What is the Center for Change?
The Center for change recently opened at 60 Bonifacio Plaza in Monterey,
California. It is the culmination of a vision crafted by a core group of
Democratic activists from Monterey County who have been planning it ever
since the 2004 election. The group has been led by Vinz Koller, chair of
the Monterey County Democratic Party, who is thrilled to see that the center
is already brimming with activity. Vinz describes the center as a point of
connection between citizens and elected officials, and the center promises
to live up to the task. Events such as the recent well attended Economic
Recovery Meeting and planned events such as film nights and discussion
groups will offer many opportunities for activists to network and to
interact with electeds.
Vinz's background in organizational development, community organizing, and
his years of involvement in political campaigns as well as his 20 years of
residency on the Monterey Peninsula are all contributing to his work on the
Center for Change. Vinz understands how to empower people to take charge of
their circumstances, and he like everyone at the Center for Change is
extremely amiable and approachable. No one, no matter what their political
affiliations or leanings should have any qualms about accessing the centers
resources to affect positive change.
The Economic Recovery Meeting documentary on this page provides a window
into the vitality of the center. At the meeting the energy and eagerness of
the participants was palpable, but so to was the pent up frustrations likely
brought on by years of policy-making which has led to the economic situation
in which our state, the country and the world finds itself today. Those
frustrations were clearly evident and tangible in the discussion which took
place in the break out working groups. Participants shared accounts of
economic displacement and financial devastation, and social problems and
injustices were identified, but more importantly, solutions were verbalized
and avenues for positive engagement in solution making were put forward.
The story of the center for change and of those who attended the Economic
Recovery Meeting is the story of our times. What makes the Center for Change
unique, however, is that it strives to provide the tools necessary for
people such as me and you to influence the telling of the story, in other
words, to affect change that can be identified now in our own lives and most
hopefully in the lives of our children.
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