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NORWALK, Conn. -- The Norwalk Daily Voice accepts signed letters to the editor. Send letters to norwalk@dailyvoice.com.
To The Editor:
We stand with the people in the communities of South Norwalk. Many residents of South Norwalk are hurting. They are in need of jobs and programs within the community. While a number of nonprofits located in South Norwalk are receiving funds for the purpose of serving the community, we are watching these same organizations do the exact opposite once they receive the funding.
These nonprofits are responsible for providing fundamental resources to residents; resources that make a difference of whether or not a family has food on the table or a roof over their heads. We want to remind the leadership of these organizations of this and ask them to remember that their job is to serve the community. At a minimum the organizations and their leadership should be committed to:
- Create economic opportunities for the community – Employment of residents from South Norwalk who are in disadvantaged situations as often as possible at a living wage
- Fiscal fesponsibility – Full disclosure of financial records, when requested, to show where the funds are going as well as a commitment to ensuring that the required percentage of each dollar reaches the program
- High-quality programming – A commitment to run performance-driven programs that have a proven positive influence on the community
- Serve the entire community regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, or affiliation
It’s time all of those who have been allotted public funding with the task to serve and benefit the community commit to do just that.
We are calling for these nonprofits to shift their priorities so that they are focusing on strengthening their own organizations internally and also re-engaging with the community. A publicly funded organization should be about empowering the people in the community with the goal of strengthening the community.
If not, we need to open the door for new young leaders from the community to start programs, as so many aspire to do. We have community members who wish to start programs to work with our young girls and young boys, create youth sport youth leagues, as well as music programs.
It is time to act. We call for an end to superior treatment of organizations without a demand for superior outcomes.
Signed, A Better South Norwalk Team Travis Simms Sandra Stokes Ernie Dumas Phaedrel (Faye) Bowman Martha Dumas
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