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Coordinator:
Dave Claxton (202) 861-0222
POWER
TO THE P.E.N.
CBTU has always been on the cutting edge of progressive politics in America.
The Coalition's approach is built on forming flexible alliances with national
and community-based allies to achieve common political goals. We know
political leadership with a top-down command style can't sustain political
movements in today's fluid culture. We and our coalition partners are
developing a new, dynamic model for African American political participation.
The
Political Empowerment Network (PEN) is CBTU's
vehicle for political participation. The process goes beyond motivating
voters to turnout on election day; it must also empower communities
by tapping their strengths, responding to their local needs and allocating
sufficient resources to maximize their participation. Through PEN, cadres
of political activists in unions and communities across the nation can
collaborate on creative, winning strategies and hold elected officials
accountable to African American voters.
The
long range goal of CBTU's political action program is to increase minority
representation in Congress, among statewide officeholders, the elected
judiciary, and on county commissions, in city halls and on local school
boards. With increased political representation and sustained activism,
we can leverage real control over political, economic and judicial decisions
that directly impact African Americans and other minority communities.
Political Action
CBTU implements effective nonpartisan voter education and voter mobilization
campaigns through the following coordinated activities:
- Conducting
voter registration drives
- Educating
voters through the distribution of leaflets, phone banks, or PSA's
- Recruiting
volunteers for political campaigns
- Training
union and community activists to plan and coordinate get-out-the-vote
operations
- Building
progressive coalitions with churches, civil rights and social justice
organizations, and community groups
- Targeting
key precincts, states or congressional districts with minority populations
for non-partisan voter education and mobilization activity
- Developing
messages that will motivate minority voters to use their power on election
day
- Organizing
town hall meetings or issue forums
- Electing
black trade unionists as delegates to the national nominating conventions
of the major political parties
- Encouraging
more minority union activists to run for public office
- Electing
progressive candidates to public office
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