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Grassroots strength and a longtime
involvement in serving the
community drives the candidate for
Phoenix City Council District 7.
Photo by Eduardo Barraza | Barriozona
involvement in serving the
community drives the candidate for
Phoenix City Council District 7.
Photo by Eduardo Barraza | Barriozona
By Yolie Hernandez February 16, 2007
Phoenix, Arizona - Relying on his grassroots upbringing and support,
Michael Nowakowski hopes to bring his long-time community
involvement to what he calls the next step in leadership: becoming
the next councilman for Phoenix’ District 7. If successful, he will
replace incumbent Doug Lingner, who has reached the term limits
serving as a councilman for the most diverse segment of the City of
Phoenix.
Nowakowski, current general manager of the non-profit Radio
Campesina in Phoenix, traces his connection to community causes to
his childhood, when lead by his mother gave to the poor and took
part in the farm worker’s movement of Cesar Chavez.
“All my life I have been serving others. Since I was little my parents
taught us to give back to the community,” – says Nowakowski,
whose parents’ involvement in the church provided him as a child a
structure where he experienced serving others. This early
contribution prepared him to work for the Phoenix Catholic Diocese
as a young man.
Michael Nowakowski recalls managing to be able to fuse both English
and Spanish speaking parishioners who were separated by the
language barrier. “I learned that when you talk and when you look
(at) what’s in common, you can bring people together.” And that’s
exactly what he envisions doing in District 7 if he becomes the next
council person.
Referring to issues that range from graffiti to historical preservation,
crime and education, Nowakowski points out that while these
concerns have been discussed, “we never brought everybody
together around the table to talk about what we have in common.”
Therefore, Nowakowski states his first priority will be forming a
committee to bring together the different and particular needs within
District 7.
Due to longtime involvement in community-based programs and
activities, as well as his experience living in a poor neighborhood,
Nowakowski believes he can be effective in leading with the different
challenges facing District 7. “I am a person that is not just going out
saying pretty words; I am a person of action, a person who gets
involved, who talks to the community; we are at the same level of
the people… I lived in the barrio, one of the poorest barrios around,
and I understand the needs of our people. I am from the people; I
am the son of the people; and I understand the needs.”
Running for the same council’s seat is Laura Pastor, who on Tuesday,
February 13, officially kicked off her own campaign. Pastor, a one
time teacher and whose core work in the community has been in
education, secured the endorsement of Mayor Phil Gordon himself,
among many other public officials who are backing her in her bid,
including Doug Lingner. Pastor is the daughter of U.S. Congressman
Ed Pastor, and currently appears to be Nowakowski’s strongest
contender. On the other hand, Nowakowski’s campaign has obtained
the endorsement of the largest firefighting association in Arizona,
the Professional Firefighters of Arizona (PFFA), the backing of the
United Farm Workers of America, as well as the Cesar Chavez’ family.
Thus, the race for District 7 between Pastor and Nowakowski brings
to the political arena two sharp forces which will compete for votes in
the upcoming September election: political muscle and grassroots
strength.
About this collision of forces, Michael Nowakowski refers to a Cesar
Chavez' quote: “there are two types of power: the power of money -
where you can buy even politicians- and then there’s the power of
the people.” He thinks having grassroots support instead of political
support is an advantage, because it is the people who vote. “For me,
what’s more important is the people that are in the neighborhood,
the people that are doing the work on a daily basis, the people that
are painting the walls and getting rid of the graffiti, the nanas
(grandmas) who have to take care of their grandchildren, and keep
them out of trouble, keep them out of jail, taking them to school
everyday. Those are the leaders of the community; those are the
people who count."
Michael Nowakowski hopes to bring his long-time community
involvement to what he calls the next step in leadership: becoming
the next councilman for Phoenix’ District 7. If successful, he will
replace incumbent Doug Lingner, who has reached the term limits
serving as a councilman for the most diverse segment of the City of
Phoenix.
Nowakowski, current general manager of the non-profit Radio
Campesina in Phoenix, traces his connection to community causes to
his childhood, when lead by his mother gave to the poor and took
part in the farm worker’s movement of Cesar Chavez.
“All my life I have been serving others. Since I was little my parents
taught us to give back to the community,” – says Nowakowski,
whose parents’ involvement in the church provided him as a child a
structure where he experienced serving others. This early
contribution prepared him to work for the Phoenix Catholic Diocese
as a young man.
Michael Nowakowski recalls managing to be able to fuse both English
and Spanish speaking parishioners who were separated by the
language barrier. “I learned that when you talk and when you look
(at) what’s in common, you can bring people together.” And that’s
exactly what he envisions doing in District 7 if he becomes the next
council person.
Referring to issues that range from graffiti to historical preservation,
crime and education, Nowakowski points out that while these
concerns have been discussed, “we never brought everybody
together around the table to talk about what we have in common.”
Therefore, Nowakowski states his first priority will be forming a
committee to bring together the different and particular needs within
District 7.
Due to longtime involvement in community-based programs and
activities, as well as his experience living in a poor neighborhood,
Nowakowski believes he can be effective in leading with the different
challenges facing District 7. “I am a person that is not just going out
saying pretty words; I am a person of action, a person who gets
involved, who talks to the community; we are at the same level of
the people… I lived in the barrio, one of the poorest barrios around,
and I understand the needs of our people. I am from the people; I
am the son of the people; and I understand the needs.”
Running for the same council’s seat is Laura Pastor, who on Tuesday,
February 13, officially kicked off her own campaign. Pastor, a one
time teacher and whose core work in the community has been in
education, secured the endorsement of Mayor Phil Gordon himself,
among many other public officials who are backing her in her bid,
including Doug Lingner. Pastor is the daughter of U.S. Congressman
Ed Pastor, and currently appears to be Nowakowski’s strongest
contender. On the other hand, Nowakowski’s campaign has obtained
the endorsement of the largest firefighting association in Arizona,
the Professional Firefighters of Arizona (PFFA), the backing of the
United Farm Workers of America, as well as the Cesar Chavez’ family.
Thus, the race for District 7 between Pastor and Nowakowski brings
to the political arena two sharp forces which will compete for votes in
the upcoming September election: political muscle and grassroots
strength.
About this collision of forces, Michael Nowakowski refers to a Cesar
Chavez' quote: “there are two types of power: the power of money -
where you can buy even politicians- and then there’s the power of
the people.” He thinks having grassroots support instead of political
support is an advantage, because it is the people who vote. “For me,
what’s more important is the people that are in the neighborhood,
the people that are doing the work on a daily basis, the people that
are painting the walls and getting rid of the graffiti, the nanas
(grandmas) who have to take care of their grandchildren, and keep
them out of trouble, keep them out of jail, taking them to school
everyday. Those are the leaders of the community; those are the
people who count."
Michael Nowakowski: The Power of the People
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Yolie Hernandez is the Production Director of the Hispanic
Institute of Social Issues. She graduated from the Stanford
University Publishing Program, and is a Barriozona contributor.
Contact
Institute of Social Issues. She graduated from the Stanford
University Publishing Program, and is a Barriozona contributor.
Contact
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