Fed up! How about some accountability?

Andrea Parker · Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 12:35PM · 917 views

Okay.. there is so much talk about what we want from our government and our political, leaders, etc.. but let's take it down a level to changes we can see immediately! How about accountability from our "organizations", "non-profits" and "religious organizations" that claim they are "fighting" for us and our issues.
I belong to several national black/african-american focussed community and professional organizations (that I will not name). WHY am I having such a hard time obtaining information? WHY are we not updating our websites with CURRENT information? WHY are contact names and numbers inaccurate? HOW can any organization successfully make a difference when the only information that you can easily access is who the list of "officers" are and when their next convention is? Dare I say it?? I am beginning to think that many (not all) but many of the "organizations" that proclaim to be helping us black people with our "struggle" are not much more than tax exemp forms of pageantry. WHY does there seem to be a focus on the lack of resources instead of the available resources? (Yes there are other resources other than money)
So I said all of that, to see if anyone knows any answers to the following:
1) What information on non-profits is available for public review?
2)Where do you contact/how do you obtain public information on non-profits?
In a time of budget cuts and limited funding from local, state and federal governments as well as donations from individuals... I think it's time to cut the the fat. Organizations in our communities that are not helping our communities, need to get out of our communities!

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Andrea Parker Tampa, FL

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Comments (18)

Cynthia Merrill Artis Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 2:20PM

TOOSHAY!!! Great Read......

Siebra Muhammad Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 2:48PM

Amen!

DAVID JOHNSON Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 3:25PM

http://www.rileyguide.com/nonprof.html
Nonprofits, Associations,
Foundations & Think Tanks

Andrea Parker Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 3:52PM

Thank you both for the links. I will check them out and see what I can find out. I did an online search of communtiy based organizations in my area. There are many, way more than I originally thought. I believe that there are MANY organizations that DO help the community. However, I think many organizations allow the lack of financial resources to hinder progress. THOSE organizations need to receive that funds that many of the other non-productive organizations are sucking up.
Clark, like you I have been involved with organizations that did not seem to value volunteers/members who wanted to give it their all. That is what has prompted me to do something on my own. I am not starting a non-profit but I am doing research to see what is done and what needs to be done to help support those organizations that do help the community. In a time of limited resources I wonder how many of these organizations are pooling people resources and partnering with other organizations to find solutions through a bartering and/or volunteer exchange of service type program. Honestly,I think that many non-profits and community organizations, especially the newer, less established ones need a certain level of training and development to be more efficient and to be able to grow and extend their services to more people. This is a time to do more with less! Also, I think that it's hard to raise money for a program no one knows exists... I could go on and on about my views on this subject. (But I won't)
So again, thanks for the information! And I strongly encourage anyone who feels a "desire" to help promote change to do "something" ANYTHING.. and if there isn't something for you to join, then start something!

Andrea Parker Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 7:32PM

Irma,
I agree. I have been thinking about the best way to gather the information to adress the concerns. I think one of the first things that I (or concerned citizens) have to do is figure out where we are as a community. What I mean by that is we have to do our own research and find out the true numbers for our communities, income levels, graduation, rates (both for college and high school), unemployment rates, etc.. to get an idea of what our starting point is and what the major areas of concern are.
I think it is also important to find out what views "we" hold on issues that affect us. The desire to do better is relative. For example, if we do research and find out that 30% of our community is unemployed (of course this is not a real fact, just using it as an example) but that 30% does not have the skills or education to become gainfully employed then it's not a matter of creating jobs, it's a matter of access to education.. Or let's say 50% of the people in a community have incomes below the poverty level and they don't "feel" impoverished because they have access to subsidized housing, public assistance, etc.. and therefore they do not have the incentive to make more money because they will loose those benefits then it's a matter of changing mindsets and creating incentives to encourage people to raise their aspirations.
That is the reason I have been thinking about non-profitsand community organizations. I had "assumed" that those intenties took the charge in addressing issues that I mentioned above. However, once I actually joined several organizations and realized we were still at the same level with the same issues it prompted me to start to question their usefulness. And well, here I am today with this blog (smile)

Harry Watley Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 10:04PM

Hello to all,

Is not the fundamentals of this blog and the things that all of you have said is the same as in the days of Mr. Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington?
I know that the fundamentals are the same. Therefore, I also know that we, Black Americans have not made any improvements since we are discussing the same thing a hundred years since Mr. Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington's days, am I right.

Consequentially, if there is no one among us that could change direction it would be safe to say that a hundred years from now we will be discussing the same nonsense, right.

Ms. Parker why you do not consider that Black America's situation is the same as the children of Israel when they were in bondage and slavery in Egypt? The children of Israel's political leaders and elders did the same as you all are presently doing. The children of Israel discussed for 430 years a way to get a handle on their devastating conditions in Egypt until Moses came along and a significant and permanent change was made benefiting the lives of the children of Israel and the Exodus happened, am I right.

I believe that Black America's only permanent solution is that we must desire to become a sovereign people on a fertile portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders to worship God, pursue life, liberty, happiness and prosperity in our own way. What I say is going to happen in my lifetime.

Tell me what you think.

Andrea Parker Saturday, February 26th 2011 at 10:39PM

Mr. Watley,
While your point has some merit I think that there is a more pressing and immediate problem tha then need to establish ourselves as separate from the rest of the country. Let's say for the sake of argument we were separated out. Who will run our country? Who will be our leaders? What values will we hold as a society? What will we do to support ourselves economically? How will we handle trade and commerce? What will be our laws?

To effectively make any kind of permanent changes it is necessary to address the circumstances that prevent change. Your idea of utopia is yours to pursue. Maybe I'm short sighted but it seems to me that what you desire is not possible without addresssing the issues that I speak of. And so I ask you what are you doing to make change?

Let's say there was a mass Exodus of black people, those black people still take their believes, their attitudes and who they are with them. Moving doesn't make people better it's a resolve to be better that makes people better. The locations change but the situations stay the same. I ask you, what is preventing us.. in our communities NOW from doing what needs to be done to create a utopia? We have children who can't read or aren't graduating.. what is stopping us from becoming mentors and tutors?? We have those who are facing economic hardships..what is stopping us from being more charitable?... In my opion, the bondage that we face in Black America is mental. We are chained to old out-dated worn out ways of thinking that keep us trapped in our conditions.
Sir, if you really care about Black America then I urge YOU to find a way (in your own commmunity- NOW) to encourage positive changes. You can wait on a leader to rescue us from ourselves but what happens if you are so blinded by your mess that you couldn't see him even if he addressed you by name? You want a way out.. you want an Exodus, then help to to clear the path so that you can find your way?

Siebra Muhammad Sunday, February 27th 2011 at 1:14PM

LOL!

Harry Watley Sunday, February 27th 2011 at 5:51PM

Hello Ms. Andrea,

You made the point out of cowardice that separating ourselves from the rest of the country would somehow be disastrous. You ask the questions; who will run our country, who will be our leaders, what do we do to support ourselves economically and what will be our laws? Other people that were first becoming a nation tackled these very same questions and overcame. White America was such a people when they won their independence from King George III of England July 4, 1776, am I right. Since White Americans were not fearful then why should Black Americans be faithful? In your mind Ms. Andrea do you think that Black Americans are not as good as White Americans?

The questions you ask are very relevant; nevertheless, they came out of fear to move up and ahead. The wall between moving up and ahead is cowarding down to your fears and thus remaining just what you are now a subjugated, ignorant and fearful Negro. Ms. Andrea all that you have to fear is fear itself. In addition, since you have a prophet you should not have to frightening of moving up and ahead.

Had the majority of the children of Israel felt as you do the Exodus would never had happened. Is that a fair statement to make?

Anyway, these questions will be answered at a later date. I will not fill any of those seats since all I am is Black America's first genuine prophet that would give us our religion, LIFE. Then lead us into sovereignty on a fertile portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders to worship God, pursue life, liberty, happiness and prosperity in our own way. Then Ms. Andrea your questions would be answered by very intelligent Black men and women. Supposing a Black American man emerges from our ranks as good as if not better than Brock Obama then he will be our leader. Supposing excellent Black American educators emerge from our ranks then they would put together our educational system. Do you get my drift?

When a people are becoming a nation especially for the first time it is going to be very difficult and problematic, but all difficulties will be overcome. You feel me?

What is very important at this phase is that you Ms. Andrea understand that God deals with people firstly by race and people does not have the right to choose with their prophet, am I right. God choose and anointed all the prophets, right. For example, when God was dealing with the children of Israel God was not dealing with the Egyptians or other different races in the locale. Likewise, when God was dealing with the Arabian people God was not dealing with the different races in that locale as well. Therefore, it is safe to say that as God is presently dealing with Black Americans God is not dealing with White Americans, African Americans or Chinese-Americans. So, when the problems of that specific race, Black Americans is divinely resolved then the smaller issues that you think is important such as who will be our leaders is not really so important anymore. So, what I am saying Ms. Andrea is that you must be the same race as your prophet is and likewise your prophet must be your race as you are as well. If you and your prophet are not a racial match then something is wrong and out of order. Does that make sense to you? It makes sense to me because that's how I see it in reality from the first prophet God has ever anointed up to me, Prophet Harry. Moses was the same race as the children of Israel. Jesus was the same race as the House of Israel, Jewish people. Mohammed was the same race as the Arabian people and I am the same race as Black Americans.

So, as we continue to dialogue we must all ways put the pieces of the puzzle in its proper place chronologically and rationally, am I right. So, Ms. Andrea whom do you say you prophet is?

Tell me what you think.

powell robert Monday, February 28th 2011 at 8:21AM

Let us Americans be accountable to the Governance of Our Leader President Baraka Hussein Obama.

lets change to The Change We have been waiting for---change from the old childish ways of our fathers and embrace the son of a freeAfrican, the Greatest USA President Ever.

Andrea Parker Monday, February 28th 2011 at 8:47AM

Mr. Watley,
I have a busy week ahead so as much I love these debates I am not going to be much fun this week with all the back and forth. Sir, I under stand what you are saying and what your view is on what the outcome should be. My POINT is that for any successful outcome on any issue there has to be a PLAN. Even God has PLANS for us! I do not agree that there has to be a necessary separation. AND if there were a separation WHY should black people have to leave? Are you saying that Black people do not have as much as right to THIS country as anyone else? Did not slaves (our ancestors) ALSO build this country. I don't feel that any of us should HAVE to leave.
In my opinion, it is cowardace and surrendor that leads to the idea that we should even consider wanting to leave or separate out! That is why I feel that we must do what needs to be done to lift OURSELVES to a place of primacy within our structure! I equate the ideology of separating out to a team who is not doing good in a certain league and so they decide to switch leagues instead of doing what needs to be done to enhance their performance. I challenge all of US to "step our game up". No doubt in the US there are many things that may hold us back BUT there are many things... much more... to push us forward. Regardless of how you feel about the US you are here. No one is stopping YOU personally from leaving. As a matter of fact that is one of our freedoms here. I suggest that you use it if you feel so negatively about this country. It is not a matter ofwanting it be white it is a matter of not allowing our ancestor to die in vain! It was only a dream of our ancestors to live in such freedoms that we currently have. I am thankful each and every day for EVERY SLAVE that lived and died and put their prayers into the cosmos so that their descendants (us) would live a better life.
This is MY blog and on MY blog I only want to discuss what we can do to uplift your community. If that is not your idea of making progress fine. State that but stick to the topic. Sir, I have tunnel vision and single purposeness of mind. My goal is only to work with like minded individuals to enhance the success of future generations. ON MY BLOG We will not be veering off on tangents that only lead to confussion and distraction from the seriousness of the issues at hand. You have a blog and you are free to ramble as much as you want there. THIS HERE.. this is for progress.
Respectfully,
Andrea

Siebra Muhammad Monday, February 28th 2011 at 1:56PM

TEACH HARD SIS!!!

Harry Watley Monday, February 28th 2011 at 4:45PM

Hello Ms. Andrea,

Now that I retched things up a little you want to make excuses to run when you make the claim that I should stick to the topic. I am sticking to the topic. You are asking for accountability from our "organizations", "non-profits" and "religious organizations" that claim they are "fighting" for us and our issues, am I right.
Well, I am sticking to the topic when I tell you that holding these organizations accountable is not our permanent solution. I take it for granted that you would want a permanent solution, right. Our only permanent solution is that we must desire to become a sovereign people on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders.
For instance, for the sake of clarity what would you say when I tell you that Black Americans are going to inherit from the borders of North and South Carolina to the Canadian border and from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic ocean as the fertile portion that Black Americans could call our very own country with borders would that not be better than holding religious organizations accountable claiming they are fighting for us in our issues?

Now, you know that what I am saying make more sense than what you are saying. In essence the same thing that I am telling you is our only permanent solution was the same thing Moses was telling the children of Israel and the Exodus happen am I right.
You are thinking in side the box and I want you to think outside the box as I am doing.

You want a plan and I am giving you a plan. When I tell you to desire and want your sovereignty is no joke. Moses told the children of Israel all that was required of them is to desire and want out of bondage and slavery in Egypt and it happened, am I right. It happened because Moses and I are genuine prophets. Nothing that I am telling you is wrong or detrimental to us and you know it. What I am telling you is something that you can not see on paper. What I am telling you is for you to develop in your brain the need and desire to be sovereign. Did God give Moses a hard copy blueprint that the children of Israel looked over and subsequently gave their approval? No, it did not happen that way. So, why should be any different for Black Americans and I?

Lastly, you feel that I have negative feelings towards White America and since you think I do you suggest that I have the freedom to leave this country.
Ms. Andrea you are confused. You are not understanding the full gravity of the things I say, now are you? I never implied leaving this continent. Secondly, you are downgrading our sovereignty to separation. Separation and sovereignty are two entirely different animals. I think you are intelligent enough to know the significant differences between sovereignty and separation that I do not think it is necessary I explain the differences to you, okay.

But, anyway, this country visibly belongs to White America, but Black Americans has always been alongside White Americans when it came to the real estate of this country and therefore a fertile portion of this continent Black Americans will inherit in my lifetime. White Americans will be hard-pressed in the beginning, but they will soon become happy that we are finally a sovereign people and only a border separates the two countries, White America and us. Am I making any sense with you? Our sovereignty gives us the opportunity to develop our own minds, faced and overcome the natural obstacles of nature and have top-secret projects as other sovereign countries do. God has granted me my prayer for Black Americans. I do not want us wasting our time holding religious and nonprofit organizations accountable when they claim they are fighting for us. That's in the old world. We are moving into a new world if you will.

I know that the real estate of White America is owned by White American people only and not Mexicans, Chinese, Nigerian Americans or Korean-Americans. I know this because the 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence are White American people. The Declaration of Independence is the deed of ownership. This document was telling King George III of England that the colonists no longer recognize the young America to be the territory and possession of King George III. This resulted in a Revolutionary war that our ancestors fought in, am I right. Anyway, young America was victorious on July 4, 1776. In addition, the slaves fought alongside White Americans taken this land from the native Indians. The slaves were this land that caused White America to become economically a superpower. This was not the case with Mexicans, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese Americans.

In short Ms. Andrea, I will settle for nothing less than a fertile portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders to worship God, pursue life, liberty, happiness and prosperity in our own way. Again, God has inspired me to know that our only permanent solution is that we desire you and want become a sovereign people and we shall have it.

Tell me what you think.