2009. We have a black president in America. A supposed progressive president. What will become of the year 2009? Will it be remembered in the history books as a time of great change, the beginning of a great movement, a great drive to transform our nation? Or will it only be remembered as the year when America's first black president was elected and nothing more? Will this year be an indistinguishable blip in the chronicles of history or will it mark a new page? A page that will tell about a time when college became affordable to everyone regardless of economic status, where the youth became empowered to work for their visions reality, a time when health care became available to all those in need of it regardless of where they worked, a time when violence became detested and frowned upon as a means to police our communities and our world, a time when the concerns of the poor took precedent over the concerns of the rich, a time when we agreed to really live sustainably instead of simply sustaining rhetoric of a "green" society?

Obama may have a few lines to write in this page of history. But we are not only co-authors but also the publishers of our moment in history. Whether with Transform America or with one of our Wings, join us to help Transform America. No issue is an island unto itself. We're starting with education only as a avenue to systemic, holistic, change. Register to be a mentor for 1 hour a week. Suggest ideas that should be included in a mission statement for the New York City Department of Education.

History nor change is made with talk alone. There must be corresponding actions. Pick up your pens. Let's write history.

Register Your Organization HERE:

Registration Application

We have ambitious goals, we must have ambitious organizations with the audacity to work for big change.  read more »

The Vote:

• Political Education (Youth Council, Democracy Matters, Transform America, GQ, LUCHA, and C-Roots) 6 votes
• Alternatives to college (Youth Council) 1 vote
• Developing a purpose for the NYC Dept. of Education (Transform America, C-Roots) 2 votes
• Making college Affordable (Youth Council, Democracy Matters, GQ, and LUCHA) 4 votes
• Increasing Mentors and Counselors (Democracy matters, Transform America, GQ, LUCHA, C-Roots) 5 votes

Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We have to begin to learn to rule ourselves again.
Chinua Achebe  read more »

The official vote of our Wing organizations, 5-1. A better Education in NYC will be our Destination or campaign. Now before we get to the question, “how?”, we get to the question, "What specifically?

What specifically do we wish to change about education and why?

Transform America Wings have come up with the following 5 issues to address. By 6:00pm, Tuesday August 12th, our Wings will vote for the top 3 issues they would like to vote on. Then we will begin the work of developing collaborative action plans to deal with these issues. Weigh in.

* Academic Alternatives[1]
* Political Education[2]
* Purpose Development for Dept. of Education[3]
* College Affordability[4]
* Increasing Counselors and Mentors for Students[5]

[1] To create alternatives to college for students who don't make it academically such as vocational training and giving students the proper skills to begin working after graduating high school and teaching students about self-employment opportunities. Some examples of jobs that do not require a college degree include being an entrepreneur, electrician, web master. etc. Also maybe trying to expand apprenticeship programs.

[2] Teaching students about the social justice issues affecting them such as healthcare and the economy as well as encouraging people to vote smart and be knowledgeable about the candidates and the political process. Getting high school students and young people involved in local elections, encouraging their candidacy in local politics such as the city council, and encouraging activism so that they themselves can create the type of change they wish to see in their communities.

[3] The New York City Dept. of Education does not have a purpose or mission statement. We want to create a purpose and rally the students and teachers and parents around this purpose while at the same time increasing the demand side of education and getting kids to really want to learn and invest their time and energy into education. This mission should include aspects of community control of education and human rights.

[4] To make college more affordable for prospective and current students as well as ensuring that students are aware of scholarship and grant opportunities.

[5] Bringing professionals and college students to the classroom to be counselors and mentors to high school and middle school kids so that students have someone to talk to about their futures and what an education can provide for them. This will also affect the demand side of education by increasing it because kids will see how valuable an education is.

Do not let "the how" determine what you think should change. Think freely. Which of these 3 issues do you think should should be addressed first and why?

No issue is an island unto itself. Racism is affected by inferior education, poor housing, and inferior health care. They are interrelated. To address such multi-faceted issues we must have a multi-facted approach. We're pulling our resources together, our ideas and intellects together, our presence together, our networks together, and our organizations together in order to address this issue.

Next Tuesday July 8th, Transform America and its Wings will decide upon our Destination, or our campaign for the upcoming year. Should we address education, housing, immigration, gun violence, or some other pressing problem?

Weigh in, what do you think and why?

Ever been to a conference? At NYU there are many conferences. In the black community the Gentlemen of Quality (GQ) have one intended to promote the advancement of blacks in many aspects of American society including health, education, government, business, and family. The student NAACP has a conference on similar topics, and the graduate black organization, Students of African Decent Alliance (SADA), has another one aimed at again, many of the same goals.  read more »

I'm starting to realize Process Power. Process Power is the growth and transformation that occurs within the people and in society while they attempt to achieve big societal change. It's amazing and divine. Take Flight Schools for example. I thought they were to be aimed at changing our city and our nation; tearing down the walls of discrimination and greed; exposing the underside of individualism; and learning how to organize and create plans that will change different social conditions.  read more »

Last Tuesday, C-Roots, a potential TA Wing, hosted the first Flight School. We conversed, we changed, we criticized and we arrived at a set of principals and goals for the study group. Here are some of our thoughts.  read more »

Imagine a study group where you don't study for tests, you don't study for grades, you don't even study just to gain knowledge... Imagine a group where you study for action, you study for change, you study to learn how to undo and redo our society. Imagine such a group in various parts of the city geared towards knowledge that acts. Let us begin. Like with everything that has ever produced upliftment in our world, it had a beginning. Join us. Let us begin.

Two Tuesdays from now, Febuary 5th, at 7:30 pm, 2nd floor lounge, Silver Center @ NYU 100 Washington Square East. The meeting should run 1 hour max. We will be discussing three things.  read more »

Where are our institutions of change? Our institutions of justice, our institutions against war and those against poverty? Where are our institutions for freedom and human dignity? Where are our institutions of caring and love?  read more »

We're recruiting. We're going to be attending events, programs, businesses, and shows to find committed, real organizations in NYC. We're looking for principled organizations, socially conscious businesses and artists to join this formation of social justice. Why wait for injustice to slap us in the face before we join forces? Why wait for an escalation in the war, another innocent black man shot dead in the streets, more horrible educational statistics, or more injustice from our so called justice system? Let's be proactive, pull up our sleeves and work together to set an agenda and achieve it. Contact us to come to your event or program.  read more »