Open Letter To Agenda Readers

Having recently returned to Ann Arbor, I feel more strongly than ever that AGENDA deserves your continued support, I am continually struck by the vibrancy of the peace and justice community n Ann Arbor. This is one place where people take to heart the concept: "think globally, act locally." This is. one premise on which AGENDA was founded, and more than five years later, having weathered all kinds of financial hardships, AGENDA continues to connect happenings in our own backyard with the national and international issues of thé day.

In September, 1989, after eight and a half years of living in Arm Arbor (during which time I worked on many different political issues and was a staff person at AGENDA), I moved to Washington, D.C. My most recent work in Washington was as an.organizer in the anti-war movement, both locally in D.G., and with the National Campaign for Peace in the Middle East I continually witnessed what I feel was the major shortcoming in the anti-war movement: the inability to form a truly broad-based coalition of peace and justice forces. I feel that this was largely due to. peace activists not being in touch with the issues affecting people in their own communities. It became clear that our efforts at social change were. being hampered by the.lack of a wholistic approach- one which simultaneously addresses quality of life issues (i.e. poverty, homelessness, and racism) and challenges U.S. foreign policy. I believe more now than ever that we have to change our own society before we can build the type of movement necessary to challenge government spending priorities or to stop a war.

This concept is somewhat of a tradition in Ann Arbor. For instance, I returned to the Homeless Action Committee's victory in stopping the construction of the Kline's parking structure, making "House People, Not Cars" part of this community's consciousness. Over the years AGENDA has played a key role in keeping Ann Arborites connected with local issues, such as the parking structure controversy, while also providing news and analysis of national and international events. There's no publication like it in Washington, D.C. ör most other cities, for that matter.

Having left this town and returned to it, I can appreciate AGENDA's importance more than ever. AGENDA makes a unique contribution to keeping Ann Arbor the type of . community that can serve as a model for all those seeking social justice and peace throughout the U.S.

AGENDA needs your continued support. For $15 we will send you another year of AGENDA. For a donation of $25, you will receive a spiffy 100% cotton AGENDA T-shirt in addition to your subscription [include your size, M-L-XL]. For a $35 donation, you will receive a one-year subscription and TWO tickets to a film of your choice at the Michigan Theater. A $50 donation entitles you to a subscription as well as TWO tickets to a play at Performance Network. For a contributor of $100 you will be listed as an AGENDA sustainer.

Please, invest in AGENDA, invest in your community, and invest in all of our dreams for a more just and peaceful world. Sincerely, Phillis Engelbert