Bandwidth. It's an increasingly hackneyed tech metaphor, but it works.
Life around here feels a bit like being trapped in a YouTube video about an amazingly successful organization, except that we're watching the thing over a 56K modem.
The Real Change movie is a success story about a scrappy award-winning community newspaper. The circulation and the number of vendors that we serve continually heads in the direction of up. The relationships that get created through street sales offer subplot after subplot of personal transformation.
It's filled with inspiring images of people connecting with people and reclaiming their personal dignity in the face of what are often overwhelming personal challenges.
The movie is also about high profile, high impact relational organizing and leadership on critical issues of race, class, and basic priorities during a time of enormous political possibility. We're in the news, making a difference, taking principled stands, and organizing for power.
From where we sit, however, the modem that seemed so "blazing fast" back in 1999 hasn't been replaced, and can't handle the load.
Real Change needs a capacity upgrade to sustain what you see. Our summer goal of raising $160,000 will help bring us up to speed. The show will always go on, but without the bandwidth, the quality deteriorates.
During our first week of the summer drive, Real Change raised $9,876.16 from caring supporters like you. For those of you who value our work, this is the time to step up. With each of our readers doing what they can, the goal of raising nearly $18,000 a week over May and June can be met.
Thank you to the Circle of Friends who responded during the first week of the fund drive. Without you, our work would not be possible: Aqua Verde, Bruce and Joan Amundson, William Burke, Douglas Busch, Daniel and Theresa Baker, Sue Levitson, Mark Schoen, Catherine Clemens and John Speth, Robert Stern and Dina Burstein, Marjon Riekerk and Alexander Voorhoeve, Frank Lawler and Ann McCurdy, Henry Aronson, James and Rose Flaherty, State of Washington Employees, William Tipton, Timothy Harris, Joel and Michelle Frauenheim, Aaron and Vera Giles, Joden Eikenberry, Hannah Love, Sandra Brown, Anna Benosovska, Ramen Chandrasekar and Kody Janney, Alec and Laurie Rowell, David and Rebecca Edelstein, Masako Tebbetts, Christine Mustelier, Mark Hughes, Donald and Mary Wieckowicz, Carl Pruzan, Virginia Younger, Sharon Swift, Gregory and Kathleen Hansen, Paul Bigman, Barbara Dick, Mr and Mrs. Christopher Barry, Dr. Henry McGee, Frieda Takamura, Mr, and Mrs G. Sherwood, Patricia Lynch and Frances Ford, Gayle and John Thompson, David Rogers, David and Korine Wimbles, Gretchen Bussman, Pat Cranston and Donna Swain. You make it all happen.