I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of you and my partner, Melissa Harris-Lacewell. I can't begin to tell you how proud I am to have such a powerful voice in my corner for the tough fight ahead.
I also want to thank each one of you, both for the support you've given me both in agreeing to be part our Foundation for Change in New Orleans and for all that you to do to advance progressive causes and candidates across the nation. In an effort to demonstrate my gratitute, Melissa and I will be sitting down to dinner with one of you very soon to talk about the future of the great city of New Orleans.
Please join me on the flip...
From criminal justice reform to making government open and accountable to its citizens -- the major reforms our city desperately needs aren't optional. However, the reality is that progress in New Orleans will only come at a great cost to the political old guard and the status quo that those in power fiercely attempt to protect.
In an effort to make progress and reform a reality, we've asked progressives from around the country to join our group of core grassroots supporters. These supporters, known as the Foundation for Change, will help build this campaign and re-build New Orleans. Our goal is to have 500 members by September 15th with each member committing to contribute monthly from this month until election day.
The Foundation will have a multiplying effect that will be our secret fundraising weapon as we take on our opponents and their political machines.
Both in New Orleans and all over the country, people are joining hands to support the campaign. For example, Christopher Lane, lives here in New Orleans and joined on August 22nd as a Bricks & Mortar member. On the other hand, Wayne Chocklett, also a Bricks & Mortar member fights for the future of New Orleans, 4200 miles away, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
I hope you'll consider joining the Foundation for Change so that you can be a part of the fight for the future of New Orleans.
Here's a quick description of what the Foundation is all about from my website:
I’m running for Mayor to bring long needed transformative change to the City of New Orleans. It is time for us to have the New Orleans that we all deserve, instead of the New Orleans we have.
But our campaign won’t be built with the $5,000 checks that make up our opponent’s war chests. Our campaign will be built on a foundation of hundreds upon hundreds of grassroots supporters, like you, who commit to give smaller monthly contributions over the course of the campaign. These supporters will be the Foundation for Change.
They will be regular people who share the common goal of seeing New Orleans succeed in being the best City it can be.
This Foundation for Change will provide the ground floor that this movement and campaign will be built upon. The success of the Foundation and Campaign will require the commitment of our most dedicated members to help spread our message and recruit supporters to help us expand the foundation and bring change to New Orleans.
We want the Foundation to be 500 members strong by September 15th. We know that working together, we can reach that goal.
Help prove that grassroots campaigns can win and make a difference for a great American city by joining the Foundation for Change today.
To become a Bricks and Mortar member donate to join now: $50 dollars a month for 6 months.
To become a Sustaining member donate to join now: $25 dollars a month for 6 months.
For those who joined before the deadline you should be getting an email from me and Melissa shortly thanking you for joining the Foundation for Change and telling you when we will be selecting and announcing the winner.
For those of you who haven't joined, what are you waiting for?
New Orleans won't become the city its citizens deserve unless we are all willing to fight for its future.
Follow me and our campaign at our website, facebook and/or twitter and I'll make sure to keep you up-to-date.
Thanks again for all of your support!
UPDATE - The rec list? Thanks everyone and thanks to the 9 enrollments into the Foundation for Change!
UPDATEx2 - Thanks to the commenter for pointing out the EbonyJet story on my campaign for Mayor. For those of you interested here's a link to it.