Organizing for Change: Lessons from the Past

Twelve years ago, the world lost a legendary community activist and organizer named buddy gray (he preferred all lowercase letters... another rebellion against capitalism). According to a memorial on StreetVibes (the blog for Cincinnati's street newspaper) buddy was a "relentless and uncompromising advocate for low-income housing and other services for the poor."

Today, after Generation Y and Millennials across the nation engaged in community organizing for the election at levels not seen since the civil rights movement, we have a lot to learn from buddy. Not only was his life's work an inspiration, but his vision for changing societal ills can certainly apply to today's world.

Here's an excerpt from the tribute to buddy on StreetVibes:

Many people are dedicated to feeding and housing the poor. Others are dedicated to organizing for change. buddy's insight was to bring these two ways of service together. He saw the people of Over-the-Rhine, not just as downtrodden souls to be given a meal or a bed for the night, but partners in a struggle to change the system and heal society.

Therefore, buddy worked to organize people and groups into an Over-the-Rhine People's movement that includes organizations like the Drop Inn center, ReSTOC, the Over-the-Rhine Housing Network, and the local, state, and national Coalitions for the Homeless. He worked with many homeless people who are now leaders in that movement.

His capacity for work was legendary. Within a day's time, he might attend a City Council hearing, work on the plumbing of a ReSTOC building, help an old man get off a park bench and into the shelter of the Drop Inn, write a poem, and do the notes for the next day's meeting. He lived very simply, in an apartment on Race Street, owned little, and cared nothing for fashion or show. As Jack Gray said at the memorial after buddy's death, "He feared no man. He took nothing and he served everyone. He worked to feed the hungry, free the captive, and heal the sick." Many people are alive and living healthy lives today because the work of buddy gray. He earned, thereby, the respect and love of many.

RIP, buddy. Thanks for reminding us that all of us has the power to change the status quo. For reminding us that we are all human, we are all created equal. And as such, we are all equally deserving of the dignity and respect that comes with having food on the table and a place to call home.

Let us not rest until this is achieved. 

[Picture: From the buddy gray Memorial Fund.]