Community organizing a noble pursuit

Regardless of the many crises we find ourselves in these days, I will always be proud to be an American. My father (and also my oldest sister) became an American citizen when I was 10 years old, and he was the model of an American citizen and civic leader.

My father taught me a respect for civic participation and my vote. He had a clear picture of what the Founding Fathers envisioned when fighting hard for this nation. He modeled respect for our elected officials, never resorting to name calling and constant questioning of motive. My father modeled civil, respectful discourse.

I am a community activist, partly because I am my father’s daughter, and partly because my faith moves me to speak truth to power. I am a community organizer because building relationships with our fellow brothers and sisters and working toward a better world together is noble and holy. Community organizers encourage ordinary people to use their collective power to become leaders. Community organizing is about those ordinary people doing extraordinary work for the benefit of the common good.

Folks, we can resort to name calling and leader bashing, or we can choose to be productive, active citizens, finding ways to work together to lift everyone’s boat. Unlike Richard Staka from Gurnee, as expressed in his recent letter to the editor, I choose the latter. I hope you will join me.

Laurel Bault

Elgin