Revival of the HOPE Coalition, established in March, 1991, came with a giant march and rally on May 6, 1995. A multitude of speakers representing every segment of the community in Humboldt County responded to Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America by saying this county will fight to maintain a decent quality of life for its people. 1,000 anti-Contract postcards were signed and sent to Washington. A “Building Coalitions” workshop laid out programs to accomplish this vision. Dedicated activists in the HOPE (Humboldt Organized for People and the Environment ) Coalition met weekly until January, 1999 as a broad-based grassroots coalition with a vision of a more caring and just society.

Out of these meetings came actions promoting clean, safe sites for Humboldt’s homeless; saving old-growth timber & endangered species from destruction; non-violence in the resolution of disputes, and in curbing of violence on the streets; and the support of labor to a decent wage & a safe working environment. HOPE has been very active in non-partisan, electoral education, including registering voters, getting out the vote, but especially defining the issues. A sheet showing the endorsements of diverse groups on state propositions each election has been a guideline for thousands of voters.

Changes in HOPE’s modus operandi began in 1999. Activists started to burn out as living standards began to improve; members became more involved in their own specialties leaving little time for coalitions. Meetings were held 8 or 9 a year instead of weekly, were larger, & focused on a single subject. The weekly Notes & Actions newsletter became semi-monthly, carried more calendar items as networking revealed more community resources. A website, www.hopecoalition.org, was established that carried the newsletter, and an large Humboldt Resource Guide to which additions are continually being made and updated.

Another change this year was the establishment of a membership structure. HOPE has never had dues, officers, or paid workers; decisions were made by consensus. Office space & phones were shared with Citizens for Social Responsibility and Redwood Alliance. Individual contributions paid for our minimal expenses.

But the biggest change in Humboldt County began in January 2001 with the appointment of President Bush by the U.S. Supreme Court. Learning from the reaction people made to Gingrich’s “Contract,” Bush promises benefits that belie his actions. But Humboldt residents are beginning to find that this new “Contract on America” is worse than the original, and that again a united front to maintain & improve the quality of life has become a priority. The HOPE Coalition is willing to help.