Tulare County Unites

On Saturday, June 28, Tulare County Democrats held a Unite for Change event at The Works Café in Visalia.  The event was put together in 7 short days by 6 committed individuals: Stan Carter, the lead organizer; Cynthia Nesmith; Derek Thomas; Norma Burns; and Gwen and Dana Lloyd, owners of the cafe.  There were approximately 100 people in attendance from a wide variety of ethnic and age groups, uniting after the past primary elections as well as informing undecided voters about Barack Obama, the Democratic Party and local club events.

Some 60 people, over half of those in attendance, signed up to participate in volunteer opportunities such as phone banking, voter registration and canvassing.  In addition, ten people registered to vote as Democrats, seven of who were previously Republicans.  The event was an amazing success.  It is just a preview of the “One Thousand Strong” rally scheduled for September to show support for Barack Obama.  According to Stan Carter, the plan for this rally is to recruit 1,000 individuals by getting ten people to bring ten more people, who will additionally bring ten more people to participate in the rally.

With enough commitment and community participation, this rally will be a resounding success and another step toward real change.  Tulare Democrats are leading the way and showing us all how a positive and powerful group of people can have a huge impact in 2008! This kind of community activism is going to be vital in keeping us informed, connected and engaged in this historic presidential campaign and movement for change. 

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Najwa grew up in Oakland, CA.  She did her undergraduate work at UC Riverside and received her BA in Sociology in June 2007.  She will be entering her second year of graduate school at Sacramento State University in Fall 2008, working toward her Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration.  Her ultimate goal is to make life better for people, not in a theoretical sense, but in reality.