The Southern States Development Director for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Charles James is interested in financial empowerment, affordable healthcare, children’s advocacy, quality public education and getting out the vote. These are a few of the reasons that the Birmingham native and political consultant has enlisted the help of more than a dozen local and national nonprofit organizations to develop an ACORN presence in Birmingham.

The ACORN & Friends Greater Birmingham Community Empowerment Summit will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Birmingham YWCA, located at 309 23rd Street North. The event will begin with a keynote speech by Congressman Artur Davis, followed by an afternoon of presentations and discussion forums and concluding with a buffet reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day and several spoken word artists and inspirational speakers will perform.

Organizers are hoping for a crowd of 500 to attend the summit, which is geared toward low- and moderate-income families throughout the area. Organizations such as Greater Birmingham Ministries, Voices for Alabama Children, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Impact Alabama will be represented at the Saturday summit. The goal is to raise awareness of these organizations as a first step toward organizing to affect change in communities. According to James, this kind of grassroots campaigning is essential – citizens must know what resources they have available to them in order to start utilizing those resources.

“ACORN defines empowerment by making a person’s quality of life better than it was yesterday,” James says. “Everybody wants to have more. Everybody wants to make more money. This is about more than that – it’s about breaking cycles of poverty and cycles of ignorance. We want communities to realize they can do that for themselves.

“The number one goal is to assess and organize citizens on issues that inhibit their quality of life,” James says. “It’s important to empower low- to moderate-income families so that they find a place at the policy-making table. “We can actually show people that there is strength in numbers.”

ACORN SUMMIT SCHEDULE • Saturday, Aug. 25

12–5 p.m.
Vendors and Community Organization Resource tables — Auditorium
Finger Printing & Picture I.D. for Children – Auditorium
Kids (ages 12 & under) games for BIG PRIZES!!! – Auditorium
Door Prizes and Games

12–12:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Congressman Artur Davis – Auditorium

2:45–1:15 p.m.
Women’s Self Defense Presentation – Auditorium
Kids Dance Presentation – Auditorium

1–2 p.m.
Family Health & Wellness Seminar – Classroom # 1
Affording & Preparing for College Seminar – Classroom # 2
Social, Health & Financial Resources for Senior Citizens – Classroom 3

2–3:30 p.m.
Forum: The Role of the Black Church in the Black Community – Auditorium

2:30–4 p.m.
Youth Empowerment Forum for High School Students
Classroom # 1: “Know Your Legal Rights”

3:45–5:15 p.m.
Classroom #2: Financial Justice Workshop
4–5:30 p.m.
Community & Non-Profit Resources Seminar – Classroom # 1
Political Action. What’s in it for me? – Classroom # 2
Grassroots Lobbying and Effective Advocacy Campaigns – Classroom # 2

5:30–7:30 p.m.

“Standing on my Sisters” – Shoulders Buffet Reception: Honoring Birmingham, Women making positive achievements in Business, Government & Community Service