Volume 36 Number 4
Plus … ANNUAL MEETING PREPARATION MATERIALS August 25-27 at General Butler Park • Proposed platform • Nominations for statewide leaders • Registration form • Program and keynote speaker • What to bring
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Lexington, Ky. Permit No. 513
ACTIONS ACROSS THE STATE • Speaking out for health care • Organizing for tax justice • Winning on affordable housing • Moving beyond mining’s impacts • Expanding our organizing strategy • Sustaining the movement … and much more inside!
July 26, 2017
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Kentuckians For The Commonwealth P.O. Box 1450 London, Ky. 40743
balancing the
PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE HEARING #HEAROURHEALTH P e oP le ’ s e m e r g e n c y H e a l tH c a r e H e a r i n g #H e a r our H e a l tH
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is a statewide grassroots social justice orga nization working for a new balance of power and a just society. KFTC uses direct-action organizing to accomplish the following goals: • foster democratic values • change unjust institutions • empower individuals • overcome racism and other discrimination • communicate a message of what’s possible • build the organization • help people participate • win issues that affect the common welfare • have fun KFTC membership dues are $15 to $50 per year, based on ability to pay. No one is denied membership because of inability to pay. Membership is open to anyone who is committed to equality, democracy and nonviolent change.
KFTC Steering Committee Elizabeth Sanders, chairperson Meta Mendel-Reyes, vice chairperson Homer White, secretary-treasurer Ryan Fenwick, at-large member Dana Beasley Brown, immediate past chair Chapter Representatives Charly Sholty, Big Sandy Sarah Bowling, Central Kentucky Kimberly Shepherd, Harlan County Robby Olivam, Jefferson County Lillian Prosperino, Letcher County Jonah Cabiles, Madison County JoAnn Schwartz, Northern Kentucky Russell Oliver, Perry County Chris Merritt, Rowan County Leslie Bebensee, Scott County Shane Ashford, Shelby County Laura Harper, Southern Kentucky Leah Bayens, Wilderness Trace Alternates: Kim Walters, Big Sandy; Sharon Murphy, Central Kentucky; Roy Farley, Harlan County; Diane Guenthner, Jefferson County; Eric Dixon, Letcher County; Wendy Warren, Madison County; Serena Owen, Northern Kentucky; Randall Wilson, Perry County; Allie Secor, Rowan County; Clare White, Scott County; Nancy Reinhart, Shelby County; Jeanie Smith, Southern Kentucky; Barbara Farley, Wilderness Trace
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Table of Contents Executive Committee Corner: Cooperatives work as a Just Transition model ............... 3 KFTC News Organizer Apprentice program to build grassroots power .................................................... 4 Introducing KFTC’s 13 new organizer apprentices ................................................................. 5-6 Sustaining Givers campaign................................................................................................................ 7 Steering Committee thanks members, plans for gathering.................................................. 26 KFTC Calendar of Events..................................................................................................................... 27 Sustaining Giver stories ..................................................................................................................... 28 Economic Justice KFTC and allies working across the state for health care ....................................................8-9 Members building the case for progressive tax reform . ........................................................ 10 KFTC members being heard across the state on tax justice ................................................. 11 House Democrats introduce a progressive tax reform bill ..................................................... 11 Member Commentary: Municipalism ideas take hold at Fearless Cities Summit ........ 12 Local Updates – Building Grassroots Power Victory! Louisville affordable housing program fully funded ............................................... 17 Wilderness Trace continues successful Barn Bash gatherings ............................................ 18 Deep conversations around taxes happening in Bowling Green neighborhoods ........ 18 Coal and Water Sturgill: Creating a future for the mountains after mining .................................................... 19 We need a strong EPA ........................................................................................................................ 19 Reflections following the mountaintop removal hearing .................................................... 20 2017 Annual Membership Meeting Proposed 2017-18 Platform ........................................................................................................... 13-16 2017 annual meeting set for August 25-27 at General Butler Park .................................... 21 Annual meeting program .................................................................................................................. 22 Annual meeting registration form ..... ........................................................................................... 23 Nominations for KFTC Executive Committee . .......................................................................... 24 Nominations for Kentucky Coalition board ... ............................................................................ 25 Cover: Scenes from the People’s Emergency Health Care Hearing – Ann Ross and Chris Woolery interviewed by Lexington TV station (upper left, then clockwise); Patty Amburgey and other eastern Kentuckians during the black lung hour; Serena Owen during a panel with northern Kentuckians; children in Jefferson County who deserve health care and will benefit most from a health society. Story on pages 8-9.
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Balancing the Scales | 3
executive committee corner
Cooperatives work as a Just Transition economic model By Ryan Fenwick O n Ju n e 1 0 i n Lexington, the Central Kentucky KFTC Chapter hosted Elizabeth Jones for a workshop on starting cooperatives. It was nice to see a dance studio full of excited Lexingtonians interested in cooperatives as a means for economic development, personal employment and filling service gaps in their communities. Elizabeth and I appreciated the hospitality and were happy to share a little about the practical aspects of starting a cooperative. Cooperatives are businesses owned and operated by patrons. That means in a grocery co-op, shoppers own the business. In an electric co-op, bill payers are the owners. In a worker co-op, workers are the owners (the co-op’s purpose is providing work for the workers). When patrons are decision makers, there’s a good chance they will consider broader implications. Workerowners can agree to work around each other's schedules and obligations, set prices after fairly assessing their financial situation, and are free to donate profits to the community. Rural electric cooperatives can take into account the common good and finance energy improvements. Grocery cooperatives can buy local, hire local and make sure everyone who works there has a good job.
Through the long legacy of co-ops, organizers have valued the principle of cooperation among cooperatives. This means co-ops buy from co-ops where possible to foster a strong local business climate made up of businesses sharing community minded principles. Cooperatives flourish in some parts of the nation, but for me at 32 I've shopped with next to no cooperatives in my entire life. I grew up in a house that was powered by a rural electric cooperative. I’ve met worker-owners of Mountain Tech Media, a Whitesburg media cooperative offering a broad range of technology and media services. Another is an old army barracks down the street in Louisville, owned by residents who pay a one-time membership fee and enjoy low rent and excellent community facilities afterwards. There are various art galleries, a grocery in Lexington, a co-op for new mothers in Louisville, and probably a few others. It was meaningful for me to be hosted by a KFTC chapter because I started thinking seriously about cooperatives at a workshop hosted by KFTC at the annual meeting probably three years ago. Before that I’d basically only heard the word despite having a couple years of law and a year of urban planning school behind me. A few months later KFTC offered me a ride to Jackson, MS, to attend a conference hosted by Cooperation Jackson to strategize about the launch of a visionary cooperative development strategy across the city. That conference was what tipped me off to the real potential of cooperatives as a tool for economic development. Cooperation Jackson called for an education and training center, a cooperative incubator, and a federation
what does it mean to be a kftc member? • You’re part of a community of people who share a vision for Kentucky. • You get to impact issues that are important to you. You’ll receive informa tion, training and opportunities to speak directly with decision makers. • You get to amplify your voice and build New Power. Working together, we can do so much more than any of us can do alone.
• You get fellowship and fun with others who share your values.
of cooperative businesses. In their own words from their website: “The broad mission of Cooperation Jackson is to advance the development of economic democracy in Jackson, Mississippi by building a solidarity economy anchored by a network of cooperatives and other types of worker-owned and democratically self-managed enterprises.” The workshop's tone was heavily impacted by the death of Chokwe Lumumba, a community leader universally respected by everyone from Jackson at the conference. After eight months in office Lumumba died suddenly, interrupting the organization’s plans based on the strong support of the city’s executive. Lumumba’s achievements were exceptional. He served as vice-president of the Republic of New Afrika and later Minister of Justice. With support of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, he was elected to Jackson city council prior to winning a runoff primary and being elected mayor. Despite his death, Cooperation Jackson was determined to press on. The movement seemed right then. Even though it was ambitious, it made sense both ethically and strategically, borrowing carefully from international lessons learned. I've run into Cooperation Jackson folks since and they have always had a lot of success to report. Recently, Jackson has been in the news with the election of their new mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the son of Chokwe Lumumba. As we're looking for a Just Transition to a new economy, I hope Kentuckians will consider how cooperatives and cooperative principles can inform local economic development and individual choices. People considering opening a business should consider whether a cooperative will work. Kentucky has a modern cooperative statute and an old fashioned statute for people to work with. Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of support for education or incubation for would-be founders and co-ops. Hopefully this is something that will change sometime soon. Balancing the Scales is published by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and mailed third class from Lexington, Kentucky. Reader contri butions and letters to the editor should be sent to P.O. Box 864, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653 or jhardt@kftc.org. Subscriptions are $20/yr.
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
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KFTC NEWS
Organizer Apprentice program to build grassroots power KFTC has a strong foundation of using a proven set of strategies to build power and achieve change. Regardless of the political landscape, those strategies – combined with KFTC’s vision and values – drive KFTC’s work. Members and staff build power through grassroots organizing, leadership development, strategic communications, voter empowerment, strong local chapters and alliances. KFTC is intentionally multiissue, recognizing the connectedness of many issues. In the wake of last November’s election, many members were left reeling, feeling unsure what this new political reality meant not just for KFTC’s work ahead but also what an impact it would have on many targeted and vulnerable people. In December, the KFTC Steering Committee convened a leadership summit. More than 70 grassroots leaders from across the state reflected on what happened in the election and why, analyzed threats and opportunities, considered what it will take to turn things around, and what all that means for KFTC’s work. A clear and resounding message coming from KFTC leaders that day was that more organizing and more leadership development are needed in Kentucky. To build the durable, resilient, strategic grassroots power it
will take to achieve KFTC’s shared 14th starting later this summer, vision for Kentucky, a significantly more than doubling KFTC’s Meet KFTC’s new organizer expanded base of leaders and more apprentices on the the next page. previous organizing staff of 12. relationships with newly engaged This program is a 19-month, onKentuckians would have to happen. the-job training program, with apprentices completely This includes women, youth, workers and retired integrated into the staff team (full salary and benefits) people, low-income folks and people of color to build so they may focus on learning new skills and gaining local grassroots political power capable of holding elected hands-on organizing experience. leaders accountable. Apprentices will focus a significant portion of their Originally approved by the Steering Committee time on the ground, expanding KFTC’s reach and as a six-person cohort, the Community Organizer building a larger, deeper movement of Kentuckians Apprentice Program expanded – with input and approval taking action for justice. Many folks newly activated from the Executive and Steering committees – to be a by the political landscape and/or directly impacted by 14-person cohort after an overwhelmingly qualified policies are looking for opportunities to organize around candidate pool emerged. issues they care about and that affect their communities. This decision to expand the program was done “I think this is going to be a great opportunity thoughtfully and deliberately: hiring this number of for people to gain some experiences that will not only apprentices would allow the program to meet its goals of enable them to enrich the life of KFTC but to also really building grassroots power while also placing apprentices enrich the lives of people in our commonwealth,” said in positions that highlight their strengths and increase Leah Bayens, Steering Committee representative from their chances of success. the Wilderness Trace chapter. It also is a big financial commitment, utilizing a Apprentices will organize across the broad spectrum one-time two-year grant and also requiring increased of KFTC’s Program of Work, including economic, grassroots fundraising goals. racial and environmental justice; voting rights and voter By June 1, 13 apprentices were on staff, with the empowerment; and working for a Just Transition.
Apprentice cohort begins with retreat KFTC held a training retreat June 1-3 to welcome 13 new Organizer Apprentices to the staff. The retreat was the first time the apprentices were together as a team. The atmosphere was very enthusiastic as the apprentices brought high spirits and a readiness to engage in the work and with each other. At the start of the first training session, folks introduced themselves to and talked about “their people” and places where they draw inspiration. Angel Hill, an organizer apprentice based in London, said, “I like to be with eastern Kentucky folks. People who sound like me.” Becky Jones, an apprentice based in Jefferson County who had spent some time outside of the state, noted, “When I was away, I was reminded that Kentuckians are my people.” After introductions and a brief orientation to the apprentice program and KFTC’s work, the cohort had a conversation among themselves about what it is going to take to successfully organize in this moment. The conversation was very engaged. Throughout the discussion, each apprentice, but even moreso the team as a whole, demonstrated the skills, insights and energy they bring to KFTC.
“We have to make everyone passionate about what’s going on. Let folks know that we’re in a pivotal point in history,” said Aubrey Clemons, an apprentice based in Jefferson County. Laura Harper, based in Bowling Green, added, “It’ll take creating a sense of community and sharing our stories. That’s really important.” Jonah Cabiles, based in London, noted the energy emerging across the state. He noted, “There’s energy in our communities. We have to build opportunities for that energy.” Sharon Murphy noted that apprentices should be mindful while organizing. “We live in silos. Our work has to be about breaking down those silos.” Reflecting on reaching out to new folks, Lesley Garrett said, “We need to hear people and make them feel special from a place of love and from our vision.” The weekend retreat sought to build relationships among the apprentices and their coaches, ground the newly launched program in KFTC’s vision and approach
to change, and to build a shared understanding of why KFTC is focusing on this program in this particular moment in the organization’s history. By the end of the retreat, the apprentices felt the retreat was a success on each of those counts. During the May Steering Committee meeting, the committee approved expanding the Organizer Apprentice Program to 14 apprentices. Another apprentice will be joining the cohort and staff in August.
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Balancing the Scales | 5
KFTC NEWS
Introducing KFTC’s 13 new organizer apprentices The eastern Kentucky apprentices will staff the five chapters in that part of the state and help KFTC grow its presence in other parts of the region. They’re based in the London office. Jonah Cabiles is a graduate of Berea College and a former KFTC steering committee representative for the Madison County chapter. As a member of KFTC, he has worked on issues around racial justice, immigration rights, LGBT fairness and voter engagement. Jonah will be Jonah Cabiles working in eastern Kentucky around New Energy and Transition and is excited to support eastern Kentuckians in shaping just and sustainable communities. He lives in Berea and enjoys hiking. Angel Hill grew up in Corbin and moved to Richmond in 2014. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in December with a degree in Sociology. During her time at EKU, she minored in Appalachian Studies, which drove her passion to work back home in southeastern Kentucky after graduating. She is Angel Hill excited to have the opportunity to work in an area that she loves and cares about, and to continue working toward a Just Transition! Jacob Mack-Boll’s people are from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he first became politicized and introduced to organizing as a young person grappling with the Iraq war. From there he could never quite go back, and has been grateful to learn from incredible groups working toward change for everything from jail expansion to LGBTQ Jacob Mack-Boll issues in faith communities, from mountaintop removal to militarism, and wage theft to local foods. Jacob graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a degree in Peacebuilding and Development. He is thrilled to join the team at KFTC after several rewarding years working at the Hindman Settlement School. He lives in Knott County.
The western Kentucky apprentices will help staff the Southern Kentucky and Western Kentucky chapters and help KFTC grow a presence in other parts of that region. They’re based in the Bowling Green office.
Lesley Garrett
Lesley is a Paducah native with a passion for social sustainability. Currently working on a Bachelor of Science Degree in Liberal Arts at Murray State University, she hopes to meld academic theory with accessible action steps toward a fair democracy. Along with studying, Lesley has volunteered with nonprofits across Haiti, interned with the city of Paducah Planning Department, and worked at the McCracken County Public Library. In her free time, Lesley can usually be found taking analog photos or hanging out with her chickens and golden collie, Aria.
Alex is a recent graduate of Western Kentucky University with a degree in Sociology and Criminology. She has been learning about and participating in community organizing for a couple of years, and it is something that she is very, very passionate about. She Alex Goldsmith is incredibly excited about this apprenticeship and helping to build new, empowered leaders to assist in making the future happier, healthier and fair.
Laura is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and has been a member of KFTC for a year and a half. She served on Laura Harper the Steering Committee and Economic Justice Committee and is especially interested in housing issues. She feels that engaging the arts is a critical part of KFTC’s organizing strategy. She lives in Bowling Green with her fiancée, dog and two cats.
James Line grew up in the Louisville area and has lived in Bowling Green for the past four years. A graduate of Western Kentucky University with a degree in Political Science and minors in History and Journalism Writing, James has been active in the Southern Kentucky chapter of KFTC, focusing on issues such as housing justice, LGBT fairness and voter empowerment. In the summer of 2016 he interned with the ACLU of Kentucky. A fan of dogs, pasta and Star Wars, James is thrilled to continue his work with KFTC as an Organizer Apprentice.
James Line
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
6 | Balancing the Scales
KFTC NEWS
Introducing KFTC’s 13 new organizer apprentices The Tax Justice apprentices are helping to engage members and new constituencies around the tax justice campaign. They are based in Lexington. Tayna Fogle is a mother of two young men, a grandmother of eight and a basketball player extraordinaire. In order to stand up for the issues important to her family, she bravely defended against harsh drug sentencing policies and navigated bureaucratic mazes to regain her right to vote. Tayna has created re-entry programs, trainings and ministries in many Kentucky counties, and is a motivational speaker. She has empowered others for 11 years as a KFTC volunteer, working on campaigns for the right to vote. She is a former felon who paid her debt to society. She was the captain of a SEC championship basketball team at the University of Kentucky in 1982. She also is a former drug abuser and spent several years in Tayna Fogle prison. She believes that her story has inspired and motivated many to take part in this movement of restoring an individual’s self esteem, dignity and self respect.
Sharon Murphy
Sharon Murphy grew up in North Lexington. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Kentucky and received her Master of Public Policy, with a concentration in Social Policy, from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Sharon moved to Ohio, where she became a Spring 2014 Fellow for the Organizing for Action campaign on educating and enrolling people for the Affordable Care Act. After returning to Lexington in August 2014, she became a Voter Empowerment Organizer for KFTC. Sharon recently completed two statewide programs, Emerge Kentucky and New Leaders Kentucky. She also is a tutor at Nerd Squad, a STEM outreach organization dedicated to inspiring the next great minds by bringing to life STEM activities.
Based in Lexington, two apprentices work with the Central Kentucky chapter. DeBraun Thomas is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area who moved to Lexington in 2008. After graduating from the UK in 2012, he began working at Lexington's NPR station, WUKY. History and storytelling are big passions of his, and he was able to do both in producing The Unghosting of Medgar Evers (2012) and a documentary on the March on Frankfort (2013). Speaking out on social issues is something he's felt is his duty as a person of color. In 2016 DeBraun founded the Take Back Cheapside Movement, a coalition of various organizing groups with the goal of removing confederate statues located at Cheapside, the site of a former slave market in Lexington. DeBraun also spends his time writing and performing music. DeBraun Thomas
Meredith Wadlington was born and raised in Memphis, but her Kentucky roots are in Bowling Green, where she became a KFTC member with the SOKY Meredith Wadlington chapter in 2008. A proud Hilltopper for life, Meredith studied English and Social Justice at Western Kentucky University. In 2016 she moved to Lexington and began producing the KFTC podcast “Power To The People” on Lexington Community Radio. She loves long-distance running, thoughtful media, and togetherness. Check out the podcast at kftc.org/powertothepeople.
The Integrated Voter Engagement apprentice helps staff voting and democracy work, and support local organizing. He is based in Louisville. Aubrey Clemons is a Louisville native who decided to dedicate his life to social justice in 2010. Since then Aubrey has launched a boxing program for urban teenagers, was awarded grants for programs he wrote to promote healthy living and community enrichment, published two Aubrey Clemons nonfiction novels, and volunteered with several local nonprofits. After connecting with KFTC at a community event he attended hosted by the Network For Community Change, Aubrey made KFTC his home base for social justice and empowerment. KFTC invited Aubrey to attend several seminars, trainings in facilitation, deep canvassing, lobbying, fundraising and voter empowerment. While working with KFTC he and fellow founders started the Smoketown based nonprofit “Hope by Hope.”
Based in Louisville, Becky staffs the Shelby County chapter and works with statewide campaigns. Becky Jones grew up in Louisville and is excited for the chance to join KFTC's staff as an Organizer Apprentice. They studied History and Political Becky Jones Science at Oberlin College and have spent time living in Philadelphia working as an outdoor educator. Becky spends their free time hiking, climbing, practicing Capoeira and staying up late dreaming of communities built on love, mutual care and resource sharing.
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Balancing the Scales | 7
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8 | Balancing the Scales
Economic Justice
KFTC and allies working across the state for health care Kentucky has benefitted more than any other state in the country from the expansion of health care under the Affordable Care Act. Yet Kentucky’s political leaders – especially U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and Governor Matt Bevin – are at the forefront of efforts to unravel and cut funding for essential health care. They are advancing proposals at the federal and state level designed to make health care inaccessible to more than 20 million people, including hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. Kentucky’s other U.S. senator, Rand Paul, also is playing a very problematic role. While he currently opposes McConnell’s health care legislation that dismantled the Affordable Care Act, he wants policies that would be even more extreme. “As an activist and parent of children with disabilities, I am concerned that [congressional proposals] put at risk expanded Medicaid that helps individuals with disabilities and desperate families, including parents taking care of children with disabilities,” explained Serena Owen, a KFTC member in northern Kentucky. “Health care is about caring for people, not economics and not politics,” added Bev May, a Floyd County KFTC member and nurse. “But Sen. Mitch McConnell has tried to shut people out of decision making about our health care system. It is so encouraging to see so many Kentuckians speaking up for our right to health care.” Throughout June and July, KFTC members, along with scores of ally organizations and concerned individuals, have been speaking out, sharing health care stories, and showing up at actions and demonstrations to protect health care. Recent actions included a 25-hour People’s Emergency Health Care Hearing, demonstrations in cities and small towns (including Glasgow, Elizabethtown, Paducah, Bowling Green, Louisville, Lexington and Covington, where Senator McConnell and Vice President Mike Pence appeared at private events), demonstrating at Senate offices, and attending large public events hosted by Rep. John Yarmuth and Senator Bernie Sanders. KFTC members and other concerned Kentuckians also made their voices heard in many national media stories, including radio, television, print and online. While changing McConnell’s position is not a likely outcome, KFTC’s efforts are focused on organizing and building grassroots power for the long term. Demonstrating strong public opposition in McConnell’s home state also contributes to the national campaign to stop the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act. And
engaging thousands of Kentuckians who are concerned about health care can change Kentucky politics and create conditions for positive changes in 2018 and beyond. The People’s Emergency Health Care Hearing K F TC ’s 2 5 - h o u r Pe o p l e’s Emergency Health Care Hearing was one of many creative actions held in the final days of June when McConnell was seeking support for a vote on his health KFTC members in western Kentucky (above) and northern care proposal. In the face of no public Kentucky participated in actions to defend quality and afhearings on his bill, KFTC organized fordable health care for all people. a marathon session of conversations among diverse groups of Kentuckians about their health care concerns. The entire event was broadcast live on Facebook and KFTC’s website. More than 140 people from Pikeville to Paducah took part in this action as panelists or hosts. The live broadcast had more than 33,000 views, and hundreds more have listened to recordings. The program included one-hour segments on a range of important health care topics, including racial justice, Medicaid expansion and proposed cuts, and mental health and addiction recovery. There was a youth panel, a new moms panel, with Senator Bernie Sanders. and a panel of widows and miners affected by black lung Dozens of KFTC members spoke out during two disease. recent public hearings on Governor Bevin’s proposal to Some hours featured guests from a specific region radically change the state’s Medicaid rules in ways that of the state, including sessions in eastern Kentucky, will push 95,000 Kentuckians off that health insurance Paducah, Covington, Bowling Green, Louisville, program. Lexington, Madison and Shelby counties, and more. Guests included health care providers and advocates, Bevin’s Medicaid Proposal policy makers, and many Kentuckians whose health and access to health care are at risk. In a hearing in Frankfort, members representing In the week following the People’s Emergency KFTC, Kentuckians for Single Payer and the Kentucky Health Care Hearing, KFTC members worked with Council of Churches came from Scott County, Louisville, allies to organize rapid-response demonstrations in Madison County, Lexington and as far as Floyd County many locations around the state, including when Vice to oppose the governor’s proposal. President Mike Pence made an appearance at a private Clare White of Scott County told the commission event in Lexington. how “deeply grateful” she’s been to have coverage that KFTC member Serena Owen also had the impacts her ability to find and keep a job, as well as the opportunity to share her health care story and speak necessity of access to mental health coverage. continued on next page from the stage at a large forum in northern Kentucky
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Balancing the Scales | 9
Economic Justice
KFTC and allies working across the state for health care
continued from previous page Bev May, who came from Floyd County for the hearing, spoke to the “issue of forcing people to work as volunteers to pay for the health care that is their human right. It seems to me the architects of this proposal don’t know Kentucky’s uninsured very well. If they did, they would realize that the majority of the pre-ACA uninsured worked, often at two jobs to cobble together an income from low-wage employers who rarely offer full-time jobs or group health coverage. “The whole notion of requiring 20 hours of work or volunteer time a week is insulting to Kentucky’s workers, and the concept of compelling unpaid labor for benefits does not meet the definition of volunteerism, but of slavery.” At the hearing in Somerset, KFTC gathered Kentuckians from Breathitt, Bowling Green, Lexington and as far away as Lawrence County to oppose the proposed changes to Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Erin Grace, a member from Rockcastle County, said
she thought that “the people that support this waiver are just looking at the money and see this as a set of hoops they can put in place that are likely going to cause people to not utilize services, so it’s gonna save money.” Lisa Goldy from Bowling Green reflected on the hearing, noting that the panel for the hearing was not communicating these changes in simple terms. “They briefly overviewed this very complex change in policy that took them a long time to articulate. It was very hard to read in a PowerPoint presentation. And to think that that was going to be some type of a systematic easy change – it was just adding more layers of bureaucracy to an already complex system. “I think it was obvious when questions couldn’t be answered by the panel that this isn’t going to be that simple of a waiver process,” Goldy pointed out. Kristina Brant from Breathitt County underscored the absurdity of the requirement for some Medicaid recipients to perform mandatory volunteer work, especially for people living in rural Kentucky. “This idea that compelling people to do community service or mulch a garden as a way to promote selfsufficiency is kind of funny. Twenty hours of work, if you are living in a rural county like Breathitt, could take you an hour to get to the county seat for each of those days each way, so that comes out to maybe The People’s Emergency Health Care Hearing included a panel for moms. 30 hours a week “Had I not had health insurance, I never would have had the blood work done that allowed me to discover that I have a rare form of cancer.”
just to get health care is a funny thought. It’s so sad it’s funny.” Despite the governor’s indifference, Brant added that seeing people from all across Kentucky voicing the same concerns over the proposed changes to the Medicaid program made her feel optimistic. As this article goes to print, McConnell has just been successful at winning a procedural vote on his health care bill in the Senate. That 51-50 vote (a tie was broken by Vice President Mike Pence) allows debate and amendments on the bill to proceed. Later that day (July 25), the Senate voted down McConnell’s version of the “Better Care Reconciliation Act” that several Republican senators had previously rejected as too severe (and a few other senators, like Kentucky’s Rand Paul, considered not draconian enough). McConnell has taken an unprecedented move of canceling the first two weeks of the Senate’s August recess to try to push through his health care bill. Right now is a critical time to make one’s voice heard. Two important steps to take are: »» Visit hearourhealth.org to sign up, find phone numbers for senate offices, get many other resources and learn the latest actions needed. »» Submit public comments to Governor Bevin opposing his proposal to make radical changes to our Medicaid program that will push 95,000 Kentuckians off their coverage. Learn more at hearourhealth.org.
“For elected officials in eastern Kentucky, to me, this is a no-brainer. You’ve got to come and support a healthier life of constituents … If you’re not going to stand up for good things for your community, you ought not to be in politics.”
"Everyone’s affected by this, but especially lowincome communities and communities of color."
– Rep. Chris Harris
– Ondine Quinn, Lexington
– Tamara Schull, Frankfort “With this proposal, we are going back more than 5 years. We are going back maybe 50 years on our health care progress.”
"Prior to ACA, there was just not treatment for addiction. The effects were far reaching. With treatment, parents are getting sober, getting their children and jobs back. Before ACA, they just fell further into addiction."
– Jason Bailey, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
– Sheri Lyn Haas, Campton
10 | Balancing the Scales
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Economic Justice
Members building the case for progressive tax reform Statewide campaign also includes stopping governor’s regressive tax plan KFTC’s Campaign For Our CommonWealth is turning up the heat on Governor Matt Bevin and the Kentucky legislative leaders as they push for a special session on taxes and the pension funding crisis. To this point, the governor has not said when this special session will be or what exactly would be covered other than the general topics of taxes and pensions. KFTC members are taking this opening to blanket Kentucky with a progressive tax reform message, connecting with folks from all corners of the commonwealth about the need for tax reform that is rooted in justice, common sense, fairness and adequacy. “It’s truly inspiring to see so many Kentuckians coming together to ensure that our politicians work for the people they serve,” as Dylan Bogard of Madison County summed up recent efforts. “It’s been amazing to see people truly take the time to become informed of the evils and failures in the possible tax [plan] from Governor Bevin, and become mobilized so quickly. I can only imagine that our hard work and research will pay off, and the members of KFTC will have kept our beautiful commonwealth great.” On June 15, Southern Kentucky and Western Kentucky chapter members had an impromptu action in Paducah outside of Bevin’s ceremonial signing of SB 11 (a bill passed in the recent legislative session that opens up Kentucky to nuclear power plants). As Bevin entered the building for the signing, members lined the entrance with signs calling for fair and just tax reform. As he left the building, Bevin came out and spoke with the dozen or so folks in the action. Multiple media sources covered the interaction. Members are planning to have a visible presence at many other public appearances by Bevin. Western Kentucky members also are planning to apply pressure on Rep. Steve Rudy of Paducah who is the chair of the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee and will be the primary House leader working with the governor on drafting any tax bill. In northern Kentucky, members met with Rep. Kim Moser in June to ask her to oppose taxing groceries and prescription medications. Moser stated that “no one will tax medication.” She also said, “Groceries are
concerning, but what do you tax?” to hold strong against any tax on groceries, which he Members pressed her to learn if she was saying that quickly said he would fight against. Members also stressed she would support taxing groceries. Moser said she is a that they would willingly pay more taxes if it meant that solid no on taxing medicine but left herself wiggle room Kentucky kept its commitment to provide the promised to support taxing groceries. pension benefits to public employees. Northern Kentucky chapter members plan on “These public employees have served the people making sure Moser’s constituents know that she’s willing of Kentucky, some for their entire lives. We owe these to increase the cost of their groceries to pay for tax breaks people what they were promised and the governor needs for the wealthiest Kentuckians. to ensure that whatever happens with tax and pension, “With the high prices of food, I can’t believe Rep. that that promise is kept,” said Lynne Anderson. Moser would even think of raising taxes this way,” said Concern about tax justice is spreading to JoAnn Schwartz of Campbell County. communities with little to no KFTC prompts. Members from Scott County and the Wilderness At the request of Stan Holmes, president of the Trace chapters met with their House representatives Kentucky Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, on recently as well and got both to commit to oppose any July 12 KFTC staff presented the Campaign For Our tax bill that shifts to consumption-based taxes that CommonWealth to members of the Radcliff community disproportionately ask more from middle and low- (Hardin County). One participant in that presentation, income Kentuckians. also the commissioner of housing for Radcliff, stood and In Scott County, Rep. Phillip Pratt said he opposed clapped when the presentation described the structural taxing groceries and medicine and that “These economic racism and sexism built into the state’s tax code. development tax breaks for corporations need to have There are also efforts to support tax justice work in sunset clauses that are upheld.” He added that he would Owensboro, Hopkinsville, Ballard County and other “consider taxing some luxury services” like limo rides parts of the state. and golf course membership fees. In Boyle County, Rep. Daniel Elliott said, “If we don’t have a definitive plan first, I wouldn’t want to have a special session. They don’t work unless you have a plan.” He added that the legislature was not going to let the governor steer tax reform. “I don’t think a tax on groceries or prescriptions would pass,” Elliott said. “I would not be in favor of that change [shifting from income to sales taxes]. Members from both chapters will follow up these meetings to get their representatives to host town halls on tax reform. The Shelby County chapter worked with the Shelby County Western Kentucky members made sure Gov. Bevin knew of their NAACP to host a town hall with their presence and progressive vision for tax reform when he visited Representative Rob Rothenburger Paducah in June. The governor got to meet member Amanda on July 20. The event had more than Groves (right) and have a brief conversation on tax justice. His 50 local residents in attendance and received front page coverage in the visit was publicly announced only two days in advance (he was in Paducah for a ceremonial signing of a bill lifting a moratorium Shelbyville Sentinel-News. Attendees asked Rothenburger on nuclear power plants).
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Balancing the Scales | 11
economic justice
KFTC members being heard across the state on tax justice
Consumption-based tax plans shift more taxes to the poor and middle-class. Taxing food and medicine is not forward thinking and would not provide a steady steam of revenue for our struggling state! Five states including Kansas have tried this regressive tax shift and it has been a failure in all those states. We cannot afford to experiment with our children’s future in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations. Rosanne Klarer, Georgetown Letter to the editor
Kentucky gives away $12 billion per year in tax breaks and collects $10 billion per year in tax revenue. Quite a discrepancy. Thus, Gov. Bevin has sought advice from Arthur Laffer, who worked with former presidents Nixon and Reagan. Laffer was heavily involved in Kansas’ 2012 tax reform, a byproduct of which left Kansas in an active recession. Louisiana and North Carolina executed similar Laffer tax breaks and left both states in financial crisis. Excerpt from a letter to the editor by Rachel Newton of Florence
Meeting with Rep. Daniel Elliott (center) in Boyle County to discuss tax reform were KFTC members Anne Otieno, Daniel Morgan, Jim Porter, Margaret Gardiner and Leah Bayens (left to right).
Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan to shift Kentucky’s tax system to a consumption-based system by taxing groceries is profoundly unfair to the poor, who will lose the chance to save money. After all, children all need the same amount of calories in the beginning. Margaret Ricketts, Berea Letter to the editor
[T]he most obvious way to increase our revenue is cutting out the loopholes and breaks for the wealthy. Kentucky has a general fund in the area of $10 billion each year. It seems like a lot, until you see our Department of Revenue miss out on a potential $12 billion in giveaways to powerful interest groups. If our state representatives ever ignore their campaign donors, and instead listen to those too poor to afford a campaign contribution, our budget shortfall could be readily solved. Dan Martin, Owensboro Letter to the editor
Northern Kentucky chapter members Christy Walker (left) and Sister Joyce Moeller (right) met with Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser to discuss the need for fair and just tax reform. They are concerned about Rep. Moser’s openness to placing a sales tax on food.
House Democrats introduce a progressive tax reform bill Since the 2016 elections, KFTC and allies in the Kentucky Together Coalition have ramped up efforts to make sure Gov. Bevin does not have the majority he needs to pass regressive changes to Kentucky’s tax system during a special legislative session. Bevin has said he plans to call a special legislative session this year with the goal of lowering taxes for the wealthy and corporations and having everyone else pay for it though increased consumption taxes – possibly even putting a sales tax on groceries and medicine. Studies show that this plan would amount to a massive tax break for the top 5 percent of earners in Kentucky while increasing taxes on the remaining 95
percent. House Speaker Jeff Hoover has called all House members to Frankfort on August 16. While a reason wasn’t given, it may be to unveil the governor’s plans for the special session. More recently, Hoover has downplayed expectations that major tax changes will be part of the special session. A session may still be called to deal with the pension funding crisis. Almost all of the legislators KFTC members have been meeting with have expressed frustration that the governor is building up expectations for a special session on taxes when they have not seen any of the specifics.
Increased public awareness and pressure from KFTC’s organizing is beginning to cause cracks in the relationship between the governor and legislators. There is a growing chance that KFTC’s campaign goal of preventing the governor from finding majority support for his regressive tax changes may be achieved. Rep. Jim Wayne and seven other Democratic House members pre-filed a progressive tax reform bill (BR 15) in early July. KFTC members are working to get other legislators to sign on to this Kentucky Forward Plan as an alternative to Bevin’s regressive ideas. BR 15 provides the opportunity to have a positive solution for fixing Kentucky’s tax code take center stage.
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
12 | Balancing the Scales
Building Grassroots Power
Municipalism ideas take hold at Fearless Cities Summit By Chris Woolery When I was asked to go to Barcelona with Jake Gibbs to represent KFTC at the Fearless Cities International Municipalist Summit, the first thing I said was, “Heck yes!” Then I thought, “What the heck is municipalism?” So I did a bit of research, and learned that municipalism is a type of local governance that is based on freedom, self-organization and citizen ownership. That sounded great to me, and less than two weeks later I found myself joining over 600 people from 180 cities across the world to learn more about it. The best way that I can describe my experience there is to try to boil down the themes that stood out to me in my own words, and then include a few choice quotes from other attendees: Feminize politics: Politics doesn’t have to be dominated by rich, old, white men. Gender equality is a must in terms of institutional representation and public participation. Commit to public policies that challenge gender roles and break down patriarchy. Embrace doubts and contradictions and see where those conversations take us. Base politics on values and practices that emphasize real life, relationships, community and common good. “If you have free women, you have a free society.”
– Hazna Youseff, Rojava (autonomous region of Syria) Reclaim the commons: Organize communities around essential shared resources, protected from profit and governed democratically.
“I came away from this conference energized. While the sessions were great, the connections I made were even better. I was inspired to have met so many people from around the world that are involved in local political affairs and devoted to increasing local autonomy. Especially exciting are contacts I made with several city council members from across the U.S.” — Jake Gibbs
“If we want to defend the commons, we must imagine an alternate governance.” – Giuseppe Micciarelli, Naples Radical self-governance: Bring the power of the state back down to the local level and think big about what can be done in our communities. “Who is an expert? The most visible? Everyone is an expert in their neighborhood.” – Laura Pérez Castaño, Barcelona Participatory democracy: Power is the capacity to take action. Give people a direct voice in how resources are allocated in their own neighborhoods, and they will get involved. “Participatory budgeting helps folks see the commons as OURS.” – Brad Lander, New York, NY Proximity: Transnational politics begin in YOUR city. Global problems happen at local levels, and people care more about their own localities. “We have to figure out how to do participatory politics locally, or we can’t do it at all.” – unidentified speaker
Remunicipalize: Essential services must be run in the common interest of the people that they serve, not for the profit Jake Gibbs (left) and Chris Woolery at the Fearless Cities International of investors. 835 utility/ service organizations Municipalist Summit in Barcelona.
worldwide over the last decade have been remunicipalized, 267 of which were water utilities and 311 of which were electric utilities.
“The main reasons that communities municipalize essential services are to save money, create renewable energy, or move towards zero waste. In almost all cases, it’s better for workers and the services are cheaper.”– Claire Roumet, Brussels Smaller is better: Develop and retain power locally, but stand in solidarity with other municipalities and share best practices across the confederation of cities. “Big finance, big media, big business, and big government are generally not aligned with the people on the most important issues of our time.” – unidentified speaker I am so grateful for this profound experience, and I want to thank KFTC and the Chorus Foundation for making it happen. I’m especially excited to use my new-found access to this global activist movement, along with the information and best practices they’ve developed, to help further KFTC’s work in communities across the state. The fact that I became friends with Lexington City Council member Jake Gibbs along the way is just icing on the cake. Jake and I are already working together to apply the lessons we learned in ways that will make Lexington more democratic, livable and sustainable. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that I got to meet one of my personal sheroes – environmental activist and author Vandana Shiva – after her inspiring remarks during the closing plenary session. She summed up the spirit of the conference better than I ever could: “Insecurity is created. The entire economy is based on fear of scarcity, even though we can create abundance… Don’t live under the illusion that some leader somewhere will come and solve our problems. WE have to solve them.” – Vandana Shiva, Dehli
Let’s get to work!
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Balancing the Scales | 13
KFTC’s Proposed 2017-2018 Platform To be discussed and voted on at the Annual Business Meeting, August 27, 2017 I. What is the KFTC platform? The KFTC platform is a statement of KFTC’s public position on issues. It reflects important issues and concerns that have been identified by our membership over the years on which we’ve taken a position. If something is in the platform, chapters can engage in work on that issue. The platform is not our public vision or mission statement. It is an internal document used to help allow chapters and clusters of members to work in KFTC’s name on issues. II. What is the annual process for revising the platform? (a) At the chapter annual meetings in May and June, each chapter discussed the platform and made, if it chose to do so, recommendations to the Steering Committee. (b) The Steering Committee discussed these suggestions at its July 15 meeting, accepting, revising or declining each recommendation. They approved the draft platform, printed below and on the following pages, to recommend for adoption to the members at the annual meeting. (c) At the Annual Meeting, all of these recommendations are explained, discussed and considered during the business portion of the meeting (Sunday morning). Members can make additional recommendations to the draft platform at this time. Each recommendation is voted on unless there is a motion to accept the entire platform as proposed. At the end there is a vote to accept the entire platform as proposed or amended. (d) Members in good standing (current in their membership dues) are eligible to vote.
Preamble Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is a statewide, grassroots, citizens’ organization working for a new balance of power and a just society. As we work together we build our strength, individually and as a group, and find solutions to real life problems. We use direct action to challenge – and change – unfair political, economic and social systems. Our membership is open to all people who are committed to equality, democracy and nonviolent change. KFTC’s goals of organizing are: (1) fostering democratic values, (2) changing unjust institutions, (3) empowering people and communities, (4) helping people participate, (5) overcoming racism and other discrimination, (6) communicating a message of what is possible, (7) building organizations, (8) winning issues that affect the common welfare, and (9) having fun. We are working to create a society that focuses on supporting the human rights of all people. We are a social justice organization. We believe that all people must be treated with respect and dignity regardless of ability, age, gender, national origin, race, religion, gender identity, GENDER EXPRESSION, sexual orientation, or any other defining characteristic. We are working to build New Power – new economic, energy, and political power – in Kentucky and the nation. New Power consists of a new economy, a diverse homegrown economy good for all people, an economy that is just and sustains workers, communities, and the environment. New Power includes new energy that is clean, renewable, affordable, and generates jobs for our workers. New Power means a new democracy that includes, respects, and represents everyone.
1. We understand that the global climate is changing as a result of human activity. The changes already underway have profound effects on our weather, our water, our food, our economy, world politics, and the natural environment. And we understand, if not checked, climate change will have a catastrophic impact on the entire globe. Specifically: a. As Kentuckians, we are committed to working here at home and with communities across the nation and around the world to prevent catastrophic climate change by working for a just transition. b. We believe that a just transition is one that celebrates our cultures and invests in communities and workers who currently depend on the old economy. 2. Since clean air, water and land are every Kentuckian’s right, KFTC will work to protect and preserve a clean environment and to protect health and biodiversity by working for stronger regulations and better enforcement. Specifically: a. We oppose the use of the mountaintop removal method of surface coal mining and valley fills that bury perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams. b. We will work for a sustainable forestry products industry [non-timber and wood products] for Kentucky that relies on ecologically sound forest management and the use of Best Management Practices on public and private lands. c. We will work to preserve and protect publicly owned lands and their natural resources. d. We oppose on every front the rollback of the authority and funding for agencies and services that protect the environment and the rights of surface owners. e. We will fight to protect Kentucky’s precious water resources including ensuring safe, accessible and affordable water for all Kentuckians. f. We demand reasonable regulation of oil and gas drilling including protection and continued on next page
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Proposed Platform … continued from previous page
of uranium mining, processing, and waste disposal, we oppose the expansion of nuclear power. n. We will work to protect air quality to ensure the health and safety of Kentuckians. o. We support local and statewide policies to ensure smoke-free workplaces. p. We will support reducing the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides, the right of the public to know the nature of pesticides and herbicides applied, and the right of a local government to have more stringent control of pesticide and herbicides use. q. We promote source reduction, recycling, strong procurement policies for recycled products and a bottle bill.
replacement of water and reclamation of damaged land. g. We oppose fracking and fracturing drilling technology until such time it is proven safe. h. We oppose the construction of new pipelines, or the repurposing of existing pipelines, to carry oil, fracked gas or its by-products, tar sands oil or any toxic substances because of the proven vulnerability of pipelines to leaks and explosions that can adversely affect residents. i. We demand full enforcement of laws and regulations related to the mining, transportation and burning of coal in order to protect water resources, prevent blasting damage, and require the reclamation of land and permitting of secondary roads used for hauling coal. j. We oppose the use of dangerous coal sludge impoundments and call for the development of emergency action plans for communities living near impoundments. k. We support a robust set of policies that make family farms an economically viable livelihood, ensure clean air and water, and healthy foods for communities. We oppose the environmental and economic destruction of industrial farming. l. We oppose importation of all solid, hazardous and special wastes including those related to fracturing. We promote local control over land-use decisions involving landfills, incinerators, and related facilities. m. Recognizing the high costs and deadly effects
r. We will oppose environmental racism and classism, or the practice of locating polluting industries and waste facilities near lowincome and minority communities, and in neighborhoods where people are least able to fight back. s. We support strengthening present timber theft laws in Kentucky to protect forests and private property rights. t. We support protection of biodiversity, including endangered species. u. We favor strong conservation representation on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission. 3. We will fight to protect surface owners from the abuses by extractive industries. Specifically: a. We demand that the broad form deed amendment be fully enforced by all levels of government. b. We support a change in property laws so that a minority owner of an undivided interest cannot allow the sale, leasing or mining of land or minerals against the wishes of the majority of owners. c. We demand that oil and gas operators have permission of surface owners before they drill. d. We support the property rights of all landowners and will work to ensure these rights are exercised responsibly and equitably so as not to unfairly compromise the interests of the public, the environment, or surrounding property owners.
4. We will work to empower voters and expand authentic, democratic participation that makes government open, honest, and responsive to the needs of the people. Specifically: a. We will fight to protect the local control of solid waste management and siting, and support strong host agreements before permits are issued by the state. b. We will work to strengthen and enforce ethics codes for elected and appointed officials. c. We support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution making it clear that corporations are not people and money is not speech. Furthermore, we will work to eliminate the connections between money in political campaigns and governments that are nonresponsive to the people. d. We support campaign spending limits and public financing of elections to reduce the amount spent on elections and the power of big money contributors. e. We will work to make state and local economic development authorities accountable to the people. f. We demand easy access and an end to the overly bureaucratic procedures necessary to obtain open records in Kentucky. g. We support equitable access to state funds for roads and public transit. h. We support local communities’ cooperation on common issues. i. We oppose closed-door meetings and decision-making not open to the public when used to block public participation or transparency. j. We support restoring voting rights to former felons. We support programs that promote the positive re-entry of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated prisoners into our communities. k. We oppose all forms of voter suppression and support policies that facilitate full democratic participation, including accommodations for people with disabilities. l. We support all efforts for same day new voter registration. m. We oppose the practice of partisan gerrymandering in drawing political districts, continued on next page
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Proposed Platform … continued from previous page
which strips communities of their democratic power and compromises the integrity of our political process. 5. We will fight to create a just economy that sustains communities, families and individuals, promotes health, protects resources for the future, and supports social investment that eliminates structural poverty. We support communities that value socio-economic diversity. Specifically: a. We will work with all interested parties, including recipients, to develop a welfare and benefits system that serves the community as a whole, provides a safety net, helps people move forward, and treats people fairly and with dignity and due process. b. We will work for an economic development process that is open, sustainable, supportive of local economies, and sees that companies receiving public money for job creation provide training, safe working conditions, health benefits and a living wage and transition away from a fossil fuel extraction industry. KFTC does not support prison expansion as a means of economic development. c. We support public policies and utility programs that minimize utility customer shutoffs due to inability to pay and we will work to eliminate customer shutoffs during extreme weather conditions and medical emergencies. We support energy conservation programs, the implementation of percentage of income payment plans and fair access to utility services including local gas hookups.
Balancing the Scales | 15
d. We support policies aimed at significantly increasing the development of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and clean renewable energy sources in Kentucky, ultimately leading toward climate neutrality. e. We seek energy policies that promote the development of community-scale, locally owned renewable energy sources, create local jobs, and help low-wealth households, enterprises, and communities to access energy efficiency measures and clean energy solutions. f. We support funding effective and efficient community services through an equitable, fair, and progressive tax structure. g. We support the continued fair taxation of unmined minerals. h. We support the collection of coal severance taxes on every ton of coal mined and demand an increasing return of severance tax funds to promote sustainable economic development in coalfield counties; we further support at least one-percent of coal severance taxes collected be put in a permanent trust fund that will be used by and for the communities where the coal was extracted for the purpose of creating a more diverse and sustainable economy; we call for an increase in the severance tax rate and the creation of a community-based process to determine how funds are spent. i. We call for a system of high quality public education, including pre-school through higher education that is accessible and affordable for all Kentuckians. j. We support policies that are in favor of reducing the economic burden of higher education. We oppose for-profit charter schools and vouchers. k. We object to the dominance of corporate interests in the decision-making, values and priorities of our public schools public universities at any level. l. We support economic reform through the use and support of sustainable agriculture. m. We support affordable access to nutritious and healthful foods for all people.
n. We advocate for quality, affordable, comprehensive health care including but not limited to preventive health care, preventative dental and vision care, mental health services, prevention of infectious diseases including HIV prevention and care, reproductive health services, comprehensive addiction treatment and long-term care for all Kentuckians, and we affirm our support for a single payer health care system. o. We support a comprehensive approach – and investments – that recognize good health is determined by a wide range of social and economic factors such as education, social welfare, housing, income, and environmental conditions, as well as traditional health factors. p. We support the right to a living wage for all Kentuckians that provides adequate income for housing, health care, education and basic necessities. We oppose wage discrimination based on gender, race, ability, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigration status, or any other defining characteristic q. We oppose exploitation of labor and unjust international trade programs and demand an end to the use and sale of sweatshop-made products. r. We call for a new system for the transportation of coal that makes possible better pay for truckers, shared company accountability for safety violations and road damage, safe roads and safe mining communities, and reduced weight limits for coal trucks. s. We support the right of workers to organize and the right to collective bargaining. t. We support quality, affordable, accessible housing for all persons. We demand just housing policies that protect the rights of renters to be treated fairly and encourage resident involvement in decision-making processes. We support the right of all people to live in inclusive, healthy and sustainable neighborhoods of their own choosing. continued on next page
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Proposed Platform … continued from previous page
u. We demand enactment and enforcement of occupational health and safety laws that protect all workers in Kentucky, especially workers in occupations that continue to suffer high rates of preventable work-related death, disability, and illness such as coal miners, coal truckers, and other coal industry workers. v. We support fair and equitable lending practices. w. We support adequate, affordable, and energy efficient public transportation on a statewide basis, and we demand infrastructure planning that supports alternative modes of public transportation such as biking and walking. x. We support fair and equitable access to information and communication systems for all people. y. We support policies that enable people to live safely and well in their homes and provide good alternatives to nursing home care. z. We support policies that foster the growth of alternative economies, including workerowned cooperatives. aa. We support policies that promote substantial paid family and medical leave from the workplace that are flexible regardless of race, class, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age or any other defining characteristic. We also support access to safe, affordable childcare that values families in the workplace. ab. We oppose the privatization of public services. ac. We support sustainably grown industrial hemp as an economic driver providing a just transition for environmentally impacted communities as well as respite from resource extraction and monoculture farming. To that end, we support informing citizens of the various uses and products derived from hemp and legislation that removes barriers to scaling the domestic supply and market. We support policies that restrict the monopolization of hemp by corporate entities. ad. We support the legalization of production, sale and con-
sumption of cannabis and cannabis-based products for medical and recreational use, and amnesty of anyone currently experiencing legal ramifications of cannabis related charges. We support policies that restrict the monopolization of cannabis by corporate entities. 6. We will fight to create a fair and just society that respects human and civil rights, uplifts all people to their potential, and values the participation of everyone. Specifically: a. We support affirmative action programs that guarantee equal rights for all people. b. We oppose all forms of racism and work to eliminate it from our society and from within our organization. c. We condemn and oppose discrimination, oppression, and harassment of all people by public or private individuals or institutions based on any of the following: ability, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, familial status, national origin, citizenship, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, current or former incarceration status or any other defining characteristic. We believe that denial of the right to due process constitutes discrimination and oppression. d. We will lead by example in affirming people’s gender identities and gender expressions and embodying inclusive spaces for diverse gender identities. e. We will work toward a more fair justice system not mired in discrimination based on ability, age, gender, national origin, citizenship, race, religion, gender identity, GENDER EXPRESSION, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigration status, or any other defining characteristic. f. We support the right of residents who are undocumented to be treated with the respect and dignity that all human beings are entitled to. We also support open pathways to citizenship for people who are undocumented.
g. We oppose the inappropriate use of police powers to address problems, the expansion and privatization of the prison system, and the use of excessive force by police, including the targeting and KILLING OF African Americans and other people of color. We do support full funding of public defenders in order to ensure the diligent and competent representation by these public servants. We call for an immediate end to the mass incarceration of African Americans and other people of color, and the practices by which mass incarceration is currently implemented. h. We support a transition from our current punitive justice system to a more restorative system that honors the inherent dignity of all individuals, including people with physical illness, mental illness or addiction. i. We support the abolition of the death penalty. j. With farmers, horse owners, pet owners and a diverse array of wildlife, Kentucky is a state that values animals and their contributions to our lives, our economy, and our well-being. It is also a state with some of the weakest laws and enforcement related to animal cruelty. We support sensible local and state initiatives that would prevent the abuse of animals. k. We understand there’s a lot of diversity around gun ownership across the state. We support responsible gun ownership and initiatives to address the problem of gun violence. l. We support KFTC members being active in peace movements in Kentucky and worldwide.
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Balancing the Scales | 17
Building Grassroots Power
Victory! Louisville affordable housing program fully funded By Connor Allen and Alex Haynes It's not easy to be a person with progressive values in Kentucky. At the moment, our federal and state policy makers are overwhelmingly pushing a conservative agenda that goes against our values. It may be difficult to find a lot of good news right now, but recently the Jefferson County KFTC Chapter was able to be part of a coalition that helped influence the Louisville Metro Council to dedicate more than three times as much money to affordable housing than ever before. The story behind the coalition’s success serves not only as a respite from the constant barrage of bad news, but also as a road map for how to organize and influence meaningful change. Louisville’s lack of affordable housing is a longchronicled problem. In 2008, the Metro Council commissioned a study that found that Louisville requires an additional 60,000 units of affordable housing. Having enough quality affordable housing is important because low-income families struggling to keep a roof over their heads have a much more difficult time affording other necessities like food, education and transportation. Lack of affordable housing has been shown to have a correlation with higher rates of poverty and crime. In response to the council’s study, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund was created as a community organization tasked with helping create more affordable housing. The study suggested Metro Council needed to allocate $10 million a year to the trust fund to address the city’s need. Despite this recommendation, the city did not invest enough in the trust fund for any housing projects for the next 7 years. Last year, Metro Council funded the trust fund at $2.5 million, or 25 percent of what the city requires. Over the summer of 2016, a number of members of the Jefferson County KFTC chapter were exploring the concept of participatory budgeting. Participatory budgeting is a process of direct community input on government budget decisions. After looking into the issue, the group realized that despite the importance of the city’s $800+ million budget, not a lot of information was available on Louisville’s spending priorities. As a result of this lack of information, about a dozen KFTC members began organizing around the city’s budget-making process, eventually releasing an informational primer on the budget, “The People’s
Guide to the Budget.” The process that created the guide involved chapter members working once a week for around three months to delve into the function of the city budget and the process in which it is created. The guide is not only a primer on how the city budget works, but also includes a few of the chapter’s budget recommendations. One of these recommendations was to fully fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund at $10 million. K F T C m e m b e r s Members of the Jefferson County chapter’s participatory budget team showed up and spoke at during one of many planning sessions. multiple Metro Council meetings urging them to fully fund the trust fund. In When Mayor Greg Fischer released his proposed addition, chapter members created an online portal, budget in April, the trust fund was only given $2.5 www.glasscapitol.org, that empowered Louisvillians to million. While advocates were disappointed with the learn who to contact about the budget and issues they mayor’s proposal, their presence at Metro Council meetings left them optimistic that the trust fund would care about. KFTC was not alone in pushing for the full funding at least receive a bit more than what the mayor proposed. of the trust fund. Citizens of Louisville Organized and Many advocates thought that the council may give United Together, or CLOUT, is an affiliation of 19 the trust fund around $5 million, a welcome increase, religious congregations that seek to harness their political but not quite what advocates had been asking for. In power to influence change and hold leaders accountable. the end CLOUT and KFTC’s work and persistence paid Long before KFTC got involved, CLOUT had set the off. Metro Council ended up allocating $9.3 million to goal of getting the trust fund to $10 million. A large the trust fund, which is more than three times what the part of CLOUT’s strategy involved consistently being mayor proposed and more than has ever been put into able to organize a large number of people to show up affordable housing. The members of KFTC who worked on the People’s at every Metro Council meeting and demand the trust Guide to the Budget put dozens of hours of volunteer fund be fully funded. “In 2016 and 2017, CLOUT coordinated more than time into educating and organizing folks around the city 50 speakers from more than 9 Metro Council districts budget. CLOUT and KFTC were able to consistently to make statements at council meetings to build support show up to Metro Council, they were clear in what they for funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund,” said wanted, and they made their voices heard as a group. The main takeaway from the campaign for the trust Beverly Duncan, who headed CLOUT’s advocacy efforts. “More than 50 CLOUT members also attended at least fund is that when people pick an issue they care about 24 meetings with individual Metro Council members and and show up, it can have a huge impact. Going forward, the Jefferson County chapter hopes got four council members to attend CLOUT's annual to grow our grassroots power by building strong ally assembly in March.” CLOUT’s strategy and ability to effectively achieve relationships, organizing a meaningful physical presence such an active political presence cannot be understated and expanding our digital lobbying capabilities for those unable to show up in person. as a reason that the trust fund was eventually funded.
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
18 | Balancing the Scales
Building Grassroots Power
Wilderness Trace continues successful Barn Bash gatherings Anne Otieno, an international student at Berea College who is from Kenya, is interning with KFTC this summer. In June she attended the Wilderness Trace chapter's annual Barn Bash. The following is her personal reflection on the day. Summer is all about spending time with our friends and families and also with coworkers and other members of our organization. Each summer, the Wilderness Trace chapter organizes an annual Barn Bash to bring together the members for a fun social event. On Saturday, June 17, at least 50 members and friends gathered in Junction City to reflect on the work that has been done with KFTC over the past year and what KFTC continues to do. In spite of the weather being humid, it was a nice afternoon to enjoy good, soothing music, delicious food and great company. The Barn Bash creates a conducive environment for informal conversations with members on real issues within their chapter. This environment is a bit different than the environment present at meetings. Additionally, the Barn Bash provides a good platform for grassroots fundraising to support the work of KFTC. This is the Wilderness Trace chapter's biggest annual event to celebrate great local work, invite new folks into KFTC, encourage members to renew their membership and raise funds. In addition to food, music and information about KFTC, folks bid on silent auction items donated by members and local allies. The event
brought in some new members, new Sustaining Givers, and raised more than $1,000 for KFTC. This was my first Barn Bash and I was expecting to have an amazing, fun day. The event was kicked off by the Danville Dulcimers music performance, with amazing native Kentucky songs. As they played their soft and soothing music, members got the chance to meet other folks and engage in conversations. At the same time, chapter member Bruce Bryant worked hard grilling the locally made, grass-raised beef burgers and pork sausages. For many years, Bryant has volunteered to prepare locally made burgers for the Barn Bash. Soon, the food was ready to be served Wilderness Trace chapter members enjoy each other’s comand folks enjoyed the meal while they pany and good conversation at their annual Barn Bash. continued conversations. Shannon Scott shared her membership story with community. A number of friends told me about KFTC folks, explaining how she joined KFTC and why she and I decided to attend a KFTC event,” Scott shared. thought it was the right group to be involved in. “I was impressed with the work that KFTC does and “I was born in West Virginia, but I lived most of my the strong community of friends within the organization. life after college in Atlanta, Georgia, and then I moved KFTC has helped me with resources and helping me to Danville. Since I was new in the area, I wanted to figure out what I can do such as lobbying, that I did for find a platform in which I could get involved in the the first time with KFTC.”
Deep conversations around taxes happening in Bowling Green neighborhoods
Laura Harper, Alex Poole, Lizabeth Likins, James Line and Deane Oliva were a deep canvassing team as members of the Southern Kentucky chapter engaged Bowling Green residents in conversations about tax reform.
Members from the Southern Kentucky chapter engaged the Bowling Green community in conversations about tax justice on a Saturday afternoon in June as part of a deep canvass session. The day began with a training to equip members with deep canvassing skills and review the key conversation points before hitting the streets. Three groups of participants had 18 high-quality conversations with folks about what an equitable tax system looks like. Member Deane Oliva reflected, “Even though the folks we spoke with had little knowledge of the tax structure, the script gave us a comfortable entrée to discussion, and the folks were all visibly engaged with the powerful graphics. In a short time, we raised awareness and made good contacts.“ The day was productive and has members looking forward to next steps. As member Dr. Alex Poole said, “It wasn't always easy, but if not us, then who? Getting together with like-minded people gives me hope. We can all do our part.” To get involved Follow the Southern Kentucky chapter's in a deep canvass, ongoing work on social media – Twitter: @ contact the Bowling SoKyKFTC. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Green office at 270SOKY.KFTC/. 282-4553.
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Balancing the Scales | 19
Coal and Water
Sturgill: Creating a future for the mountains after mining Harlan County member Stanley Sturgill helped a ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources understand the hopes and efforts of people in the Appalachian region to build a brighter future through a Just Transition. “We have proved we are hard working peoples that have provided our nation with coal for the past 100 years,” said Sturgill at a roundtable discussion with Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona. “That is why I truly have a vision we can now achieve our Just Transition goals for our communities and our workforce in eastern Kentucky and southwest Virginia. I truly believe we
can build a new future for the generations that will follow in our footsteps.” He pointed out the health impacts that many in the region continue to experience. “I’m sick and tired of so many people dying from the many health problems that are a direct result from coal mining, especially mountaintop removal mining. Our people are exposed to and must breathe the dust emissions from the blasting of millions of tons of dirt and rock plus the millions of pounds of explosives our citizen continue to be exposed to,” Sturgill said. “These tragic, untimely deaths don’t have to continue.” Grijalva is the ranking Democrat on the House committee. His visit to southwest Virginia was arranged by Earthjustice to learn about the consequences of mountaintop removal and how people in the region are creating and embracing new opportunities. Grijalva was interested in hearing about the current and legacy impacts of mountaintop removal, including health impacts, and recent decisions by the Trump administration and Congress to take away stream protections and Chase Gladson, Carl Shoupe, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva and weaken environmental safeguards. Stanley Sturgill near the top of Black Mountain, showing coal After the roundtable in mining’s destruction in the background Big Stone Gap, which involved
We need a strong EPA
statements from people from several states, Grijalva took a tour to the top of Black Mountain. “We went up right to where the road gets to the top of the mountain coming into Kentucky and we looked at the wonderful, terrible view of mountaintop removal that the illustrious James Justice, governor of West Virginia, left us,” Sturgill reported. (Justice made millions of dollars in the mining business, leaving many sites unreclaimed and fines unpaid. He won the governorship of West Virginia in 2016.) “Rep. Grijalva was kind enough to come and look at it. He’s gathering information. I invited him back, and he said he’d come back.” That could be an important relationship if Democrats win a majority in the U.S. House, with the possibility that Grijalva could become the committee chair. Sturgill also asked Grijalva to work for passage of the RECLAIM Act, which would add an economic development focus on efforts to repair land damaged by mining Sturgill, who is from Lynch on the Kentucky side of Black Mountain, and his neighbors have opposed additional mining in the watershed above their homes, which also provides a drinking water source for several towns. “It was a very good meeting. The congressman was real easy to talk to. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Sturgill added.
Rachel Norton planned to deliver these remarks during an announced visit to Lexington by U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. Pruitt didn’t come, but Norton still offered her story.
My family moved to Kentucky when I was 6 years old. Since then I have grown up in the central part of the state, gone to the University of Kentucky, and spent most of my life longing to go elsewhere. When I finally left and traveled for awhile I realized that what I really wanted was to use my skills to serve my neighbors, and to make my state, my home, a better place. And that became my mission. I am tired of growing up in a state where so many of the people in power do not respect the future health and economic prosperity of the people that live here. And I don’t believe you can think about health without the considering economic prosperity and vice versa. Coal mining has been a part of our state’s identity for a long time. It has also had serious health consequences for many people. Kentucky has also prided itself on being able to attract other high-employing manufacturing companies, but being sure good legislation is in place to protect their water supplies is just as important as bringing those jobs. In fact, there is a culture of change surrounding manufacturing companies, and their priorities. More manufacturing companies are prioritizing clean energy, exemplifying the idea that human beings and protecting our Earth may in fact be
more important than the bottom line. Obviously, creating profitable businesses is important, but they’re considering real consequences and making choices with more priorities in mind. However, we can’t expect them to know all possible consequences. It is the job of the EPA to provide good information and regulation to to prevent them from making mistakes that may harm the environment and the health of our people. It’s our government’s responsibility to provide them with the tools and funding to do that job. I want myself and other young professionals entering careers in energy to be provided diverse and clean jobs. Jobs that encourage the use of new state-of-the-art technology, and progress. I also want us all to simply be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water. The proposals to weaken the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act is not back to the basics, it’s back to the dark ages. I want to move forward, not backward. I want people’s lives, over the bottom lines. And I want a government whose interest is in protecting our future, not taking us back to the past.
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
20 | Balancing the Scales
Coal and Water
Reflections following the mountaintop removal hearing On June 10, KFTC’s two interns in the Berea office were among several members who went to Virginia for a congressional committee hearing on mountaintop removal (see story, previous page). They share their reflections below. By Anne Otieno, Berea College student I was excited to attend this hearing because of the concerns that I have around the impacts of coal mining on Kentucky’s economy. My internship with KFTC has been a learning process that has given me a deeper understanding of economic and social justice issues in Appalachia. It has been quite astonishing that despite the fact that coal mining was the major economic resource in Kentucky, the state has been laid back in terms of economic development. I have been relating this issue to what I have seen back home in Kenya. I have come to a conclusion that Appalachian issues concerning the exploitation of coal by corporations from outside the region is similar to the
By Austin Lowe, Thomas More College student I am from southeastern Kentucky, and a lot of mountaintop removal does happen in my county and around the area that I live and visit a lot. The reason I attended this forum was because this is a very important issue to me and I have seen a lot of the consequences that this process has. Before this forum I never knew about any of these organizations besides KFTC, and it was just remarkable that so many people were invested in this very serious issue that is mountaintop removal. Mountaintop removal is a form of surface mining at the summit or summit ridge of a mountain. Coal seams are extracted from a mountain by removing the land, or overburden, above the seams. So instead of digging under and through the mountain, this is just blowing up the entire side of the mountain and creating a more dangerous environment for anything living around it. In this forum Rep. Grijalva wanted to hear what the Appalachian people were going through, what their opinion was on the topic, and what were the plans for the region in the future. Whenever I first heard about this forum I was very shocked that it was someone from
situation in Kenya. Most of the foreign corporations in Kenya also take resources out of the community without improving the local economy. The local people thus end up bearing the externalities of mineral exploitation such as the destruction of the environment. Attending this hearing was thus a great opportunity for KFTC to present their case and discuss the way forward for a just transition. When Stanley Sturgill, a KFTC member and former coal miner from Harlan County, was called to speak, he informed Rep. Grijalva on the reality of climate change. “Climate change is real. It is just common sense,” Sturgill said. As a consequence, if coal mining is not stopped, Kentuckians will suffer more devastating effects of coal. People from the mountains have the ability to improve their lives for a better future, Sturgill said. We are capable of turning things around from mountaintop removal that causes economic disruptions and environmental degradation. In fact, people from Appalachia should not just stop coal mining because of the decline in the market for it, but rather because of the effects it has on our health, families, and the environment, Sturgill said.
Arizona rather than someone from the region to have this hearing. I give a lot of respect to Rep. Grijalva for giving us the time to listen to us and hear what is going on in the region. It also very disappointing that I have not seen anything like that from any of the representatives in the Appalachian region. But I’ll get to that another day. This was such a wonderful experience, and I am so happy that I got to be a part of this forum. We met so many wonderful people like Rep. Grijalva, KFTC member and retired coal miner Stanley Sturgill, and a lot more. Being from this region, it really is a remarkable feeling that a lot of people believe in the same future that you do. This region has the most genuine, kind, hard working people that I have met. These people will drive hours to work every day, see their family, and still do everything around the house. I have lived all over this state and have never seen such a wide range of hard working people that really care about the place that they live in. You can see people on the news start to break down whenever they talk about leaving their hometown for a job. And you saw a lot of that in this forum. There were a lot of passionate people from the Appalachian
As Rep Grijalva stated, “You can create jobs without sacrificing people’s lives, and it is therefore time for Americans to wake up from their slumber.” Indeed, the creation of jobs is of great concern in our society, but let us work for ways in which we can create sustainable jobs to replace the lost jobs in coal mining. Creating green jobs in Kentucky is possible. For instance, we can make investment in renewable energies such as solar and wind. There are counties which have taken the step towards solar energy. For example, Benham – a small former coal camp in Harlan County – has developed a community energy efficiency program. Moreover, we should invest in the education of young people and training of coal miners towards the development of new energy power. Rep Grijalva also emphasized his support for the RECLAIM Act and promised that an investment will be made to reclaim the places damaged by coal mining. Without a doubt, if we do not stand up and speak, our leaders in Washington will never know what is happening in our homes, environment and families. The power is in our hand to turn things around for a better future where all Kentuckians have affordable health care, retirement benefits, decent jobs and a clean environment.
area that stood up and believed in their homes. We ran over our time because everyone had something to say about why they should believe in this region. It really is remarkable how passionate people are from the Appalachian region. I never realized it until I moved to northern Kentucky that these people really care about their hometown – people never really want to leave, but they must. There are not a lot of jobs in this area, and there aren’t a lot of school or college options besides the community colleges. All we want is someone else to believe in us the way that we believe in ourselves. I really love where I’m from even if I’m not there. This area will always b e my ho me. Even if I move and start a family somewhere else, this will always be my home.
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Balancing the Scales | 21
KFTC 2017 Annual MEMBERSHIP Meeting
Sharing Our Stories in Art, Culture and Organizing
Super 2017 annual meeting set for August 25-27 at General Butler Park “We are Kentuckians. We are our best hope for change.” This is more than a phrase on KFTC shirts. This affirmation of our shared identity as Kentuckians is complicated and useful. It’s an affirmation of a commonwealth that includes us all – regardless of lines of difference. It’s also an affirmation of our potential in working together and calls us into working deeply in our communities. We’ll continue to evolve our organizing in this moment in Kentucky at KFTC’s 2017 Annual Membership Meeting, August 25-27 at General Butler State Park. The theme of the meeting is Sharing Our Stories in Art, Culture and Organizing.
We will explore how our being Kentuckians – an identity that is often complicated, always with a story – informs our organizing, creating space to envision the Kentucky we believe is possible. We will develop new skills and learn new ways of applying our skills to work together for transformative change in this challenging moment. At this gathering we plan to create lots of spaces for folks to build relationships that will continue to sustain us as we meet the challenges of this work. Here are some highlights you can expect during the weekend (the program summary and workshop descriptions are on the next page):
Organizing Academy Launch (during the Saturday evening Awards Ceremony) The KFTC Organizing Academy will officially launch at the 2017 KFTC Annual Membership Meeting! The Academy will be an ongoing multi-track leadership and organizing training program and the foundation of KFTC's expanding leadership development strategy. The program will create space for cultivating
organizers while strengthening our organization and ally organizations across the state in order to shift the power toward a more just commonwealth. Details and the application process will be shared at our Academy kickoff during the KFTC Awards Ceremony.
Healing Hike with Outdoor Afro (Saturday afternoon break) Being outdoors is very healing. Hiking has a way of providing a therapy like no other. Let's do something positive to heal our hearts, our souls, our bodies and our minds. We’ll hike approximately 4.5 miles on the Fossil Trail at General Butler Park. Much of this trail crosses open fields and old hardwood forests behind the stone overlook, which is the highest point in Carroll County.
Outdoor Afro, a national nonprofit that celebrates and inspires Black leadership in nature, hosts this hike. In the spirit of healing, we'll read haikus by Black poets during the hike. Bring your favorite haiku to read or let nature inspire you to create your own. Please review a copy of the Outdoor Afro trip waiver before the hike begins: http://outdoorafro.com/waiver/
Connecting Through Culture: Sharing, Creating and Learning About What it Means to be a Kentuckian Is there a food dish that is at every family dinner? Is there a game that you and your friends play at every get-together? What is your favorite community history story? Is there a song your great aunt sang all the time? Bring recipes, instruments, games, art, stories and
Thanks
any other unique part of your cultural heritage to share and join us on Friday evening for “Connecting Through Culture: Sharing, Creating and Learning About What it Means to be a Kentuckian” – a welcoming and getto-know-one-another place.
The 2017 keynote speaker: Heather McGhee of Demos The KFTC Annual Meeting Planning Team is excited to announce that Heather McGhee will be the keynote speaker at the August annual membership meeting. McGhee is one of the preeminent voices speaking to what this moment calls for: sharing our stories, listening, building community, and finding beauty. She has been called “one of the most interesting thinkers today on the intersection of racism and economic inequality.” She is the president of the national think tank Demos (www.demos. org/) and a frequent writer, speaker and media commentator on issues of democracy reform, economic opportunity, racial equity and financial regulation. She reached millions through an appearance on C-SPAN (http://nyti. ms/2t876Xb) that went viral since the election, when she talked a caller through his admission of being prejudiced. McGhee is currently writing a book about the costs of racism to white people, and why talking about it is important. She will speak Saturday morning during the annual meeting.
for being a member or supporter of KFTC. You make the work you read about in Balancing the Scales possible – now 36 years of it!
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
22 | Balancing the Scales
KFTC 2017 Annual MEMBERSHIP Meeting
Sharing Our Stories in Art, Culture and Organizing Join us at KFTC’s 2017 Annual Meeting to continue to evolve our organizing in this moment. We will explore how our identities as Kentuckians – often complicated, always with a story – inform our organizing and can be part of making social change possible. We will develop new skills and ways of thinking around using culture and art in our organizing to take our work to a deeper level and help sustain us as we work together in these difficult times.
The Annual Membership Meeting takes place at General Butler State Park, one of Kentucky’s many beautiful state parks. August 25-27
We will create lots of spaces for folks to build relationships and community that will continue to sustain us as we meet the challenges of this work. Workshops will focus on resistance and advancing our issue work. And we’ll have fun at the Annual Awards Banquet, social times and the after parties.
Program Friday, August 25 4 p.m.
Registration Opens
7:30 p.m. Opening, Welcome Connecting Through Culture: Sharing, Creating, and Learning About What it Means to be a Kentuckian 9 p.m.
Party
Saturday, August 26 9 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Chairperson’s Remarks Reflections on political moment
9:45 a.m. Keynote Address: Heather McGhee 11 a.m.
Presentations on Cultural Organizing (members and allies)
12:30 p.m. Lunch Lunch table conversations 2 p.m.
Workshops: Choose one of five workshops to build our individual and collective knowledge and skills
Building a Powerful Just Transition and Climate Movement in Kentucky through Culture, Community and Action – We’ll learn about creative ways KFTC members and allies are engaging neighbors, elected officials and candidates about opportunities to Empower Kentucky. We’ll brainstorm local actions to grow political will for clean energy jobs and meaningful climate action.
Campaign For Our Commonwealth: Fighting for Economic Justice in Kentucky – Gov. Bevin intends to call a special legislative session to change Kentucky’s tax structure in ways not aligned with KFTC’s principles or vision. Come and learn how you can help win the fight for tax justice. Organizing for Good, Affordable and Accessible Health Care for All – We’ll begin with updating the ever-changing landscape of health care policy on the state and federal levels. We’ll hear from people doing exciting work to engage and activate people to make quality health care affordable and accessible to all people. Resisting Organized White-Supremacy through a Culture of Support – In this workshop we will share our experiences, learn about the increased activity of organized white supremacist groups in Kentucky, and explore ways to do anti-racist work in our communities while building a culture of security and support. Immigrants’ Rights: Ways to get Involved 101 – During this workshop, we will learn together about creative solutions to intentional communication that builds community. Join other members as we shape a solid foundation for taking action within our own neighborhoods in support and solidarity with those directly impacted. 3:30 p.m. Break: Take a break and relax with hiking, swimming, tennis and more, including a Healing Hike: Outdoor Afro Activity 7 p.m.
Dinner & Awards Ceremony Organizing Academy announcement
9:30 p.m. Cultural Sharing
Sunday, August 27 9 a.m.
Sunday Morning Workshops Choose one of five workshops
Upstanding Bystander 101: How to Stand Up to Bigotry in Everyday Situations – This workshop will feature stories, examples and discussion about how to stand up to bigotry in everyday life in ways that help de-escalate a situation, help targeted people feel safe and valued, and marginalize bigotry in public settings. Nonviolent Direct Action: What to Do When Decision-Makers Don’t Listen – We’ll explore creative ways to use Nonviolent Direct Action to move campaigns forward when institutional pathways aren’t working. The main course will be hands-on learning, with side dishes of history and introductions to different strategic uses of direct action. From Church Basements to Auditoriums: Creating Agendas and Facilitating Meetings in 2017 – How do you create a meeting space that is safe, welcoming and accessible to all? Include art and culture to create a space that’s meaningful? Come learn tools and best practices for scaling up your meeting facilitation and agendas to meet the needs of the moment. Telling Your Story for Visionary Resistance – Stories are a fundamental part of culture. It’s where we start when we begin to make change. This workshop will give you the tools to craft and share your personal story in ways that communicate your vision for a more just Kentucky. Doorstep Cultural Organizing: Building Community & Power with Deep Canvassing – Learn skills to participate in and lead others in deep canvassing as a strategy for building grassroots power. 10:45 a.m. Business Meeting: Join us for this annual opportunity to vote on KFTC’s platform of issues, elect officers and more. 12 p.m.
Adjourn
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
Balancing the Scales | 23
KFTC 2017 Annual MEMBERSHIP Meeting
Sharing Our Stories in Art, Culture and Organizing
Registration Form Name(s): ____________________________________________ Name:(s) ____________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________________________ Phone: ________________ Email: ________________________ Which nights will you be staying with us? __ Friday night __ Saturday night Lodging Preference: KFTC expects to fill up all rooms and cabins at General Butler State Park. We do our best to accommodate lodging requests, but in order to maximize the amount of overnight lodging slots we cannot guarantee your preference (cabin or lodge). But we will do our best. __ Guest room in the lodge: the lodge is a short walk or one-minute drive from the conference center where the annual meeting takes place. __ Cabin: Cabins are located slightly farther from the conference center where the meeting takes place and would require a short drive between the two. Cabins have either one, two or three bedrooms, one full-size bed in each bedroom and one bathroom per cabin. __ Camping: KFTC will not handle camping reservations. Primitive tent camping is available for $13 a night by just showing up at the campground, and no reservations are needed. If you would like RV and other campground reservations, you can make your reservation directly through ReserveAmerica.com (starting at $31/night). For questions about the campgrounds, call General Butler directly at 502-732-4384. Other Preferences: Room equipped for physical disabilities? Please specify _____________ _________________________________________________________ Roommate preference (2 to 4 people will share a room). Please specify the names of individuals you would like to share a room with ________ _________________________________________________________ Will you need childcare? If so, please list the names and ages of the children. Name: _______________________________________ Age: ________ Name: _______________________________________ Age: ________ Name: _______________________________________ Age: ________
Please complete the form below to register for the Annual Meeting and mail the entire page with payment to KFTC, P.O. Box 1450, London KY 40743. You also can register online at kftc.org/annual-meeting/registration
Meals: KFTC is required to use the food service at General Butler for our event. We do our best to meet the dietary needs of all participants, but are limited by General Butler’s food service options and willingness to accommodate special requests. Do you have any special dietary requests? (We will communicate with you ahead of time if your dietary restrictions can’t be honored so that you are able to bring your own food). Specify: ____________________________ _________________________________________________________ ___ Meals you will be in attendance for: __ Saturday breakfast __ Saturday lunch __ Sunday breakfast
__ Saturday dinner
Silent Auction: Please let us know if you are willing to help out by bringing: Items for the silent auction: __ Yes Books for the used book sale: __ Yes Transportation: __ I am driving myself __ I can offer a ride
__ I need a ride
Is this your first time attending KFTC’s annual meeting? __ Yes __ No Cost: Registration fees help KFTC offset a portion of the expense of our Annual Meeting. We ask you to pay $100 per adult. If you are reserving your own campsite or don’t need lodging, cost is $60. We can prorate these charges if you are attending only a portion of the weekend. We appreciate your contribution to this important gathering! We want everyone who would like to participate to do so. Don’t let the cost be a barrier to attending. How are you paying? __ Payment is enclosed. __ I request a full or partial scholarship (we’ll be in touch with you). __ I request a payment plan (you can enclose a partial payment now). Please make a check or money order payable to KFTC and put “Annual Meeting registration” in the note field. Mail this page and payment to: KFTC, P.O. Box 1450, London, Kentucky 40743 We look forward to seeing you there!
#kftcAM17
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
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KFTC Leadership
Nominees named for KFTC, Ky Coalition leadership positions KFTC’s Leadership Development Committee has recommended, and the Steering Committee has approved, a slate of candidates for KFTC’s Executive Committee and the Kentucky Coalition board. Members at the Annual Business Meeting on August 27 will vote whether to elect these or other members to the organizations’ leadership positions. The proposed KFTC Executive Committee slate is Elizabeth Sanders as chairperson, Meta Mendel-Reyes as vice-chairperson, Christian Torp as secretary-treasurer and Cassia Herron as the at-large representative. Dana Beasley Brown will be the fifth member of the Executive Committee as immediate past chair. The Leadership Development Committee recommendations were based on nominations offered by chapters and individuals. The committee is charged with recommending a diverse slate of qualified candidates, taking into account desired traits as well as characteristics including gender, age, race, income, educational background, place of residence, level of involvement in the local chapter and statewide organization, and issue interests. A KFTC leader may not serve more than two consecutive one-year terms in the same position. Sanders and Mendel-Reyes currently serve on the Executive Committee as chair and vice-chair, respectively. Torp and Herron would be new members, if elected. The annual business meeting will take place on Sunday morning, August 27 as part of the KFTC Annual Membership Meeting at General Butler State Park. Executive Committee candidate profiles Chairperson: Elizabeth Sanders lives in Whitesburg, is active in the Letcher County chapter and is the current KFTC chair. She has served on KFTC’s Steering Committee and on KFTC’s New Energy and Transition Committee. She has a key role in the Letcher County chapter, Empower Kentucky and in Just Transition work, especially around economic alternatives to a proposed federal prison. Elizabeth works at Appalshop’s community run radio station, WMMT-FM. She has been an important part of Stay Together Appalachian Youth and the Central Appalachian Prisoner Support Network, which provides community support to prisoners and their families, many of whom are incarcerated far from home. Elizabeth served two years as Secretary-Treasurer before being elected Chair last year. Secretary-Treasurer: Christian Torp is an active member in the Central Kentucky chapter. He’s served on the Steering Committee, the Litigation Committee, Land Reform Committee and on the Voter Empowerment Strategy Team. Christian also is very involved in local work around housing justice and racial justice. He works locally for food justice, distributing fresh food to neighbors and leading urban gardening skill workshops. Together with Tanya Torp, he’s made their home a community gathering
spot called Justice House, open for meetings and weekly gatherings over breakfast. Christian is active in KFTC’s lobbying and Voter Empowerment work, and has offered a lot of leadership over the years in organizational fundraising efforts, especially around our organizational emphasis on the Sustaining Giver Program. Vice-Chairperson: Meta Mendel-Reyes is KFTC’s current Vice-Chair. She’s an active leader in the Madison County chapter and the organization. She’s served on KFTC’s Steering Committee, the Economic Justice Committee, the Voter Empowerment Strategy Team, the Leadership Development Committee, and the Racial Justice Committee. Meta is also part of the leadership 36 team with SURJ (Showing up for Racial Justice), and has co-facilitated several racial justice workshops for KFTC members and staff. Meta also represented KFTC at a recent Deep Canvassing Training, and cofacilitated a subsequent Deep Canvassing workshop for KFTC staff. She’s been active in the Madison County chapter’s local racial justice work. At-Large Representative: Cassia Herron has served KFTC in numerous ways, locally with her work with the Jefferson County chapter and statewide with her leadership in the Empower Kentucky campaign. With the Jefferson County chapter she has worked to support the “We Are Kentuckians” event that honors African American women in the state and provides a space to lift up black culture in Kentucky. She is
experienced in community organizing and previously worked with union organizers and trainers with the Highlander Center. She also has experience working with the Community Farm Alliance. She works extensively with issues of economic development and promoting food access with the Louisville Food Cooperative. She has provided consistent and sustained leadership to the Empower Kentucky campaign, holding house parties to introduce guests to the campaign and introducing the Empower Kentucky Plan to state officials. Dana Beasley Brown of Bowling Green will continue on the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past Chair. This is not an elected position.
Kentucky Coalition board nominees are listed on the next page
KFTC Used Book Sale Do you hang on to your favorite books long after you’ve read them? If you’d like to part with some of the books collecting dust in your house – and help KFTC – here’s an opportunity. KFTC Used Book Sale at the KFTC Annual Meeting August 25-27, 2017 Coming to the annual meeting? Bring your gently used books, and we’ll sell them to benefit KFTC. Can't make it
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KFTC Leadership Kentucky Coalition Board nominees The Kentucky Coalition is the tax-exempt [501(c)(3)] affiliate organization to KFTC. It supports leadership development programs and other charitable activities of KFTC. The KC board includes the five members of the KFTC Executive Committee plus three additional members elected by KFTC’s membership at the Annual Membership Meeting. Megan Naseman is currently a member of the Kentucky Coalition board. Leslie McBride and Alan Smith would be new members, if elected. They will be considered for election at the August 27 annual business meeting at General Butler State Park. Leslie McBride is a long-time member of KFTC and the Shelby County chapter. She has served multiple terms on the Steering Committee as a chapter representative. She is deeply engaged in local work to pass a Fairness Ordinance. Leslie is a passionate advocate for animal welfare and navigated the process of having a plank added to KFTC’s platform outlining our commitment to animal welfare. She provides thoughtful leadership to KFTC and has helped the local chapter build relationships with local officials. She has a commitment to grassroots fundraising and has worked to organize chili cook-offs for the Shelby County chapter. She is an experienced attorney and brings her skills and thoughtfulness to her work with KFTC. Alan Smith is an active member of the Southern Kentucky chapter and has been dedicated to the chapter since getting involved right around the time the chapter was founded. Alan has served on KFTC’s Economic Justice Committee and Voter Empowerment Strategy Team, and has served on the Steering Committee for three years. Locally, he’s been active on voter empowerment strategy and voter registration efforts, fundraising and at-home lobby meetings. He also participated in the A Seat At The Table event as a table host and the Hear Our Health action. He has provided consistent, insightful and reliable leadership to KFTC. Megan Naseman lives in Berea and is active in the Madison County chapter, and is currently on the Kentucky Coalition Board. She served two terms on KFTC’s Executive Committee and represented the Madison County chapter on KFTC’s Steering Committee. In her role as KFTC’s Secretary Treasurer, Megan also served on KFTC’s Finance Committee. She is also on the New Energy and Transition Committee. Megan has spearheaded many local events and projects, including an annual pie auction and chapter friend-raiser. She has represented KFTC in many settings, including as a spokesperson for the New Power PAC and as a frequent host and emcee of KFTC’s Annual Awards Ceremony. She works at the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED).
Are you crafty? A collector? A great cook? Here’s your chance to share your passion and support KFTC. Each year at our annual meeting, we have a silent auction. It’s a great opportunity for quilters, jam makers, painters, photographers and collectors of interesting things to bring something special and raise funds for KFTC’s work. All items are on display throughout the weekend, and the bidding creates some friendly competition. Now’s a great time to start working on a special item you can contribute to support KFTC and make the weekend more fun. Handmade items are especially popular. And if that’s not your talent, you might think about asking a business in your community to donate an item. Or if you have something at home that you’ve enjoyed and think others might, too – bring it with you! Gently used items are welcome. And here’s another idea: you can donate a service or an experience. A massage, cooking lesson, or gift certificate to a bed-and-breakfast make great silent auction items. If you have questions about the silent auction, give us a call at 606-8782161. And if you can’t make it to the meeting, you can arrange with a nearby KFTC office to get your item.
Annual meeting checklist √ Make sure your membership dues are current so you can vote at the annual business meeting for statewide officers and the platform; renew at kftc.org/renew or become a Sustainer Giver with the form on page 7. √ View the annual meeting program on page 22 and register to attend with the form on page 23 or online at www.kftc.org/annual-meeting. √ Start collecting crafts, home-made baked goods, KFTC or political memorabilia and other items for the silent auction; gather up some gently used books for the used book sale. √ Talk it up among your friends and other KFTC members to organize carpools, cultural sharing and get others excited about attending.
26 | Balancing the Scales
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
KFTC News
Steering Committee thanks members, plans for gathering The KFTC Steering Committee met on July 15 at Union Church in Berea to prepare for the annual meeting and discuss proposed changes to KFTC’s platform. As the meeting started, committee members were asked to consider what they would like to say to other KFTC members who invest in this work. Steering Committee members discussed the organization’s work and its impact, and thanked other members for their investments in KFTC. Russell Oliver of Perry County noted that being a member of KFTC “helps you learn how to work with people that normally you wouldn’t ever be with on issues that you share a common interest in.” Robby Olivam of Jefferson County continued the discussion by emphasizing, “Deep work really only happens when people come together and have hard conversations and make difficult decisions about how they are going to express democracy. KFTC is the best example I’ve ever seen of that.” Many committee members emphasized the way KFTC helps members engage with issues that are vitally important in their communities and our state. “I would like to thank our KFTC members for creating an awareness of issues that are important and for giving people a place to put their efforts to improve things,” Cathy Severns of Bowling Green said. Margaret Ricketts of Madison County continued, “It’s good to be part of a group that provides so many important portals for engagement and involvement. It really gives me hope.”
proposed changes to KFTC’s Committee members were platform that each chapter mindful that a key part of building discussed during their respective awareness of issues impacting chapter meetings in May and June. our communities is rooted in After robust discussion, the conversations and community Steering Committee approved a engagement. “I appreciate the depth set of proposed changes to the and breadth of the ideas and platform to be discussed by the discussions within the group,” said broader members during the Leslie Bebensee of Scott County. annual meeting. Amy Copelin of Boone Olivam emphasized that County noted, “I would like “the democratic process can often to thank KFTC members for be very chaotic and sometimes their willingness just to jump in, Russell Oliver, the Perry County chapter difficult to latch onto, but KFTC sometimes at a moment’s notice, representative, advocated for adding a has shown that it’s 35-plus years and organize, demonstrate and peace plank to the KFTC platform. committed and these values shine table at events.” through.” Sarah Bowling of Central Kentucky emphasized, “I Others expressed that the platform discussion want to thank KFTC members for reminding me that highlighted the organization’s commitment to I do have power. When anything happens that I see as democratic practices. The proposed 2017-18 platform a loss, I am very quickly reminded, here, that we have can be found elsewhere in this edition of Balancing the wins.” Scales. After lunch, the Steering Committee reviewed the Committee members also discussed highlights from slate of candidates for the Executive Committee and the the organization’s recent People’s Emergency Health Care Kentucky Coalition boards proposed by the Leadership Hearing and opened a discussion about the organization’s Development Committee. The candidates were approved voter empowerment strategies. and will be considered by the broader membership The Steering Committee will welcome the newly during the August 25-27 Annual Membership Meeting elected chapter representatives and alternates and at General Butler State Park in Carrollton. Executive Committee members during the September Steering Committee members also discussed the 16 Steering Committee meeting.
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calendar of events August 1 – Chapter meeting Big Sandy, 6 p.m. at the KFTC office 152 North Lake Drive, Prestonsburg Info: Jacob@kftc.org or 606-878-2161 August 3, September 7 – Chapter meeting Scott County, 6:30 p.m. Scott County Public Library 104 S. Bradford Lane, Georgetown Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103 August 7, September 4 – Chapter meeting Wilderness Trace, 7 p.m. InterCounty Energy Community Room 1009 Hustonville Rd., Danville Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713 August 10, September 21 – Chapter meeting Shelby County, 6 p.m., Stratton Community Center 215 W Washington St., Shelbyville Info: Carissa@kftc.org or 502-589-3188 August 11 – KFTC Office Warming Party! Southern Kentucky chapter, 3-6 p.m. 258 Collett Ave., Suite 500, Bowling Green Info: Molly@kftc.org or 502-599-3989 August 14, September 11 – Chapter meeting Jefferson County, 6:30 p.m. First Unitarian Church 809 S. 4th St., Louisville Info: Ryeshia@kftc.org or 502-589-3188 August 15 – KFTC Night at the Bowling Green Hot Rods Baseball Game, 6:35 p.m. Ball park, 300 8th Avenue in Bowling Green Info: Molly@kftc.org or 502-599-3989 August 15, September 19 – Chapter meeting Northern Kentucky, 7 p.m. Center for Great Neighborhoods 321 W. 12th Street, Covington Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103 August 17, September 21 – Chapter meeting Rowan County 6 p.m., St. Albans Church 145 E. 5th St., Morehead
KFTC OFFICES and STAFF MAIN OFFICE Morgan Brown, Burt Lauderdale, Ashley Frasher, Jonah Cabiles, Angel Hill and Jacob Mack-Boll 131 North Mill Street P.O. Box 1450 | London, Kentucky 40743 606-878-2161 | Fax: 606-878-5714
August 17, September 21 – Chapter meeting Central Kentucky, 7 p.m. Episcopal Mission House 203 E. 4th Street, Lexington Info: BethHoward@kftc.org or 859-276-0563
FIELD OFFICES
August 20 – Chapter meeting Western Kentucky chapter 5 p.m. at Murray State University, Faculty Hall Room 208 Info: Lesley@kftc.org or 270-282-4553
Louisville Elizabeth Adami, Aubrey Clemons, Alicia Hurle, Ryeshia Reves, Becky Jones and Carissa Lenfert 735 Lampton Street #202 Louisville, Ky. 40203 502-589-3188
August 21 – Chapter meeting & Potluck Perry County, 6 p.m. 2500 Upper Second Creek Road, Hazard Bring a dish and a friend Info: Jacob@kftc.org or 606-878-2161
Bowling Green Molly Kaviar, Laura Harper, Lesley Garrett, Alex Goldsmith and James Line 958 Collett Ave., Suite 500 Bowling Green, Ky. 42101 270-282-4553
August 21, September 25– Chapter meeting Madison County, 7 p.m. Berea Friends Meeting House 300 Harrison Street, Berea Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713
Northern Kentucky Joe Gallenstein and Caitlin Sparks 640 Main Street Covington, Ky. 41005 859-380-6103
August 22, September 26 – Chapter meeting Southern Kentucky, 6 p.m. The Foundry, 531 W. 11th Ave. Bowling Green Info: Molly@kftc.org or 502-599-3989
Central Kentucky Jessica Hays Lucas, Beth Howard, Heather Roe Mahoney, Erik Hungerbuhler, Meredith Wadlington, Tyler Offerman, Sara Pennington, Sharon Murphy, Tayna Fogle and DeBraun Thomas 250 Plaza Drive, Suite 4 Lexington, Ky 40503 859-276-0563
August 25-27 – KFTC Annual Membership Meeting at General Butler State Park Carrollton; registration form on page 23 September 15 – Smoketown GetDown Outside the Louisville KFTC office 735 Lampton Street, Louisville Info: Ryeshia@kftc.org or 502-589-3188 September 16 – KFTC Steering Committee meeting; 10:30 a..m. - 4:30 p.m. Info: Heather@kftc.org or 859-276-0563
Floyd County Jessie Skaggs and Jerry Hardt 152 North Lake Drive • P.O. Box 864 Prestonsburg, Ky 41653 606-263-4982 Berea Lisa Abbott, Amy Hogg, Kevin Pentz, Sasha Zaring and Michael Harrington 210 N. Broadway, Unit #3 Berea, Ky 40403
859-756-4027
Email any staff member at firstname@kftc.org except for Jessica Hays Lucas, use jessicabreen@kftc. org; Beth Howard, use bethhoward@kftc.org
www.kftc.org | July 26, 2017
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Meredith Wadlington and Jonah Cabiles are KFTC members who both became Sustaining Givers a few years ago. And this summer they became KFTC Organizer Apprentices, helping to build grassroots power across Kentucky. Jonah is organizing with folks in eastern Kentucky around a
Just Transition, and Meredith is organizing with the Central Kentucky chapter. Here they talk about why they’re involved, what the Organizer Apprentice program means for Kentucky, and why it’s important to invest in this work (a form is on page 7).
How did you first get involved with KFTC?
How is a Sustaining Gift an investment in building grassroots power?
Jonah Cabiles
Jonah: I first became a member when I was a Berea College student. One of the first things I did was go to the annual meeting. That was really an eye-opening experience to be introduced to the rich, deep network KFTC has and being blown away by everyone I was meeting. We have so many stellar members and that’s what makes me most excited about KFTC, how ordinary people address what’s best for their community. I really like our model of empowering people.
Meredith: I first became involved in spring 2008 as a student at Western Kentucky University. At first I didn’t really know anything about organizing. A lot of us were college students, and KFTC trusted us and were supportive and believed in us, and it felt really amazing to come to the annual meeting and see all the support we had statewide. Why did you decide to become a Sustaining Giver? Meredith: When I became a Sustaining Giver, I was working two minimum wage jobs, and honestly it worked best for my budget because I wasn’t able to give a big amount once a year. I’ve always felt really invested in by KFTC, so it’s exciting to me to be able to give back. Jonah: I decided to become a Sustaining Giver for two reasons: I really believe in KFTC’s mission, values and vision, and I’m really forgetful and lazy. I realized there was an option to donate any amount I wanted on a basis that worked for me. I decided to just make it easier on myself and become a Sustaining Giver. Why is it important in this moment to build grassroots power? Jonah: I think people should always have the most power in our democracy. We should be developing communities in our state and nation in ways that consider what’s best for all people. Especially now, there’s a lot of potential for things to go in a bad direction for Kentuckians, with proposed changes to health care and taxes. Now more than ever, we need to inform and engage folks to show up in a good way. Meredith: This is a really pivotal time, and a lot of people are looking for ways to use their energy and work with organizations they can trust to do good work.
Meredith: We have to do this work with a large body of folks. It has to come from all over the state, in every county. A Sustaining Gift is assuring us that that work will happen across Kentucky. Jonah: I’ve talked to people who had never heard of KFTC. It’s so cool to hear folks say, “This is the organization I’ve been waiting my whole life to be involved in.” Sustaining Gifts are important to making that happen. How can Sustaining Givers help build a healthy democracy? Jonah: The more time we invest in our elections, the more we’re going to be happy with the results. It means we need to invest more now to have a better future later – voter registration, canvassing, helping develop leaders we want to see in positions of power. It means we get to work – now is the time to get to work. Meredith: Our strategy is for real, year-long voter engagement. We want people to not just come to the polls, but come to the polls educated and empowered and invested in their vote. And that really is a year-long process. Sustaining Gifts make these conversations possible. Why invest in the Organizer Apprentice program? Jonah: I’m entering new areas of eastern Kentucky and meeting new people, and I don’t know if that work would be possible without the apprentices. The benefit of having more people on the ground is already paying off, increasing our ability to be more present in communities. I’m excited as a member, and as a Kentuckian, to see so much more engagement. Meredith: This program is really exciting for me personally, it’s exciting for the organization, and it’s exciting for Kentucky. This is really a historical moment in our organization, and as a social justice organization in Kentucky with 11,000 members, it’s also a historical moment for organizing in Kentucky. But we still have a long way to go to continue supporting this program and other power building work that KFTC does.
Meredith Wadlington