Sunday, October 24, 2004 OPINIONS The Telegraph

Don’t leave your voice unheard

Were it not for grass-roots governing, this country would never have risen to its world prominence. That’s why we take opportunities to flag good examples of citizenship when we see them.

United Congregations of Metro-East has flown so low to the ground during its brief history that it’s gone under most public radar. But the group of 26 churches has accomplished some pretty phenomenal things, and today, it is going to add to its list.

Today, it will play host to what is expected to be more than 1,000 individuals- political and civic leaders and a lot of average Joes- during a gathering from 4 to 5:30 PM

at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. It is staging what it calls its third annual Public Action Meeting.

United Congregations bills itself as a progressive, social justice, action organization, but those words don’t convey the compassion with which members have approached their agenda. They have tackled big issues, expressing concern about the state of education, health care, jobs, transportation, the environ-

ment and a hot of like topics. They are issues that newspapers like this one dig into each day but sadly see little public involvement in.

Among the campaigns have been ones to convince Madison County to retain the drug court program. Another was a fight to get a charter school for the students at the now defunct Venice High School. Still others included pushes to clean up the old Jennison-Wright railroad tie facility in Granite City and keep the Madison County Sheltered Care Home open in Edwardsville.

See what we mean about compassion? Without organization, such efforts generally fall to the voice of a few- and generally fail. Everyone knows there is strength in numbers. We have complimented the coalition’s effort before and believe it to be worthwhile. Government can’t do for the people what people can do for themselves. By uniting in such coordinated fashion, these congregations are presenting an effective way to influence community progress.

We encourage anyone with an interest in Metro-East’s future to show up today at the session in Collinsville. A lot of important people will be listening to the concerns.

For more information about the coalition, call its office at 451-1458.