Letter to the President-Elect James Hall

December 2, 2010, Milwaukee, WI, Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association took the opportunity to wish President-Elect James Hall and his cabiner the best.

Some of the points shared were:

December 2, 2010

TO:         President-Elect James Hall

                National Association for the Advancement of Colored People-NAACP

                Milwaukee Branch

FROM:  MARY GLASS, Chair/CEO

                Milwaukee Professionals Association [MPA]

RE:          EXPECTATION-PRINCIPLED CENTERED LEADERSHIP-REFORM-INFRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES

Congratulation President-Elect Hall!

Here’s to a successful administration. 

Yesterday, December 1, 2010, we are reminded of a courageous pioneer in Social Justice, Rosa Louise McCauley Parks.  Her footprints demanded civil and human rights on Thursday, December 1, 1955.  As a result, a protest-boycott ensued for one year and 19 days - The Montgomery Bus Boycott.  It galvanized the African American community in Montgomery, raised the conscious level across the country; and, ended with African Americans winning a U.S. Supreme Court decision declaring bus segregation was unconstitutional. 

Ms. Rosa’s refusal-to-give-up her seat on that day, at that time, sparked revolutionary change.

 It is this type of leadership and BOLDNESS that is needed in Milwaukee.  The People, residential-commercial- industrial-social-government stakeholders, need to “hook-up” to a mind-set, paradigm that has ACTION fizz, BUY-IN and ROLL-CALL accountability.

The day has passed for passing the buck, slap-hand and smoke-screen rhetoric.  We must link and say, if it is to be, it starts and end with me.

Weeks-to-come

I would bet that your plate is being filled rather quickly with ideas, proposals, deals, shams, scams and an array of possibilities.

I ask that, ALL (individual, group and elected-hired-appointed government representative) input be placed in an “accountability sieve” and thoroughly scrutinized on the merits of how they stack up with overcoming disparity, concentrated poverty, a negative image, under- and un-employment, education and technology voids, health deficits, and de facto discrimination of residential and commercial stakeholders at the “neighborhood-level” in Milwaukee. 

Here are some specifics MPA is offering for you and your cabinet - officers and executive board .  It is meant to be an ALL HANDS ON DECK, WE, Not Me support.  They are:

THAT, YOU and your cabinet remember always that we seek unquenchable leadership in “civil” and “human” rights.

THAT, YOU and your cabinet adopt a principled-centered leadership Code of Ethics that includes:

-   accountability and grievance process
-   best practices                                                              
-   civility

-   customer-care

-   “daily” accountability

-   engaged/accountable MEMBERSHIP 
-   informed officers and Board                 
-   informed MEMBERSHIP                          
-   keeping “HOPE” alive                                               

-   lead-by-example

-   Milwaukee county wide outreach      
-   open communication               

-   protocol         

-   recording your history

-   spokesperson for branch                        
-   state-of-the-art communication          
-   transparency trailblazing                         
-   truth-telling                                                

THAT YOU and your cabinet, conduct a thorough “housecleaning” prior to “housekeeping”.

THAT, your initiatives-plans-programs come with the knowledge of 90% buy-in of your cabinet and at least ¾ buy-in of your membership – realizing that your honeymoon time will be one of the best time to gain buy-in.

THAT, YOU and your cabinet are deeply engaged in “communicating” with each other, “training” yourselves and passing it on to membership, donors, volunteers and well-wishers.

THAT, YOU quickly select your Parliamentarian/Sergeant-at-arms representatives to keep your meeting flowing with synergy that is courteous, timely and in-order.

THAT, YOU and your cabinet provide “introductory” BIOs on the website and photos – one paragraph.

THAT, YOU and your cabinet select and announce your 2-year and 6-year GOALS for Milwaukee’s increase in “REGISTERED VOTERS”.

THAT, YOU and your cabinet’s leadership is visible to the public; this includes holding yourselves, elected officials, leaders of Milwaukee, membership and the People’s feet to the fire.

THAT, outreach of the NAACP equals STRENGTH – necessary changes to un-trap Milwaukeeans from Concentrated Poverty, high voter registration, provide bottom-up Recovery, wealth-building, infrastructure-sustainability, empowerment laws for economic development for neighborhood-level entrepreneurs rather than empowerment of neighboring villages, towns, cities and counties; i.e., Waukesha, West Bend, West Allis, Madison, Winneconne, WI, Franklin, Oak Creek, Wauwatosa, Beloit, Racine.

THAT, YOU and your cabinet remember that your “nucleus” consists of the approximately 600,000 folk in the City of Milwaukee, with an emphasis on the inclusiveness of People of Color taxpayers.

It is important to remember that these are the folk that should be “at-your-back” and they are looking for unquenchable leadership.  Do not let yourself down by failing to train, engage, act and lead.

THAT, your monitoring includes oversight of those who have received government funding, especially ARRA-American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Stimulus funding to ensure that they are carrying their load in replacing the high unemployment and academic empowerment for African Americans, People of Color and the Work-Challenged in Milwaukee.  This is especially true for government agencies, social agencies, private schools (Marquette, Alverno, Cardinal Stritch, Concordia, Medical College of WI, Kaplan, Bryant and Stratton, Everest, public schools (Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and University of Wisconsin – System) and health care sites.

THAT, NO deals are cut with local-state-national politicians, only partnerships for your constituents.

THAT, a special criteria and county-community-wide liaison is put in place at the main office and shared with elected officials and the electorate that will call for “ROLL CALL VOTE“ accountability of all who are elected and represent Milwaukee (local-state-federal).  This includes a 6-month NAACP Report Card.

THAT, “partnerships” are measured against what you and your cabinet have agreed and presented to the membership and public.  We, the People should be kept informed, kept engaged in the goals; and, “not surprised”.

ALL HANDS ON DECK, WE, Not Me

MPA is here to assist where possible.  My office’s commitment to Social Justice did not start with the membership of the NAACP on August 10, 2010, nor did it end with my suspension on November 1, 2010.

SOCIAL JUSTICE is part of my “home-training/breeding/DNA” . 

I chose to offer services to and through the NAACP.  Therefore, the drum major in me, will continue to march for justice -  that includes making the NAACP honor its brand, “civil” and “human” rights – whether a member OR not.

YOU take the time to share with President-Elect Hall and his cabinet your concerns; and, let's roll up our sleeves for plenty of work with high standards.

Mary Glass