Difference between revisions of "Progressive Chicago"
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*[[Dan Swinney]] - [[Carole Travis]] , [[UAW]], [[Frank Lumpkin]], Wisconsin Steel, Rev. [[Jim Reed]], Methodist Church, [[Eddie Burke]] of the Teamsters. | *[[Dan Swinney]] - [[Carole Travis]] , [[UAW]], [[Frank Lumpkin]], Wisconsin Steel, Rev. [[Jim Reed]], Methodist Church, [[Eddie Burke]] of the Teamsters. | ||
* [[Carl Davidson]] - [[Slim Coleman]], [[Helen Shiller]] , [[Don Weiner]] | * [[Carl Davidson]] - [[Slim Coleman]], [[Helen Shiller]] , [[Don Weiner]] | ||
| − | *Madeline Talbott - South Suburban Action Conference]] | + | *[[Madeline Talbott]] - [[South Suburban Action Conference]] |
Others targeted for contact, but not assigned included [[Clem Balanoff]], [[Sue Purrington]] of [[NOW]], [[Jane Ramsey]] at JCUA, [[Erlean Collins]], Westside Black elected officials and PUSH, TWO and [[Joe Gardner]]'s Project Hope.<ref>Progressive chicago report to K Kelleher October 27, 1993</ref> | Others targeted for contact, but not assigned included [[Clem Balanoff]], [[Sue Purrington]] of [[NOW]], [[Jane Ramsey]] at JCUA, [[Erlean Collins]], Westside Black elected officials and PUSH, TWO and [[Joe Gardner]]'s Project Hope.<ref>Progressive chicago report to K Kelleher October 27, 1993</ref> | ||
Revision as of 11:34, 6 April 2010
Progressive Chicago
Purpose
Founded in late 1993, Progressive Chicago aimed to;
- Unite progressive activists and organizations for progressive, grassroots electoral activity in local elections.
- It is a renewal of the old Harold Washington coalition; activists and academics; women; unemployed and union; gay and straight; community organizations and churches; African American, Latino, Asian, native American and white; seniors and people with disabilities; low income and middle income; west and south side....[1]
New Party roots
Progressive Chicago was founded in 1993 by members of the New Party, in particular Madeline Talbott and Dan Swinney.
In an April 27, 1993 letter to prospective Progressive Chicago members, Dan Swinney wrote;
- I recently have become interested in the New Party as well as committed myself to see if we can build a Progressive Chicago network, working with Madeline Talbott of ACORN - the local New Party convener.
- I wanted to introduce you to the NP and Progressive Chicago and would like to talk to you about it to see if there is a role you want to play.
- Enclosed is a brochure, a longer description of the NP and the ideas behind it...
Leaders
On July 16, 1993 Progressive Chicago wrote a letter to Jackie Grimshaw of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, inviting her to join the network.
The letter was signed by;
- Ron Sable
- Dwayne Harris, 21st Century Vote
- David Orr Cook County Clerk
- Ernestine Whiting, ACORN
- Madeline Talbott, ACORN
- Bessie Cannon, President SEIU Local 880
- Keith Kelleher, Head organizer SEIU Local 880
- Joe Gardner Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
- Lou Pardo, (Northwest Voter Registration Project)
- Rene David Luna , (ADAPT)
- Dick Simpson
A similar letter of September 22 1993, was signed by all the names above, except for Dan Swinney, but added six more;[2]
- Danny Davis
- Carol Harwell, United Voter Registration League
- Barack Obama
- Ron Davis
- Carl Davidson, Networking for Democracy
- Philip Jahn , Teamsters local 743
More activists
Those attending a Progressive Chicago meeting September 29 1993, included;[3]
- Carl Davidson
- Ira Cohen, for Danny K. Davis
- Ernestine Whiting
- Madeline Talbott
- Peter McLennon
- Keith Kelleher
Those attending a Progressive Chicago meeting November 17 1993 included;[4]
- Keith Kelleher
- Mildred Jackson
- Carl Davidson
- Madeline Talbott
- Peter McLennon
- Sam Ackerman
- Dan Swinney
- James Wise
More contacts
A Progressive Chicago report to Keith Kelleher, dated October 27, 1993 listed several more contacts and potential members of the organization.
It stated that Alderman Joe Moore had agreed to participate and that State senator Alice Palmer was interested and was awaiting a call from Peter McClennon.
Members had been allocated people to contact;
- Peter McClennon - Chui Garcia, Miguel Del Valle , Alice Palmer and Buzz Palmer , The Altged Group participants and John Steele.
- Dan Swinney - Carole Travis , UAW, Frank Lumpkin, Wisconsin Steel, Rev. Jim Reed, Methodist Church, Eddie Burke of the Teamsters.
- Carl Davidson - Slim Coleman, Helen Shiller , Don Weiner
- Madeline Talbott - South Suburban Action Conference
Others targeted for contact, but not assigned included Clem Balanoff, Sue Purrington of NOW, Jane Ramsey at JCUA, Erlean Collins, Westside Black elected officials and PUSH, TWO and Joe Gardner's Project Hope.[5]