The weekend of August 22-24, 1997 I had the pleasure of attending a conference in Elmer, New Jersey on learning how to organize concerned residents for our small part in the campaign for better public housing.

Jackie Kendall, the guest speaker at the seminar was very informative in helping us to organize ourselves for the long haul. Jackie (from the Mid-West Academy in Chicago) is an organizing instructor who travels all over the United States and teaches different groups how to get organized to reach their goals. The manner in which she spoke to us was one of warmth and caring and one who was sincere in teaching us the way to reach our most important goal. What a remarkable lady!!!

Everyone in public housing, not only in Delaware, but everywhere, needs to get involved and join us in getting rid of such things as crime and drugs in our neighborhoods, and doing away with the bad rap that public housing receives. We are people, too, and just because our income is labeled as low we do not and should not have to live in the fear of crime and drugs. The words public housing should not be synonymous with such words. Our children do not need this today since they will be our leaders of tomorrow.

We need to all join together, forgetting the minor differences between us all, for this very important and worthwhile project. However much or little you can do will play an important role in getting the job done. With Jackies’ help and guidance, there is a way to reach our ultimate goal. Hard work and dedication are a must for us all. She also stressed the fact that it is of the utmost importance to have a legal, viable, tenant council and committee members to help us gain respect and recognition. The more recognition we have, the more we will be able to accomplish. I urge each and every one of you to support this campaign to help make the difference.

IT CAN BE DONE!

Please join us in our efforts to provide better public housing not only for our small community, but for housing all over the United States of America.

Sincerely,

Mary Lynn O’Neal