Truth, lies and questions about National People's Action

By Joe Mariano

Executive Director

National Training and Information Center

To what extent do you - as either an NPA veteran or an NPA virgin - identify with the following questions and reflections about the annual national neighborhoods conference?

What neighborhood people have said

and are saying BEFORE the annual conference

“We are selling dinners to neighbors to raise money so we can bring people from Akron to go to NPA.”

“We are renting a coach bus from a local church and are riding on it for two days from San Antonio to Washington, DC to be at NPA.”

“We are going to bring some hot plates and coolers filled with food to NPA, so we can save money by eating in our hotel rooms. That way we don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on restaurant meals in DC.”

“Some of our people who want to go to NPA to fight for immigrants rights will be driving to Washington, DC in a passenger van. This is because they are undocumented and scared of being detained by security personnel at the airport identification checkpoint.”

“We are bringing more people to NPA from Des Moines this year and want them to get fired-up. . .and the more we get people fired up with ideas and enthusiasm. . . the more we will accomplish back home.”

What neighborhood people have said AFTER the annual conference

“SACCC took 35 people to NPA and it moved them to a higher level . . . and they found our that we are NOT fighting alone and we are now inspired to do more back home.”

“I come from a family farm in rural Minnesota, where the nearest small town is 17 miles away and yet the people at NPA made me feel welcomed.”

“Our organization was given a “booster shoot” as our issue became clearer on what we had to do locally and who we had to go after to get what we want.”

“NPA exposed me to what was going on all over the country on the predatory lending issue and I came back home and used that experience to organize!”

“NPA helped us realize that we are NOT alone in our fight and that there are thousands of groups and people fighting for their neighborhoods all over the United States.”

“NPA works on issues that concern my family as well as others in Wichita. . .and to anyone that wants his or her voice to be heard. . . THINGS WILL HAPPEN. . . I should know because I left my voice in Washington, DC and couldn’t talk for days.”

“NPA is hard core . . . in taking care of business. . .there is hardly any time to go sightseeing or anything . . . its non-stop from the moment you arrive to when to leave . . .but it was a helluva lot of fun!”

“At first I was scared about going on the hits . . . I was not comfortable with direct action. . .however I got on the yellow school bus – not knowing where I was going . . . and when I got there, I realized that not only was the hit really fun, but more importantly - it produced results!”

“. . .Gale and NPA really made a difference in Pittsburgh. . . as they opened our eyes on how to use CRA. . .and through 2001 there has been $5 billion reinvested in revitalized neighborhoods. . .”

What Enemies claim after the NPA conference

“They (NPA) paid to have some 375 people flown to Washington, put up at the Renaissance Hotel, sent in on air conditioned buses, so they could trample on my little flowers and knock on my windows. . .”

“Groups like NPA . . . that protested at Senator Gramm’s house – are giving community development a bad name.”

What do you think about my three “truths” on the 32nd annual NPA neighborhoods conference?

1. We all have spent a lot of money to be at NPA – and we are representing neighbors who could not be here.
2. We are all here to learn from one another – as we are the experts on what is needed and what is working in our neighborhoods!
3. We are here to celebrate our wins and to kick ass! We kick ass by being tough, telling the truth and by going on hits.

Questions people are pondering about this 32nd annual neighborhoods conference

1. Who’s on your “hit list” NPA?
2. What is at stake - for me and my neighborhood - at this NPA?
3. What are we going to do back home, as a result of being at NPA?

back to top