Hra Hopes To Reduce Local Fragmentation
The Huron Regional Alliance is a new group dedicated to improving the climate for grassroots social change by emphasizing the interconnectedness of social movements and facilitating cooperation among groups. We believe there is far too much duplication, fragmentation, and isolation on the part of activist groups in the area. We urge groups to give the Alliance a try - one member attending our monthly meeting is a small investment that could yield greater support for your group's actions and effectiveness.
The Huron Regional Alliance was born at the Earth Day Regional Town Meeting on April 7 in Ann Arbor when 26 environmental, peace, democracy, and social justice groups convened a long-overdue dialogue. The Alliance has been meeting the last Monday of the month since May. We are proud of the diversity of some of our more active groups: Huron Valley Greens, Homeless Action Committee, Augusta Environmental Strategy Committee, Gray Panthers, Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament, Earth First!, Rainbow Organizing Committee, Habitat for Humanity, and the Rainforest Action Movement. To emphasize the regional nature of the group, meetings are rotated. So far we have met in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Augusta Township. This month we meet in Dexter.
Many organizational details are still being discussed. One decision that has been made is to use the Huron Regional Alliance name for the broader group as a whole and to establish coalitions within the Alliance on specific actions or issues. So far the Alliance has adopted an action-oriented focus and in the last few months has formed coalitions to: 1) organize a volunteer workday to paint neglected elderly housing in Ann Arbor; 2) make statements before Ann Arbor City Council on low-income housing and comprehensive recycling; 3) support a rally against the Augusta Township hazardous waste incinerator; and 4) present a statement to the Ann Arbor Board of Education regarding the education of African-American children. One long-range goal is to organize annual Regional Town Meetings in the future.
The next meeting of the Huron Regional Alliance is Monday, Nov. 26 at 7pm at 2645 Peters Road in Dexter (Bob, 930-0446). If your group is sponsoring an action in late November or early December, this is an excellent opportunity to get support from other groups within the Alliance. For more information, contact us below or see future listings in AGENDA.
Huron Regional Alliance, 1411 Henry, Ann Arbor, MI 48104; 663-0003.