He's a man of many hats but today we'll tell you how Mr. Sims started his political endeavors and why he keeps it grassroots.
Christopher D. Sims began doing community organizing in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois in 1998 when he began meeting with a group who was reviewing the decision against School District #205 in a discrimination lawsuit.Listening in, Christopher started to began the importance of gathering withsmall groups of people who fight for justice and equality.
In 2000, he began with politics as a grassroots organizer with a local mayoral campaign. Christopher helped a young and up and coming lawyer named Larry Morrissey with his debut campaign for Mayor of Rockford, IL. As a voicefor this grassroots effort, Christopher helped the campaign realize its potential and co-organize an event to reach out to the people of color in Rockford, IL to learn about the candidate. Morrissey did not win, but it was an opportunityfor Christopher to develop team and organizing skills.
Later on, Christopher joined the national organizing efforts backing Dennis Kucinich for president. In Rockford Christopher helped to organize a gatheringand rally for Kucinich at a local church. There was a great turnout and Christopherwas recognized for his efforts.
In 2004, Christopher met Barack Obama at a small gathering to learn about Obama, and to help him win the Illinois State senate seat. He helped Obama'sregional organizer learn Rockford politics and introduced him to important people in the city.
In recent times, while living and working in Wilmington, DE, Christopher workedas a volunteer in the Delaware primaries to help bring in the votes for Obama.He spoke on his behalf by reading a personal letter from Obama at one of the country's oldest African American owned churches.
In October of 2008 Christopher was chosen to train as a Deputy Field Organizerin Manhattan, NY at Camp Obama. This group was trained in all aspects of Getting Out The Vote and community organizing. Christopher proudly wears the title Camp Obama Alumni. The group received media attention and international media attention just the same.
Christopher is currently involved with MoveOn.org as a council member of Rockford, IL, and will be doing another training in Atlanta, GA. As a leader ofthe health care reform movement in Rockford and the surrounding area, Christopherhas co-organized rallies for health care reform and formed group a group for this purpose.
0 comments:
Post a Comment