General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Unbearable Whiteness of the American Left [View all]hopemountain
(3,919 posts)is that true grassroots includes and recognizes every individual - regardless of color or age or abilities - as someone who has a voice AND something worthy to contribute to one's community.
this is the training president obama and mrs. obama received working in community in chicago. it is training which comes straight out of northwestern university's Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) program from the 80's and 90's to the early 2000's.
the ABCD model really works and was the basis for the many community development block grants which spread across the country.
it was intentionally very easy to apply for community block grants for trainings and work with grassroots communities so that community group leaders could apply. the majority of community group leaders are primarily volunteers or hold other full time jobs - and were, for example, working with other community volunteers to develop safer neighborhoods or ways to build community.
unfortunately, as seen in austin, SOME people saw these grants as opportunities for easy money fit for use only by persons in authority or "the good ol' boys and girls". these people will never "get it" about asset based community development. they do not care to because they cannot abide by grassroots folks having power or self directing their communities to a better life.