Volunteers all over Michigan watched as President Barack Obama spoke via webcast tonight from New York, urging them to continue their efforts to push for reform. The speech comes near the end of Organizing for America’s national day of action that urged over 200,000 people to call their member of congress.
The president's address struck a chord with Neighborhood Team Leader Marisa Downs. "Great motivating speech. We got your back Mr. President. We're just getting started on cleaning up this country."
Marisa needed little motivation to take part in Organizing for America’s efforts “Time to Deliver” day of action. Activism is in her blood. “My father was in the Peace Corp and my mom followed civil rights leaders like Cesar Chavez and the Kennedys. I also had great teachers who taught me how important it is to be informed and involved.” Marisa and her fellow volunteers from the Plymouth Democratic Club have been working for reform for months, making thousands of calls, and getting hundreds of voices involved in the process. Tonight’s effort is just another day in the office. Marisa’s group even had to change locations so they could continue to make calls.
In Lansing, volunteers continued to reach out to their community after inspiring words from President Obama. The phone bank began at 4 p.m. at the Michigan Democratic Party HQ and by 5:30 p.m., volunteers had run out of phones and were almost out of call lists. One phone call went to Interlochen nurse Kathie, who agreed to contact her members of Congress.
Kathie volunteers at the Father Fred Foundation in Traverse City and said she was going to tell her member of Congress about the plight of the uninsured she sees every day as a nurse. By the time Marsha Parrot-Boyle sat down to watch the President's speech, the Lansing effort had reached out to over 1,000 people. Marsha responded to the President's address by simple saying. "It was inspiring. Let's do it!"
