Campaigns

My new CP is working with the Independent Police Auditor Teen Leadership Council also known as IPA-TLC. The IPA-TLC works closely with the Independent Police Auditor Judge Cordell and her staff.  The Independent Police Auditor (IPA) is to provide independent oversight of and instill confidence in the complaint process through objective review of police misconduct investigations. By providing outreach to the San José community and making thoughtful policy recommendations to the City Council, the IPA works to promote accountability and to strengthen the relationship between the San José Police Department and the community it serves. The IPA-TLC does work very similar to what the IPA does, but instead they focus on doing outreach to the youth to have them come and file complaints. The IPA-TLC was created to help create a better relationship with the police and teens in San Jose. The IPA-TLC in San Jose was the first in the nation to be created. Both the IPA and IPA-TLC work very closely with the mayor of San Jose, city council members, and chief of police. Since all of those candidates are elected they take elections very seriously. Even though they do not directly participate in political campaigns they encourage many people to go out and vote. They talk with people about who we should consider to be in office and they also inform people about what exactly they position they are running for does. As a group they do not back up any candidate, but individually they support a campaign and candidate based on their views. 

Citizen participation

Citizen participation is a necessary component for someone to be apart of community. As Spiegel notes, "Citizen participation is the process that can meaningfully tie programs to people" (1968). Citizen participation can be looked at as a volunteer community development groups, organized to provide the structure for citizens to become involved in community betterment activities.Volunteer citizen participation continues to be one of the key concepts in American society. My CP is the alternative spring break trip in Mulukuku, Nicaragua. The relationship between my CP and citizenship is that in order for the Sisters of Notre Dame to do their work they need help from the citizens in the community. The Sisters of Notre Dame help run programs with the communities help. The Sisters of Notre Dame could not run the programs with out the citizens help, because that is how it succeeds. They have programs that help disabled kids. In order for this program to keep running they need volunteers from the community to help. However, citizen participation does not mean that you need to help directly. Even donating money to community programs is considered citizen participation. The Sisters of Notre Dame work very closely with the community. If citizens were not willing to participate in these programs than they would not be able to run and the people who really need them would be at a disadvantage. This is why the Sisters of Notre Dame work very closely with the people living in the community. The people in the community help build better programs by supporting and participating in what they do. 

Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther King was an activist who fought for the rights of African Americans. He was the leader for the African American Civil Right Movement where he seek justice using nonviolent methods. Martin Luther King Junior believed in equality among all races. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for racial equality, which is the idea that any individual deserves to be judged on his or her own merits rather than being judged by his or her race.He believed that someday, the world would be different and everyone would love one another in our country. One thing that was accomplished during MLK time is the Voting Right Act. On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act  which stopped the prevention of African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment. The act is considered among the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history.

When I was doing some research on whether or not African Americans rights are still in danger I came across an article that talked about how African Americans feel as if their rights are still in danger. It was interesting to see the different responses between white and African American people. “If the civil rights movement has achieved its goals, why do so few African-Americans feel they do not have the same opportunities as Whites? An Associated Press poll conducted in 1998 showed that six out of ten White persons believed African-Americans have an equal opportunity. Seven of ten African-Americans polled did not agree. In the same poll, one of every three people thought the United States has not done enough since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.”

Community Partner

The community partner group that I hope to work with is the alternative spring break in Matagalpa and Mulukuku, Nicaragua. The Sisters of Notre Dame have been working to improve the lack of education for children in Nicaragua. Students will be visiting and staying with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur who live and work there, volunteering at their ministry and service sites and also engaging education and reflection with local leaders and people in the Matagalpa community.Founded on St. Julie Billiart’s belief in the goodness of God, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur bring to their lives and work a respect for the goodness and dignity of each person and a care for justice for all. The sisters of Notre Dame teach in schools and community education centers, and support and counsel people of all ages in pastoral ministries and social services. The focus of the Notre Dame mission has always been education. In fidelity to St. Julie Billiart’s vision, Sisters give particular attention to the needs of the poor throughout the world, serving and educating on their behalf. The sisters of Notre Dame are not only doing the work of God but they are fighting for those who do not have a voice. They are working hard to open up new opportunities for the poor such as being able to educate them. They are working to provide a better and brighter future for the kids. I want to go on the alternative spring break trip to Nicaragua not only because it will be a great experience, but because it will also teach me new insights on how to help people who are voiceless.