Advocate groups unite to voice social concerns

Monday, May 16, 2005

EDMONTON -- The voice of the voiceless became a roar Sunday when 950 people from more than 50 organizations gathered for the founding assembly of the Greater Edmonton Alliance.
The group, which aims to provide a unified voice for those whose concerns are otherwise unheard, believes a larger, single organization will help achieve a livable wage for working people, more affordable housing, and solutions to the drug and alcohol problem.
"It's amazing that we've got to this point, to see all these people here," said Dan MacLennan, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, one of the organization's sponsors.
"Groups only got together before to be reactive when there was a common issue. Now we can be proactive to address all these social issues."
Representatives from labour, church groups and social agencies are involved in GEA, which is patterned after the Industrial Areas Foundation in the U.S. The IAF, founded by Chicago activist Saul Alinsky, has 62 organizations in 25 states.
It took seven years to get to Sunday's gathering, and it's only the beginning, said co-chairman Keith Dottin, a special project representative with United Food and Commercial Workers.
"There are a lot of organizations in the region that aren't big enough to have a strong voice, and our new group will certainly help."
One person who needed help at one point, and is now helping others is Akon Ajou. She came to Edmonton in 1999 from Sudan as a refugee from the civil war and worked a $6-an-hour cleaning job to get by.
"During a five-hour evening shift I was expected to clean 300 offices with no break," said Ajou, who attended the assembly in traditional Sudanese dress with her seven children.
"It is true Canada is the land of opportunity but it has been very difficult," said Ajou, who now uses the business degree she got in her home country to help out the Multicultural Health Brokers Co-op.
Mayor Stephen Mandel agreed the city has not done enough in recent years, especially in the area of affordable housing.
But he said it's been difficult dealing with so many groups. "I hope this organization moves ahead. Equal opportunity is lacking in our society, and we have to find ways to change things."
Mandel committed to meeting with GEA representatives in the coming months, but said it's the results that will count.