Today was a long hot busy, exhilarating day for the nine of us who set out to make direct contact with hundreds of struggling Atlantans.We started out at Hosea Feed The Hungry's 2nd annual "Labor Of Love" event, which provided literally tons of food, water, school supplies, job advice, and more to folks struggling to get by.
Once there we had the opportunity to speak with hundreds about effective strategies for organizing for housing justice, and we of course challenged folks to attend the September 10th march on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Hosea Feed The Hungry Executive director, Elizabeth Williams Omilami made time to speak with us about the work we've been doing to keep folks in their homes. When she heard we were using the bus to outreach to the hardest hit in the city she made sure we left with over 400 LB's of potatoes and 60 full grocery bags of food to distribute to folks in the community.
Today we were able to hit Polar Rock, Bankhead, English Avenue, Vine City, and Parts of Edgewood.
The last few days of neighborhood to neighborhood bus outreach has been an amazing experience for all of us. We're all curious to see if this kind of outreach effects turnout on September 10th. The question of the day is, how do we provide direct services(food, clothing, school supplies, ect) while mobilizing folks in a very real way at the same time, that is what we are attempting.
Speaking of mobilizing September 10th is set to be the largest housing justice mobilization in the south in years. Many still don't know that the housing crisis today is worse than it was during the great depression. We need a massive turnout. We're asking folks to take off work, go in late, do whatever you have to do to be present. We have the opportunity to flip the script here, but we can't pull it off with out you and your folks.Are you in?
Link to event by clicking here.
Tim Franzen
American Friends Service Committee
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