Fox, Joe Soto and Romonski Luv, music will be provided by DJ Vince Adams, with a special performance by Noel Gourdin, at the Hilton Chicago in the Continental Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thechicagourbanleague. org or at the door.

Back in February, a column that ran in this newspaper urged you to “Help the Chicago Urban League Help Us.” We’re issuing a call to you, Chicago, to drive the change that you seek and that this city needs to remain one of the greatest in the world.

Cheryle R. Jackson is the president of the Chicago Urban League. She can be reached at president@thechicagourbanleague.org.

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Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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