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Local group's members get 'excited about activism'PANAMA CITY, Aug 06, 2011 (The News Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A group of young adults who gather each week to discuss local issues aren't trying to bring attention to themselves. Instead, they just want to do the "spade work." The group of 40 people ranging in ages from 20-something to middle age call themselves the Panhandle Community Activist Network (PCAN). It began a year ago while coordinator Jerrad Hardin was showing a film series, with a PCAN member, Katie Rowe, about activism and community development at local record store TEK Records. After each showing, the people who came were inspired to do something for the community. "It was an idea formed by a lot of people who wanted to be a part of the Panama City community to foster campaign development and activism," said coordinator Jerrad Hardin, 27, of Panama City. So, PCAN was formed to give support to local causes and groups -- to do the spade work. "Spade work is a term coined by civil rights activist Ella Baker," Hardin said. "It refers to doing the logistical work that goes behind big demonstrations or causes. It's not something you're going to win an award for, but it is work that will provide success in the big picture." The group does not try to actively promote themselves. It's all about supporting larger organizations and finding a means to do that. "We don't really care about promoting PCAN," Hardin said. "I care about promoting others and getting behind anyone who is trying to create something. I want to be a hard-working volunteer." Currently, they meet at A&M Theatre every Sunday at 7 p.m. to coordinate ideas, projects and have general brainstorming sessions. The group is meant to provide a safe place where people can talk about ideas concerning the community, gain information and learn leadership skills. "The group has a lot of different opinions," said member Melody Olivadese, 21, of Panama City. "But we would all bring something to the table that we thought was important in the community. It's a democratic thing. We vote on what we think is more important, raise money for it and work towards it." The group provides manpower for different causes that members think are important. A few of the issues the group contributed to this past year are homeless empowerment and addressing what they called police abuse and misconduct. The group helped get momentum behind proposing a Citizens' Law Enforcement Oversight committee. "We are a small group, so we don't need to clear things with any higher-ups to get things done," member Scott Mercer said. "It makes it faster and easier to get an issue out there for everyone to see." He described the method as "guerrilla style." "It's been really cool to get the community excited about activism again," he said. They not only support community efforts, but also its members by fostering leadership. They make sure the members are taking on roles, developing campaigns, creating workshops and getting involved in other organizations. "We talk a lot about leadership skills because no matter if PCAN fails or not, the members are preparing themselves to take on leadership roles to make changes, to push leaders to do the right thing for the community and to give support to organizations," Hardin said. Hardin disregards the naysayers in the community who might criticize the group's involvement in certain causes. "For me personally, I think I have this attitude where if I don't do something, someone else is going to," Hardin explained. "And it probably won't be in my favor, so why not act? It's important for folks to be doing something in favor of themselves and their communities, and if we we won't, who will?" To see more of The News Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsherald.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The News Herald, Panama City, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |