GREENFIELD — Kirsten Levitt hopes that after Wednesday, local residents will feel inspired to get involved in the Poor People’s Campaign at a local, state and federal level.
Levitt, who is the executive chef and executive director of Stone Soup Café, serves as the Massachusetts coordinator for the campaign, which was started by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 to unite poor and impacted communities across the country. To raise awareness, Poor People’s Campaign national Co-Chairs William Barber II and Liz Theoharis will speak at the Second Congregational Church on Wednesday at 7 p.m. as part of the organization’s “We Must Do MORE (Mobilizing, Organizing, Registering and Educating) National Tour.”
Levitt said people should come to Wednesday’s event to be empowered and be part of their community.
“We’re asking people to throw off the mantle of apathy. Stop thinking you don’t have any power, your vote doesn’t count, you’re just one person,” she said. “People should come out to be part of something larger than yourself. It’s inspiring. You gain an active understanding and compassion for community members living with poverty every day.”
Greenfield marks the 11th stop for the MORE tour, which started in September and ends in May, according to the Poor People’s Campaign website. The event is leading up to Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington on June 20.
“The ‘We Will Do MORE National Tour’ is shining a light on the conditions of those most impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism,” according to a Poor People’s Campaign press release.
Levitt said she hopes Wednesday’s tour stop will mobilize locals to get involved with the Poor People’s Campaign. Greenfield’s chapter of the campaign meets on the second and fourth Fridays of each month in the sanctuary at All Souls Church.
“What drew me into the campaign was getting people who are poor, disabled, marginalized for whatever reason — people who don’t see their issues being addressed by lawmakers — to get involved and have a voice,” she explained.
Wednesday’s event is fully accessible with American Sign Language interpretation, and child care is available. To learn more about the campaign and the MORE tour, visit poorpeoplescampaign.org.
Reach Melina Bourdeau at mbourdeau@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263.