Power celebrate 10 years of vision, leadership and change and do it with style

POWER stands for People Organized to Win Employment Rights.

It has been ten years since POWER continues to make an impact here in San Francisco and all over the United States and abroad.

Today, may be for the first time in a many, many years we had the right folks, in the right place, with the right feeling, front line warriors - so empowered that the real meaning of power felt like a lighting rod.

Speaker after speaker spoke of a time when they needed help or joined to help others and then united with a mission with POWER to make things happen.

The stories were told by ordinary men and women but with an extraordinary manner and sincerity that brought tears to the eyes of many and melted the hearts of others.

Ordinary people making it possible to overcome extraordinary hurdles to bring progress at the work place, in homes, in communities, at City Hall, and in countries that admire the organization's ability and tenacity of POWER to bring good change at every level.

In the Bayview Hunters Point - POWER has met with simple people in need of help - trained them to understand issues, empowered them to speak on issues, and helped them to over come hurdles.

Once the PG&E tried to force home owners to pay for electrical work that was very expensive - the City and County of San Francisco tried to put liens on homes.

There was money but it was given to the rich in the Potrero Area because of Supervisor of District 10 - cared less for the poor and hard working in the Bayview Hunters Point.

POWER took the issue to City Hall and the home owners that paid thousands of dollars to do the under grounding of electricity were compensated.

Again, when thousands were exposed to the toxic bombardment in the Bayview Hunters Point - POWER joined like minded people and organizations to support the poor and those that suffered because of the adverse impacts of Lennar BVHP LLC.

Minister Christopher Muhammad was the key note speaker and enthralled the audience by his pertinent remarks.

He encouraged all to UNITE and speak and fight for the TRUTH.

These two element combined will produce a light that can and will defeat those forces and entities that keep poor people down - and other forces that deprive people of freedom.

I have worked with POWER and in the struggle to help the poor and victims of corruption they have stood side by side with me to make a difference. Others have testified and made similar statements to me and others.

All over San Francisco - that is a RACIST city - we see those in power exploit those that are not organized.

When these forces encounter organizations like POWER most everything changes. These evil forces see the TRUTH and when they encounter a UNITED force - they are defeated.

The struggle to defeat the forces of corruption is long and tedious but as we have said - the TRUTH and UNITY can and will bring progress and succor to those most in need.

POWER is here to stay and so are those who agree to a consensus of helping those most in need.

Congratulation to POWER and kudos to the organizers that threw a great celebration.

It was nice to see so many faces and so many leaders who are on the front line.

San Francisco is grateful to have an organization like POWER more to keep in check those forces and policies that harm the poor and those that are not empowered.

We wish POWER the best and we look forward to working together and making a difference in the lives of the poor and those that are taken advantage of by corrupt forces - at every level in society.

Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy