Stories

Oral Histories: Southern Voices

  • Scott Douglas: An Investment in Alabama Makes a Better Nation

    Before joining the staff of Greater Birmingham Ministries, Douglas served as Environmental Justice Organizer for the Sierra Club Southeast, Executive Director of the Southern Organizing Committee for Economic and Social Justice and Southern Field Representative for the Partnership for Democracy Foundation. Douglas serves on the boards of AIDS Alabama, the Alabama Poverty Project, the Gulf...

  • Ashley Shelton: Lessons Learned After Katrina

    Ashley Shelton launched the Louisiana office of One Voice, an organization created in response to housing, education, civil rights, and policy advocacy needs in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. One Voice fosters public engagement, provides access to data for policy analysis and builds alliances with partners and supporters committed to building a strong, informed electorate.

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  • Ivan Parra: Founding of the Credit Union

    An experienced community organizer and trainer, Ivan Kohar Parra cofounded three organizations that engage hundreds of grassroots leaders in social change. He is cofounder of the Latino Credit Union, a member-owned non-profit financial institution offering a full package of ethical, bilingual financial services, affordable credit options and financial education to thousands of immigrants....

  • Shirley Sherrod: Approach to Organizing

    Shirley and Charles Sherrod founded the Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education in 1961 to educate, engage and empower through advocacy and community organizing. SWGAP has successfully addressed school segregation, welfare rights, voter rights and education, housing, land loss, economic development and unfair policies affecting school children and families.

    After decades of...