A launch party for Organizing for a New Economy, or ONE, was held at Hunter’s Field, in hopes to make sure working class families can afford to keep food on the table, and engage in the upcoming election.
The event featured voter registration booths, information and applications for union jobs, and other accessible resources aimed at supporting the community.
“One of the things that we’re focusing on is trying to close the Black voter registration gap,” said Kenya Slaughter, organizer for ONE, “There is a huge gap in the numbers between the amount of Black voters that are registered to vote and the amount of Black voters that actually vote. So we’re trying to get that gap closed.”
United Campus Workers of Louisiana, New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice, and Unite Here! Local 23, were among some of the additional organizations holding resource tables.
They added the event is also about creating community awareness.
“A lot of people don’t know that they have this big union in New Orleans,” said Willie Woods, representative with Unite Here! Local 23, “So it’s good for us to share with these young people where they can have a good job, job security, health care, benefits, pension, all this is important to get out to the community.”
The event garnered positive responses from the large crowd of folks in attendance, who also stressed the need for community connection and mutual support.
“This is what we need,” said Bobby Wallace, attendee, “This is one of the most important things, people getting out, getting to know each other so we can help each other and look out for each other because we all got some kind of situation going on. So it’s good to help each other no matter what’s going on.”
In addition to its focus on resources, the event included food trucks, free drinks, a live DJ, bingo, a second line, and a children’s bike giveaway, in celebration of the holiday weekend.
READ MORE:Local organizations gather at Hunter’s Field to share community resources
