Organizing for America, an extension of Barack Obama's presidential campaign, hosted a listening campaign in Grover Center last night.
The listening campaign provided a chance for citizens to speak about the issues that Obama brought up during his campaign, said Greg Schultz, the state director for Organizing for America. The campaign is one of the first actions of Organizing for America.
We kind of have the way Obama's campaign was structured early on very much focused on local expertise
local knowledge and local connections Schultz said, explaining that the organization is using the structure from Obama's campaign to help fulfill the goals of his administration.
Workers for Organizing for America will talk to members of their communities and lobby for and against bills. Schultz emphasized that although Organizing for America is using the base of Obama's presidential campaign, it is important for members of all parties to get involved.
The organization is focusing on health care, energy, education and expanding the grassroots movement to keep the local community involved, Schultz explained.
After he explained the organization, Schultz took comments and questions.
Attendees brought up issues dealing with nursing home staffing, public school funding, the coal plant controversy and Ohio's stance on same-sex marriage.
Schultz then asked the attendees for suggestions on how to spread news for Organizing for America. Attendees discussed tactics that had worked for the presidential campaign. They also listed resources that they would like to have, including understandable literature on national issues, information on the stimulus package and contact information for local office holders.
Eleven people attended the meeting - mostly students and a few community members.
I was kind of sad that there weren't more of the community people here. It's great that it's all student-oriented right now. But I took it that (there would be) ... all types of people here said Meigs County resident Latisha Price, who campaigned for Obama through the Service Employee International Union.
Representatives from Ohio University College Democrats deemed the meeting a success.
I'm really excited about it. I think it's a really genius plan to keep all of these supporters engaged
said Meredith Tucker, a member of College Democrats who was the get out the vote coordinator for the Students for Barack Obama Campaign.
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Gail Burkhardt
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Greg Schultz, the state director for Organizing for America, answered questions about public school funding, nursing home staffing and Ohio
