February 2024
Dear friends,
The audio flowing through my headphones or in my car has changed over the past few years. I used to be someone who would stream my favorite playlist on Spotify, be eager to listen to the latest episode of a national politics podcast, or try to make headway on an audiobook. But lately, I find myself drawn more and more to local radio stations. Not just my local NPR station, but also local music stations that sprinkle in news about politics, traffic, and events in my town. Maybe this shift is part of the aging process, but I also think it is my growing recognition of the power of local community action to make a better world possible.
Major news outlets paint national politics and policies as our most pressing issues, but what happens at the local level is hugely influential to people’s lives. If you are looking for affordable housing, then local policies around zoning and development can make a huge difference for what options you have. Concerned about police violence and mass incarceration? Local police are overseen by local government and local sheriffs usually operate the local jail. Want to ensure our education system closes the achievement gap and gives students adequate resources to thrive? Local school boards make policies and local taxes pay for resources students will have available.
Some of the most innovative and potentially transformative policies like reparations for racial injustice and a universal basic income are being tried at the local level in cities across the country. Take for example the Rx Kids program being piloted in Flint, MI. Led by Dr. Mona Hanna, RxKids is being launched in the wake of the Flint Water Crisis to prescribe cash to expectant mothers and their infants. Research shows that cash support can help improve numerous maternal and infant health outcomes over the long-term. What happens locally can also spur change in other local areas, or even nationally. If RxKids is successful in Flint, we could see it spread to other areas of the country and become a national policy in the future. These cascading effects can make a better world possible locally and then the innovation will catch on more broadly.
Understanding what is happening in your local area can help you better be a change-maker in your community. We all have a role to play to support building community power to make change. Staying in the loop is key. What are the local news sources that cover city council, local police, and school board meetings? Can you attend, or speak at, public meetings to better understand the politics and dynamics at play? Can you meet with a local official or leader to better understand some of the challenges and opportunities locally? What local elections or ballot initiatives are happening in 2024? (use vote411.org to find out). These efforts will help you understand where you and your unique skill set can best make a difference in your local community.
Take care and and connect locally,
Paul
Today’s Key Point:
We cannot make a better world possible unless we pay attention and get involved in decision-making at the local level.
Today’s Reflection Questions:
Have you ever attended a local government meeting? (e.g. city council or school board meeting; public hearing). If yes, what did you learn about how decisions are made? If no, what is preventing you?
What are opportunities in your local community to make change on an issue you care about? What groups are already organizing around that issue and how are you connected to them?
What are the local news sources and social media accounts covering local politics and happenings in your city/town? How can you stay in the loop?
Think about someone in your network who knows more about local politics or organizing than you. What questions would you want to ask them? How can you connect with them to learn more?
Tool/Resource of the Month:
The USC Equity Research Institute created this Power-building Ecosystem Framework figure to highlight the different roles needed for community power-building