I had a chance, along with Mike Robinette, to meet with Gavin Leonard yesterday. Gavin was recently named the Ohio State Director for the Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL). He wants to network in Dayton with progressive groups and wants to help initiate actions that will energize Dayton’s progressive community.
Gavin’s life story is remarkable. In 2006, at the age of 24, Gavin was named by by Cincinnati’s City Beat Magazine as “Person of the Year” in an article entitled, “The Youth Shall Set You Free.” Here are the first several paragraphs:
Gavin Leonard will be the first to say that a baby-faced white boy, which he is, can’t tell you what inner-city black youth need. That’s their job. He’s just a translator.
Leonard has done interpretive work before. Five years ago he was a “bear viewing guide” in the Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area, about an hour’s floatplane ride from Anchorage, Alaska, introducing privileged vacationers to the unforgiving realities of the wilderness.
These days he lives and works in Over-the-Rhine, translating the patter of Hip Hop culture and the patois of philanthropy. He’s executive director of a nonprofit corporation called Citizens Organizing Neighborhoods to Regain Our Liberation, better known as CONTROL.
Most of the 100 or so youth who go every night to Elementz, the Hip Hop Youth Center managed by CONTROL, likely wouldn’t recognize the IRS code “501c3,” the financial tool that enables Leonard to translate mostly white money into mostly black art, education and self-empowerment. They only know Elementz is a place where they can go to make music, learn the art of graffiti and enjoy the kind of respect that large groups of black youth assembling at night in Cincinnati almost never attain.
What is remarkable is that the Elemntz, the 501c(3), the vision of effectively impacting urban youth via hip hop — all came from the energies and determination of Gavin Leonard. Gavin put it all together. It is easy to see why CPL chose Gavin to serve as Ohio’s State Director. Gavin is a doer. Every progressive organization, I’m sure, if given the opportunity, would would want Gavin to join their organization and get things done.
I had never heard of the Center for Progressive Leadership before meeting Gavin. Here is an excerpt from their web-site
The Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL) is a national political training institute that develops diverse leaders who can effectively advance progressive political and policy change. Through long-term, comprehensive programs for organizational leaders, political professionals, activists and future candidates, CPL provides promising leaders with the skills, resources, and networks needed to become powerful progressive leaders.
My understanding of the overall vision of the CPL is that CPL wants to move the country in a progressive direction and believes that a key component to accomplishing this vision is the development of strategies to empower individuals to emerge as leaders. CPL, no doubt, would like to find a way to mass produce the leadership of the quality that Gavin illustrates.
It seems to me, education is one long term answer as to how to engender effective leadership. Education has a lot of components but, for our society to flourish, we need a system of public education that develops the leadership potential in every student. We are far far from such education now. I’ve given some thought to the question of school reform, most recently here: Public Schools Need Radical Reform, Educational Leaders Must Answer the Question: BY WHAT METHOD?
“By What Method?” comes from W. Edwards Deming and signals a theory that insists organization, not individuals, is the key to quality. In a sense, it is fair to see our country in systems’ terms — it is fair to see our county as a system that is not working right, that is not living up to its potential. I tackled a systems’ view in my post Why Are We Rich?
CPL’s strategy is to develop and empower progressive leaders with the purpose that these leaders, once in power, will then move the country in a progressive direction. Deming, I believe, would take somewhat the opposite approach, and would say the solution is a systems’ solution — we simply need to make our system of democracy work as it should work. If our system of democracy worked to produce a government of the people, a government by the people, it would also certainly be a government for the people — that is, a government formed via authentic democracy certainly would be a government that enacted progressive ideals. CPL’s strategy to train potential leaders may be a short term solution. But, the long term solution is the vitalization of our democracy.
“Progressivism” to some people’s mind has a negative connotation, just like the word “liberal” has a negative connotation — such is the power of the forces of misinformation. But the same people who object to “liberal” would find the word, “democracy,” agreeable. It seems to me that progressives should emphasize the long view and should see their purpose as vitalizing our democracy. This emphasis might bring a lot more potential supporters into the fold.
Democracy, of course, requires an informed and engaged citizenry. It demands an educated public that exercises independent thought and judgment. Progressives need to advance strategies to help develop a more informed and engaged citizenry.
It is a good goal is to elect candidates who will advance progressive ideas. But it is a better goal to elect candidates who have the capacity and vision to show effective and wise leadership. Leadership is a rare quality. Such leadership emerges through democracy. I said this in my post, Our Democracy Must Be Revived — If We Hope To Achieve The Dreams of Our Wisest and Best: If our democracy was working as it should, and produced democratically committed quality leadership, it is a safe bet that our institutions would become transformed and we would experience revolutionary improvement in every aspect of our lives.
That’s a powerful thought that our society could be transformed through democratic action and it is a thought that progressives need to promulgate and also act upon. Spread the word, we need to make our democracy work as it should. One way to advance the ideal of making our democracy work as it should is to develop, encourage and educate individuals. It was great to meet Gavin Leonard, CPL state director, yesterday. The Center for Progressive Leadership is seeking to develop progressive leaders, and I’m predicting that, with Gavin’s help, the CPL will very positively impact the progressive movement here in Dayton.
There’s a progressive movement in Dayton? Laughable.
This town is a soul desert for anyone on the left.
I’m trying to think of cities with a strong left tradition.
Twin Citys
Chicago
Milwaulkee
Madison
hmmm..
Toledo
Cleveland.
hmmm…
Louisville
Bloomington (do college towns count?)
hmm…
nope, didn’t see Dayton on that list. Sorry.
Maybe Gavin should head up the road to the Glass City…he might have better luck there.
Jeffrey — Laughable. That hurts. I misspoke. Maybe my last sentence should read, “I’m predicting that, with Gavin’s help, the CPL might be the catalyst that could start a progressive movement here in Dayton.”
To say there already is a progressive movement in Dayton is a stretch, I agree. But there are a lot of people in the Dayton area who hold progressive values. How to achieve movement toward a more progressive society, toward a more progressive nation is the key question. CPL emphasizes leadership development, which is a needed short term strategy, but, in the long term, as my post argues, what we need to do is to work to make our democracy function as it should. In order for democracy to function as it should, we need a sea change of education and attitude within the general citizenry. Leading such a change must be the action of meaningful and democratic communities. The concept of forming internet communities is a concept with great potential that is only beginning to be developed.
Before there can be a movement toward progressivism in Dayton, there needs to be the formation of an effective progressive community in Dayton. Like I said, I’ve never heard of CPL until now but wouldn’t it be great if the CPL, with Gavin’s help, could be a catalyst for progressives in Dayton toward greater cohesion and effectiveness?
Great! Just what Dayton needs, more socialism so that the productive classes have more incentive to leave Dayton. What Dayton needs is more personal responsibility.
Rick — You evidently have a negative view of progressivism, equating it in some sense with socialism. Words like “progressive” or “liberal” or “conservative” are often the source of a lot of misunderstanding — because they conger strong emotions and understandings. I wrote above, Progressivism to some people’s mind has a negative connotation, just like the word “liberal” has a negative connotation — such is the power of the forces of misinformation. But the same people who object to “liberal” would find the word, “democracy,” agreeable. It seems to me that progressives should emphasize the long view and should see their purpose as vitalizing our democracy.
I would hope that you and everyone else would get behind the notion of strengthening and vitalizing our democracy.
Hey Mike,
Where were all the “progresssives” Thurs. morning when we were standing across from the AF Museum? I looked around and didn’t see you, Mike, David, Vic or any of the “progressive” crowd. There were about 30 of us, I guess you would say, reactionaries, and half of them were from Greene. The rest were the usual conservative anti-war types. I’m sure some of the senior members that were there would be more than happy to help you take that “progressive” out for a spin around the block, maybe help you break it in on a street corner or two. But mark your calender. When Dragons season starts you can participate every Sun. Afternoon when there is a home game. See ya at the Stadium!
You can have democracy with liberalism and progressivism.
The term is confused nowadays because the left has appropriated it.
Progressive, in US political usage, used to refer to a historical political movement, not modern politics. Its meaning has become clouded due to appropriation by first the descendents of the New Left, which had a more marxist or quasi-social democratic ideology, and later by the liberals, which were more reformist.
Then there’s Ricks use of socialism, illustrating the rights clouding of political terms, where they use “socialism” to mean any political movement or concept to the left, whether it is actually “socialist” in the Marxist sense, or merely reformist.
When I mock Dayton about its dearth of a left I am referring more to the marxist/social democratic left, who have a certain class-conciousness and are concerned about economic issues/”economic justice” and corporate power. There are very few in this area. I’m probably the only one with this POV blogging in Dayton (as far as I know).
That’s why I find Ricks comments about socialism absurb. What Rick is calling “socialist” , in Dayton would be reformist liberal or social issue liberal, such as the anti-war people, the “Peace Museum”, or environmentalists.
Scurveydog, I think your use of the words “reactionary” and “conservative” is interesting. Like I wrote above to Rick, some words are so abused they are the source of a lot of misunderstanding. I saw you on TV as part of the group protesting Bush. The TV announcer gave quite a lot of air time interviewing members of the group and identified the group, incorrectly I would guess, as representing the Democratic Party. I was glad that even though the group was small, that at least a few people had the gumption to do something.
Jeffrey, thanks for helping to illuminate the topic. You write, “Progressive, in US political usage, used to refer to a historical political movement, not modern politics.” But it is a term that deserves to be resurrected and given a definition meaningful for today. To my mind progressivism simply is associated with the concept of progress. A progressive movement, as I think about it, is one seeking progress in fulfilling our democratic potential — a government of the people, for the people — creating a society of freedom and justice for all.
” If we define an American fascist as one who in case of conflict puts money and power ahead of human beings, then there are undoubtedly several million fascists in the United States. There are probably several hundred thousand if we narrow the definition to include only those who in their search for money and power are ruthless and deceitful. … They are patriotic in time of war because it is to their interest to be so, but in time of peace they follow power and the dollar wherever they may lead.”
“The myth of fascist efficiency has deluded many people. … Democracy, to crush fascism internally, must…develop the ability to keep people fully employed and at the same time balance the budget. It must put human beings first and dollars second. It must appeal to reason and decency and not to violence and deceit. We must not tolerate oppressive government or industrial oligarchy in the form of monopolies and cartels.”
It has all been said and done by people more learned than myself. Enjoy the lasts gasps of the Roman Empire while you can. Choose they way you want to go, but the time for words and signs are over. The Newspapers do not print that side, it is not in their “interest”.
“To my mind progressivism simply is associated with the concept of progress. A progressive movement, as I think about it, is one seeking progress in fulfilling our democratic potential — a government of the people, for the people — creating a society of freedom and justice for all.”
I think we already have a democratic sociey, though this has been gamed somewhat for partisan political purposes. Yet, if people choose not to participate in voting it is their choice. If they chose to vote for things or politicians who are not in their best interests (in my, or your, opinion), again that is their choice.
Political non-participation is not coerced in our society, at least not in the recent past, so I don’t see “democracy” as an issue.
Jeffrey — I just wrote a post entitled, “Can’t Help Thinking That We Should Be Frightened About Tomorrow,” in which I state that of the threats to our future, the biggest threat is that our democracy will be incapable of producing the wise and effective leadership that the challenges of the future will demand. I am arguing that the solutions to threats to our future as well as the implementation of ideas to best develop our potential both depend on the level of vitality of our democracy. We don’t at present have the needed vitality and I am arguing that making our democracy effective, for the sake of our future, is the central issue.
Yes, I think I understand your POV. I just don’t think the situation, in re “democracy” is that dire.
But back to the topic, which is Gavin Leonard wanting to organize Dayton.
Here is a pretty good article by him..The Political Power of the Midwest. Im pretty cynical, but this guy does sound good, and sharp:
http://www.wiretapmag.org/stories/22271/
Jeffrey, Thanks for the link to the article written by Gavin Leonard. Good article. I think Gavin, along with the CPL, will be a big asset to the Dayton community.