We Are The Change That We Seek

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-01-20 03:25:00 UTC
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"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." -President-elect Obama in a speech following Super Tuesday results

Today, a former community organizer from the South Side of Chicago will take the oath of office to become the leader of the free world.

But that's not what has me so excited today.

No, Obama's inauguration today is much bigger than one man. His story, his campaign, and his message reinforce an empowering message: that change starts with us.

Obama's inauguration today is not just about Obama. It is about how we as a nation came together to take our country back. To bring our country back to a place where we are respected in the world. Back to place where we lift each other up in the spirit of unity, service, and community. Back to a place that we can be proud of.

There's a great deal of work ahead, and Obama has made it clear during the campaign that he can't do it alone. We are in the midst of a recession, foreclosure crisis, rising unemployment, and war. The challenges we face are not easy, but they are not insurmountable. Now, more than ever, young people are engaged. They are ready to sacrifice, ready to serve, ready to stand up and fight for what is right, and ready for a new era of civic engagement.

Just as we identify with our leaders, we identify with the places we live. Housing is connected to all that we do, all that we are. Housing keeps us safe, healthy, and rooted our communities. It's connected to our schooling, our social networks, and even our opportunities in life. And so the implications of NOT being housed, of not having a home, are devastating.

This is why it is my hope that housing remains in the forefront of all of our minds during the first 100 days of Obama's presidency. Homelessness does not have to be a given in America. If we have the will to end it, then every human in America can have a place to call home.

The eyes of the world are on Obama as he moves into public housing.

(Now this is where "we" come in.)

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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