CONTACT

Kimberlin Love, African American Organizer, 202-246-3865.

DESCRIPTION

Spreading Democracy

“A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.” --A. Philip Randolph

The 2004 election symbolized a rebirth of civic engagement within the African American community. According to the recent census, African Americans are shrinking as a percentage of all Americans despite growth in 2004 as a percentage of the overall electorate. Nearly 3 million more African Americans surged to the polls in 2004 than in 2000, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the overall voter increase.

Yet, in spite of these gains, partisan ‘battleground’ strategies that ignore the South threaten to mute the voices of over 50% of African Americans that live in this region. Additionally, historical organizations serving the community are plagued by crumbling infrastructures and depleted resources. This change in the political line of attack resulted in African American civic organizations being under financed by the progressive funding community more than two to one. “In all regions, nonwhite racial and ethnic populations received a disproportionately smaller share of foundation support than their demographic representation.”

Motivated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s belief that “our nettlesome task is to discover how to organize our strength into compelling power,” the Center for Civic Participation (CCP) seeks to reverse this trend and build upon the renewed spirit of democracy experienced by African Americans last cycle. In partnership with the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), CCP will create the necessary linkages and strategic implementation acumen for African American organizations to become viable players again at decision making tables, particularly at the state level. Our goal is not to duplicate the efforts of these organizations, but rather inspire critical conversations, construct the frames and messages, and offer the technical assistance necessary for increasing civic engagement through electoral participation of the African American community for 2006 and beyond.

We will focus our efforts on:

• Establishing strategic partnerships and tactical alliances.
  
• Integrating database management into field organizing plans.
  
• Expanding local stakeholders to include non-traditional organizations rooted in the community.
  
• Developing voter engagement capacity of traditional civic participation organizations.
  
• Increasing voter education and registration among younger African Americans.
  
• Enlarging voter engagement capacity of local places of worship.
  
• Incorporating paid and earned media into community engagement plans.
  
• Advocating for full community participation in the renewal of the Voting Rights Act.
  
  For more info contact Kimberlin Love or 202-246-3865.