Yes We Can! Long Island 2012Yes We Can! Long Island Inspires Progressive Movement on Long Island
Yes We Can! Long Island’s Founding Convention, Saturday, March 21, was a tremendous success. It drew 130 Long Islanders eager to grow the grassroots progressive movement in concert with President Obama’s agenda of hope and change.
We discussed five issues – healthcare, energy, the environment, diversity, and service to community – and developed a platform to advocate for. “America is the sum of our dreams … and what makes us one American family is that we stand up and fight for each other’s dreams,” our President, Marvin Kreutzberger said. “Everything we talked about is essential to our well-being, and to the survival of our children, particular their ability to remain on Long Island.”
At the conclusion, many members signed up for Organizing for America’s Pledge Project. A few went right out to the streets and were shown in a report on CNN.
Marvin gave the opening Introduction, laying out what Yes We Can! Long Island hopes to accomplish:
Jon Cooper, Suffolk County Legislator, who is considering a run for the US Senate, spoke next:
Maurice spoke about service, but started off his speech with inspiring words about what we as a nation need to accomplish:
Michael, a graduate student at Hofstra University spoke on the challenges our society faces today:
Part 1
Part 2
Over the coming months we will refine our positions and develop action plans. Your input and participation will determine our success. Please join with us.
Yes We Can! Long Island Environmental Service Project
Meadowbrook Parkway Woodlands Clean-up
10a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6 (Rain or Shine)
In the spirit of President Obama’s call for public service, the Yes We Can! Long Island Energy and Environmental Committee will join with local civic organizations and elected officials in a clean up of selected areas in this woodland corridor.
This effort is part of a series of public efforts dating back to 2003. It will help preserve one of the last major open spaces on the South Shore of Nassau County and demonstrate community involvement to government entities developing management plans for the corridor.
Please join us at one of these three locations:
1. Mulners Pond Park on West Avenue, just south of Jerusalem Avenue in North Merrick.
2. Woodlands behind Brookside School. (Enter from Washington Avenue just west of Meadowbrook Road in North Merrick.)
3. Merrick Reservoir. (Enter from Stuyvesant Avenue, just west of Babylon Turnpike in Merrick. Please do not park on the short block entering the Preserve as it tends to disturb the local residents.
Guidelines for Participants
You must sign in before participating. Please wear long sleeve pants and shirts. If you have gloves, please bring them. Otherwise, bags and gloves will be provided. Wear your YWCLI buttons as we expect press coverage.
Always use common sense precautions at events like this. For example, bring sunscreen, insect repellent and water, if you think you will need it. Avoid going into the water or engaging in behavior that may endanger yourself or others. Also, all minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Thank you for volunteering for this important event. If you have any other questions, please call 809-6766 ext.702
Desperation elicits hysteria. I find it very offensive that every single thing that Obama does is atacked by the right regardless of the issue. All this does is make them look like pathetic sore losers screaching from soapboxes for abandoning crowds.
Even Megan McCain is lashing out at this. There are rational Republicans who actually care about the issues and about this country, but the Limbaughs, Hannitys, Coulters, Becks and their cult are feeding off the blood of negatives and anemia is setting in.
It almost feels like South Park. Sarah Palin comes on with her train wreck ebuliousness, saying nothing with impunity like a hyperactive metaphor. LImbaugh starts dancing in ways that Bozo the Clown jumps and the smiling pundits attack Obama for everything from his choice of a dog to his NCAA picks. Give me a break!
The scary thing is that someone elected these cartoon figures or listens to them in awe. Although Sarah Palin doesn’t believe in evolution because she, like the rest of them, would proudly bring back the Flat Earth Society.
I’d like to announce an event of particular interest to Yes We Can because it covers all of the issues discussed at the convention. I couldn’t make the first convention because I was working on this project, but I will be at the next one.
Sistas On Fire! A Newsical
A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE FOR THE Uniondale Community Council YOUTH PROGRAM
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
AT 2 PM
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NASSAU COUNTY
110 N. FRANKLIN STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY
(CORNER OF JACKSON STREET/TWO BLOCKS FROM THE LIRR HEMPSTEAD STOP)
ADVANCE TICKETS: $20 ADULTS $10 STUDENTS. For advance tickets go to : http://WWW.UCCINC.HOMESTEAD.COM/UCC.HTML
$5 extra at the door.
I found this event to be informative and inspiring. Alot of good discussions and ideas.
The convention was a great start in developing an issue driven movement on Long Island. One of the guest speakers, Michael LaFemina, laid out a three-step plan: learn, focus, and act. At the convention we learned about 5 issues, now its time to focus before YEC begins looking at additional issues.
I volunteered to get involved in the energy / environment issues and hope to get started soon. Part of the next step “ focus”, should include guidance as to what type of activities the Board would like to see or help sponsor. I realize that this could be issue specific but we’ll need some type of boundaries to help make our efforts effective and efficient.