The event convened folks from around the state who are passionate about reforming the antiquated Alabama Constitution of 1901, which is not only the longest constitution of any democracy in the world, but also has set up a tax structure and political environment which makes it difficult for the poor to emerge from poverty.

It was great to hear our friends and colleagues including David Mathews, Kate Nielsen, Ed Gentle, Lenora Pate, Hill Carmichael, Audrey Salgado, Melanie Jeffcoat, and APP board member Mark Berte talk about their passion for rewriting our state constitution.

But what inspired me most was the group of people by whom I was sitting.  By luck, I sat at the table belonging to the late Bailey Thomson’s wife Kristi. Bailey started the modern Alabama Constitutional Reform Movement in 2000, and the day’s lunch was in his honor.

Bailey Thomson, founder of Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, died in 2006.

Unlike many people in the room, the Thomsons weren’t discussing legislative strategy to call for a constitutional convention, or talking about the gubernatorial race, or reflecting on the greatness of the man that they knew as a husband, father, and uncle.

They were working through the logistics of taking the kids to multiple open houses for school, what the weekend was looking like, and the fact that they were so excited to host an exchange student from Kenya over the next year. They were ordinary people, with ordinary issues – as was Bailey Thomson. He also happened to have an extraordinary talent to write, to reveal, and to advocate for Constitutional Reform.

I think what we need to move the Constitutional Reform movement forward in Alabama is more people like I believe Mr. Thomson was—an ordinary person with extraordinary talents to contribute.

We all have talents, and using them together is the only way we will discover what’s possible in Alabama. Whether the issue is reforming the 1901 Constitution, increasing food security, or improving educational attainment, the only people who will ultimately change these systems are normal Alabama citizens using their talents for the greater good.

• Connect to the Alabama constitutional reform movement at constitutionalreform.org
• Learn more about Bailey Thomson’s writings and teachings here
• Tell us about ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Alabama
  

Posted by Will Thomas

Our partner Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform is launching the Bring It Back Home campaign to educate Alabamians about the need for a new constitution and what they can do to make that happen.

ACCR will be holding four free workshops in Florence, Mobile, Birmingham and Dothan.  These workshops will help build grassroots support and relationships to bring Alabama closer to constitutional reform and  will be facilitated by Bob Jones, ACCR Foundation Bring It Back Home Chair.

The workshops will be a combination of speakers, panel discussions and interactive exercises and will:

• Explain Alabama’s turbulent history of six state constitutions;
• Highlight the 1901 Constitution’s Articles, Amendments, and State Code – and show how they are connected;
• Engage with elected officials to learn how Alabama’s executive and legislative branches work;
• Promote an understanding of how local decisionmaking and governance is impacted by the 1901 Constitution.

Participants will be given the opportunity to become County Coordinators who will lead a Citizens Action Team and organize training, education and legislative activities during the year.

For information regarding the Bring It Back Home workshop schedule, visit www.constitutionalreform.org.