A thriving community depends on an active citizenry. Our vision to return Brockton’s government to the people consists of strategies and programs designed to include all residents in building a better Brockton. This approach produces more effective, relevant, and lasting change by soliciting buy-in and involvement from the ground up. By partnering residents with City Hall, our school system, the police department, and other municipal departments, our plan engenders a sense of civic pride, ownership, and responsibility not seen in this city in recent times.

Across the spectrum, Brockton's families tell us that they don't feel that current elected officials represent their interests, while Brockton's ethnic communities have specific concerns about the lack of racial representation at all levels of the government. We've also listened to the frustrations of a cross-section of Brocktonians who express that many of our local government offices treat residents with too little respect and courtesy.

Jass Stewart's government accountability plan works at three levels to improve the relationship between Brockton's government and its residents -- strengthening the social fabric of our diverse communities.

Expanding the New Leadership Fund’s impact throughout the city
In January 2006, Jass Stewart formed the New Leadership Fund. NLF came out of our 2005 campaign platform to create the Community Leadership Institute, a proposed community watchdog group designed to lobby for the issues facing everyday Brocktonians in the halls of government. In just eleven short months, NLF proved itself as a force for change in Brockton. What began as a small, committed group of citizens willing to act on their concerns to make Brockton politics more inclusive, transparent, and accountable grew into an organization that endorsed and, more importantly, became deeply involved in helping to mount the unprecedented grassroots campaign that led to Deval Patrick’s decisive victory in the Massachusetts governor’s race. If you are a leader in your church, your school, or your neighborhood, then you are already doing the hard and rewarding work of making Brockton a better place to live. As an organization independent of the government, Jass Stewart is committed to making sure that NLF expands its impact in the city and has the resources to give active citizens all the training, tools, and resources they need to become new political leaders in Brockton. Learn more about NLF at www.newleadershipfund.org.

Establishing a customer service program for all city employees
Like most Americans, Brocktonians want efficiency, friendliness, and service when dealing with city municipal offices. Yet, in many cases, employees are not provided with adequate training and resources to meet the needs of our residents. Legitimate professional development requires more than the unfunded mandates of the current administration; it calls for a serious commitment of resources and political will. Similar to programs found in corporate America, Jass Stewart will establish a customer service training initiative for Brockton's city workers. Using a comprehensive survey to identify problems, we will track how residents feel they were treated while interacting with various departments -- from City Hall to the school system. We will use these reports to extensively overhaul under-performing departments and reward those offices that excel at serving the community with respect and courtesy. Our approach is drastically different from the current administration’s practices.

Using technology to build awareness, understanding, and community
While other cities leverage the Internet to keep their citizens engaged and informed about community resources and events, Brockton's current administration has no articulated vision on how to use technology to bring our communities together. Our goal is to use existing and emerging technologies to strengthen the civic fabric of Brockton, facilitate dialogue, increase networking, and build community and solidarity on issues of concern. Under Jass Stewart's leadership, we will create an online forum where city departments and community groups can conduct surveys, research programs and services, share best practices, communicate with their constituents, and solicit funding and volunteers. In addition, our technology solutions will help residents access resources from small businesses and social services organizations, as well as contribute their own opinions to government leaders. As we advance into the 21st Century, it is vital that Brockton stays up-to-date with technology, allowing us all to participate not only as local citizens, but also within the broader global arena.