Grassroots influence grows

The Orange County Organizing Committee should serve as a voice for local residents, members said.

Officials said the nonpartisan group, which now is focusing its efforts on issues such as finding a location for a new waste transfer station, is increasingly becoming a political force in Orange County.

“Their efforts to educate people will have an enormous difference,” said Chapel Hill Town Council member Mark Kleinschmidt. “I think they’re going to show people that they can stand up for themselves.”

The organizing committee, which aims to increase Orange County residents’ influence on local politics, formed in January 2007.

The group is made up of 27 churches and nonprofit organizations and runs on funds from member institutions.

At a recent Assembly of Governments meeting, Mark Davidson, pastor of Chapel Hill’s Church of Reconciliation and one of the organizing committee’s clergy leaders, told local officials that the group hopes to represent county residents and promote their needs.

“Our goal is to be a respected and influential voice at the negotiating table whenever critical public issues are being decided in our county and to be a voice of the people, especially those whose voices have not been heard,” Davidson said.

Six research action teams within the organization tackle specific issues, including health care, living wages, affordable housing, immigrant families, education and environmental justice.

Current Orange County Organizing Committee efforts center on helping find a location for a waste transfer station­ that isn’t in the Rogers-Eubanks neighborhood and working with Glen Lennox residents on the matter of affordable housing.

“We are looking to make changes to the root causes of problems facing people in our community,” steering committee member Tish Galu said, adding that the group hopes to grow. “We are planning to be fully representative of Orange County.”

Committee members hold house meetings and focus groups with county residents, conduct delegate assemblies — meetings between leaders of member organizations — and initiate one-on-one meetings with local officials to discuss community issues.

Leaders said the group has the potential to make a lasting impact in Orange County because it addresses multiple issues facing county residents.

Local elected officials said the organization offers a new perspective on local politics, which leads to more informed decision-making.

And Kleinschmidt said the nonpartisan group could be a vehicle for change.

But others said the group’s future impact remains unforeseen.

“It’s too soon to tell,” Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman said.

The next meeting of delegates from member organizations will be Oct. 29 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill.

At the meeting, U.S. Rep. David Price (D-NC) and regional religious leaders will address issues ranging from immigrant family treatment to homeland security.



Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.