Philly After Ferguson will offer a collective inquiry into improving policing, political participation and public perceptions of blacks.
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I’ve always believed that people who reside near social problems and those who experience injustice have priceless insight on injustice and should be the ones who inform the discussion around solutions, and ultimately be the ones who change the context in which they exist.
But for agency to be fully whole, it must come with access to relevant information and to individuals who rule and govern.
That truth has guided my work as the CEO of Techbook Online, and my publishing company has consistently advocated on behalf of our readers for numerous policy changes, including the repealing of stop-and-frisk.
People – their well-being, ideas and futures – matter to me, which is why I work to repeal to stop-and-frisk when I’ve never had a bad encounter with police, or fight for education reform, though I don’t have any kids.
I believe in people power and the dreams that can be achieved when citizens organize around their assets, not their deficits. However, masses alone don’t form movements. For the masses to obtain whatever social change is desired, two things must be in place: infrastructure – a place to meet, work and organize – and a communications network, which will assist in coordinating (spontaneous) activity, disseminating timely news and transferring knowledge.
Luckily, for Philadelphians, those things exist in the form of Catalyst for Change Church and Techbook Online, the largest and most active publisher on www.PhillyinFocus.com.
Those two anchors – the black church and the black press – have proven throughout history to be valuable components for progress in African-American communities, and it’s the aim of many involved in this Wednesday’s event to continue that legacy by using the cultural tension in our city to birth transformation.
For the first time since the large scale #blacklivesmatter protests began in Philadelphia, leaders of police departments, neighborhoods, and media outlets will gather for a collective inquiry into improving policing, political participation and the public perception of the black community, black men and boys in particular.
Instead of a one dimensional conversation between moderator and panel, Philly After Ferguson will emphasize participation and action and aim to be a space where new solutions to old problems can emerge. Additionally, Philly After Ferguson is an opportunity for us to come together and birth new knowledge(s) from our differences.
Following the values of participatory action research – which is to ensure communities are at the table with professionals and officials in conversations about policy and solutions to social problems – the entire discussion between panelists and the audience will follow the Question-Answer-Question model.
For example, if a panelist is asked a question, they must first answer the inquiry directly, and then pose an inquiry to either a fellow panelist or a member of the audience at random. Whoever is chosen must then answer the inquiry directly, and then pose an inquiry to someone else.
If done right, this form of communication will continue uninterrupted until the evening’s end, and will ensure maximum public voice. It’s also my hope that the upcoming gathering will unearth our commonalities and bring to surface real solutions to moving Philadelphia forward. Though this model is almost never used in town hall meetings and I’m not sure what to expect, the one thing I do know, which gives me comfort, is that everyone who attends Philly After Ferguson will have one thing in common: the desire to see better days.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™