Dear Friend,
On election day, America elected a new president and sent our country in a hopeful new direction, after eight years of toxic conservatism. At first glance, Kansas might seem to be stuck in the past, since there was virtually no change in our right- leaning legislature. But Barack Obama got almost 500,000 votes in Kansas – which means that there are nearly half a million progressives who, once united, have the potential to remake the state. Obama ran on the slogan coined by Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers’ during his hunger strike in 1972 -- “Si, se puede,” “Yes, we can.” We think this slogan is valid for Kansas too.
Founded in 1997, the Kansas Action Network has carried the banner of progressivism for over a decade now. We’ve faced many tough challenges, working against the grain of a right-wing legislature. But we’ve persevered. Uniting thirty organizations we have shown that it’s possible to fight and win for progressive causes in Kansas. In 2007 we founded a new campaign, “Raise the Wage Kansas,” which in July 2008 won its first victory – an ordinance raising the minimum wage in Kansas City Kansas from the appallingly low Kansas level ($2.65 an hour) to the new federal level ($6.55 this year, rising to $7.25 in 2009).
Just a few short months later the entire state followed Wyandotte County’s example and effective Jan 1st, 2010, over 20,000 Kansans will get a raise.
So we continue to build our coalition of Kansas Progressives. We know that we have an uphill climb. But we also know that we have many good friends and that we do not face these obstacles alone. When good people get together, amazing things happen. We saw that in Kansas City Kansas on July 24th, we saw that across the country on November 4th, and again in 2009 when the Kansas Legislature voted overwhelming to raise the state minimum wage. So we invite you now to work with us – to use KAN as your vehicle to connect with other progressives and progressive organizations in Kansas – to share solutions, ideas, and resist those who would marginalize, oppress, or silence the voices we represent.
We are faith, we are labor, we are disability rights, peace centers, farm organizations, and community groups. The group that is missing from our coalition is yours. I am confident that affiliation with KAN will be a natural fit your organization.
Sincerely yours,
Jake Lowen
President, Kansas Action Network
PHONE: 316.213.8716
ADDRESS:
501 SE JEFFERSON, STE 33,
TOPEKA, KANSAS 66607
