Democratic leader responds to Washington Post feature of Chicago activist Mark Allen and his challenge to President Obama in re-connecting to grassroots constituencies for 2012 reelection
Rikki Jones, President Of The Cook County Democratic Women Committee Responds to Washington Post feature of Mark Allen & Obama 2012
Contact: Rikki D. Jones, President
Cook County Democratic Women (773)480-0340 Rikki_jones@msn.com
Statement By Rikki Jones, President Of The Cook County Democratic Women Committee On Mark Allen & Obama 2012
As a veteran Democratic activist and party organizer and now as Chairman of The Cook County Democratic Women, I have always and still do actively support and encourage The Obama 2012 Campaign to hire veteran activist Mark Allen to the campaign to help connect the grassroots people and issues into the Obama 2012 Get-Out-The-Vote strategies to those grassroots constituencies. Those constituencies who do not see themselves in the campaign and do not recognize current Obama Field staff certainly could identify with a Mark Allen. Mark Allen was featured in a recent Washington Post story about the pain and disconnection that many grassroots constituencies in Obama's core community feel about their expectations from the first term of President Obama and also is uniquely qualified with the experience of how to help show those same constituencies how to turn their pain into power with the re-election of President Obama.
I've been telling Obama's key leaders this for a while privately, but now I'll challenge them publicly that they can benefit from bringing a Mark Allen on board and let him direct a field operation to engage grassroots constituencies currently feeling disengaged by the campaign and showing those poor and grassroots voters why their votes matter to the re-election of President Obama in 2012 I am just echoing what so many other grass roots organizers have stated to me that Mark Allen could really help the campaign at this point going forward and the community needs people out front that they can trust, Mark Allen represents the current leadership and is relevant to the issues and concerns in our community. Finally, for those critics who say the Chicago's Obama operation do not have names and faces that they recognize, I know they cant say that about the added presence of a Mark Allen . Mark Allen was one of the first community leaders to work with President Obama during his early days as a community organizer and through the challenges of Obama's political career, and a Mark Allen needs to be seen right now reaching those who are disconnected and get them connected to the re-election of President Obama.
Taken from the 2012 Edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago -- Section of Chicago's Most Influential Black Voices !!
Mark S. Allen
>>
The Rev. Al Sharpton called Mark Allen “one of Chicago’s
legendary Black political activists and one of the premier
organizers of his generation.” Celebrating 40 years in public
service on local, state and national levels including the first
nighttime youth talk show host on the historic Black talk radio
station WVON, key roles in the election of Chicago’s first Black
Mayor Harold Washington, the historic presidential campaigns of the
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr, and one of the first community organizers
who worked with President Barack Obama in his early years as a
Chicago community organizer.
Today, Mark’s current positions are that of newly elected Chairman of Black Wall Street Chicago and National Chief of Staff to National Chairman of The National Black Wall Street USA, the movement to advocate for Black community to use its own consumer spending power and talents to sustain and increase Black business districts in majority Black communities in the spirit of the original self contained Black Wall Street District of Tulsa Oklahoma. Mark’s national organizing offices are located in the new Black Wall Street Center at 4655 South King Drive in Chicago’s
Bronzeville community. Mark is a 1986 graduate of Western Illinois
University with a B.A. Degree in Communications. Mark is a member of
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Two children, daughter DaNia and son
>> Markus
https://theblacklist.net/
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I find it interesting that Mr. Allen has accomplished so much, yet still needs President Obama to hire him to continue his work in building constituencies. He has certainly done a wonderful job; I am assuming that he plans to continue building grass root constituencies, regardless of whether President Obama hires him or not, since he's been doing it for nearly 40 years. And also because it's necessary regardless of who's in office.
I think it would be great if the President was to hire him to help expand his base among the various grassroot constituencies; but I'm hoping this isn't one of those veiled sour grapes threats like Tavis or Cornel where they make accusations because he didn't genuflect deeply enough for their liking.
In providing these services, he is making a contribution to the Eclectic Black Family of Chicago, that may well span to New York, Oklahoma, California, Wisconsin - who knows. Has he made a direct application to the President? Is the President aware of the good work he does. Since they're both Chicagoans, I would guess that would be the first order of the day.
In the interim, if Mr. Allen has some words of wisdom or a manual or Grass Roots Constituency Building 101 that he would like to share with those of us who are interested in doing the same in our communities, we would greatly appreciate it.
He can also contact the White House division on African Americans Concerns and present a proposal to them as well.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
I have never sought a job with the administration for I wanted to remain an activist and not a government official. I have participated in many of the national constituency calls with The White House and I thought it was my obligation to keep them informed that while we were making inroads in some areas that the poor communities were getting deeper and deeper disenchanted and they needed to do something to not lose this constituency, and so when Rikki Jones heard how bad the outreach was going with poor communities and no real contact with the current campaign staff, she then suggested me to be seen in some kind of visible role.
I advised that we could not play with the real numbers in that 90% of the Black community voted, BUT they omit that it was 90% of the 40% that came out and with those kinds of trends that something more had to be done to make sure that these constituencies not stay at home for the media would clearly note that his own core base was not being engaged. Unfortunately far too many take any kind of constructive criticism as being against the reelection of the President which is not true. When the President first won people just dismissed the fact that almost 40% of Chicago voters did not even vote in that historic primary but WHO CARED as long as he won. But this election in 2012 is far too important and we cannot afford to have 40% of our base feeling neglected in poor areas and feel like their votes do not matter, so I just thought it was important that this was recognized and so I am again working with White House officials as well as Campaign officials to try and develop new ways of really engaging people in poor constituencies.
So Rikki Jones has observed many of the staff, consultants, and was not convinced that they had the kind of public rapport that could connect and thus her private and public pushing of my name.
If there is anything I can do to help anyone across the country under The African Americans For Obama, then feel free to contact me directly at 773-392-0165 or markallen@blackwallstreet.org