SANTA CRUZ > Local nonprofit plans community meetings on the economy
“Doing something constructive always makes us feel much better about this mess in which we find ourselves, currently, in this nation,” says John French, founder of local nonprofit Article V for Our Children’s Future.
The organization looks to put heads together in Santa Cruz County, with the goal of discussing recent news in Washington, D.C. related to the declining job market in the United States. French hopes to make progress on the creation of jobs by bringing the community’s thoughts together with local and regional congressional representatives and economic experts.
To accomplish this, French is planning a series of virtual town hall meetings. Dubbed “e-town hall” meetings, the events will consist of Internet-based video conferences that will be taped in the Community Television Studio and streamed live online. Meetings will include a call-in number to help with widespread audience participation. French says the meetings will focus on subtopics of the main issue–like the best ways to create jobs–and will aim to reach a consensus among participants, representatives, experts, and citizens of the county regarding next moves.
But before the organization sets about planning these town halls, they want to feel out the community’s interest and gauge a predicted level of involvement in the meetings. The proposed e-meetings would take place on Saturdays or Sundays during the months of August and September in order to play to the congressional recess, when representatives should be back in their home districts.
“We believe that our children’s and grandchildren’s future in America is at risk and we must all take action, immediately,” says French, adding that those who are interested in participating in the series can contact him at
av*************@co*****.net
. He requests that people include their city or community of residence when writing to him.
More information about the organization can be found at articlev4ourchildren.nationbuilder.com.
