‘People’s Assembly’ event planned to empower north Stockton community
STOCKTON — Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin leaders want Stockton residents who are living in the city’s most troubled neighborhoods to take an active stance to advocate for their communities.
They say that if people voice their opinions, become engaged and hold their elected representatives accountable, it can lead to the improvements each community so desperately needs. To help, Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin is hosting its first People’s Assembly at 6 p.m. today at Calvary First Assembly of God at 8407 Kelley Drive.
Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin will host a forum every other month in different districts. The organization said it is choosing the districts where residents typically don’t take part in elections, and neighborhoods are prone to gun violence and have economic disparities.
The community gathering is an opportunity to invite the residents from the preselected district into a space where they can openly discuss their concerns, said Toni McNeil, a community organizer for Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin. The purpose is to educate individuals and motivate people in those neighborhoods to become engaged to promote change.
“Who better to solve the problem within the community than the people who live there?” she said.
McNeil used the Lincoln Village-area neighbors, who have banded together to advocate and save Swenson Park Golf Course, as an example of the power that constituents hold if they organize and show their needs.
“You don’t see that in (predominantly) black and brown communities,” she said. “We’re really attempting in Faith in the Valley to develop that; to build that type of camaraderie.”
After each forum, Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin wants to see a leadership council form. The group would work with the city and with the district’s council member to discuss the needs and desires of the neighborhood.
While today’s assembly is not a platform for council members, Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin said all elected officials are welcome to attend and listen.
Members from University of the Pacific, With Our Words and the OWL Movement, among others, are expected to attend, McNeil said. Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin, which is a faithbased group, is also partnering with various congregations to continue hosting the discussions.
“It is a huge community effort,” she said. “It is people from all corners of the city of Stockton coming together in order to build up the community that is in despair.
“To give the people back the power of their voice.”
The People’s Assembly is open to the public.
There will be refreshments and organizers will raffle gift cards. For more information, contact Toni McNeil at toni@faithinthevalley.org or visit Faith in the Valley-San Joaquin on Facebook at f acebook.com/faithinsanjoaquin. People are encouraged to pre-register for tonight’s event at bit.ly/2Ggntei.