Danny Cotton Interview

When did you get involved in KFTC?

At the beginning of this year. I had been aware of it before, but I hadn’t been active until this.

Why do you like FTC?

Because KFTC fights for the issues no for the candidates, parties, financial intrests but for the issues that are important to the people of Kentucky.

What issues does KFTC work on that you care about?

KFTC works on a myriad of issues, but I am personally most interested in fighting mountain top removal mining and the other disastrous affects of coal mining on Kentucky’s environment and people. Being from a rural area, I’m also interested in sustainable AG.

Explain the lobbying work KFTC does ?

KFTC is a particularly good at mobilizing citizen lobbyists, They don’t bring a bunch of slick talking suits, they bring real concerned citizens, who are talking to legislators about things they care about, not issues they’re highly paid top care about.

What does KFTC mean when they say they are a grassroots bottom up membership driven organization?

It means that KFTC chooses positions and issues based on the input of members. This is largely democratic organization, we vote on everything. Also they allow chapters to focus on issues that are important to that particular area. So while Louisville may focus on racial justice, Harlan county is working on MTR and UK is working on tuition. 

Dave Newton Intrerview

 What is KFTC?

A 26 year old grassroots deeply membership driven organization with a lot of roots in Eastern KY, but we’ve expanded statewide.

 What does KFTC do?

 KFTC works on several issues: stopping mountain top removal, increasing the minimum wage, racial justice.  It might seem like all these issue are crazily disconnected, but they are brought together by a grassroots effort by people to make their community a better place.

How did you become involved in KFTC?

I was an activist at UK working on ending sweat shop labor goods at UK. KFTC was very active in this campaign.

What is your job at KFTC?

I’m a community organizer. Which means all of my members in my chapter are my boss and I work with people on leadership development, to build consensus, and facilitate campaigns.

 What is your best moment/ favorite aspect of your job?

So many moments and victories to point to. Winning the Lextran referendum jumps to mind pretty quickly. The many good bills that KFTC has helped pass and the many bad bills that KFTC has helped bring sown.

The Most satisfying moment is when I talk to someone and there eyes are opened to the possibility that they can make a difference. Or when I hear, “This is the first political thing i’ve done.” Stuff like that has a big impact on me.

What is your most disappointing moment/ frustrating aspect of your job?

People think activism is all high action, but it also includes lots of boring administrative work.

Apathy is incredibly frustrating. When your out in a community, and people don’t seem to care. Apathy is a societal problem that we encounter too often on a personal level.

Why did KFTC start working on restoration of voting rights (rvr) ?

In 2004 we did lots of election work, voter registration especially. We’d go door to door especially in low income communities and so many people told us they would love to, but couldn’t. They couldn’t because they were former felons and in Kentucky former felons are denied the right to vote unless they go through a long and arbitrary process. After dozens of conversations we decided it was an issue we had to work on.

Why do you thing felons are denied the right to vote?

It comes from a desire to keep minorities and people in low income communities from voting.

How does KFTC work on the issue.

We find former felons and work with them to become spokes people. Our work involves lots of community outreach and awareness building. This includes events, videos, going door to door, tabling speakers. We also go to Frankfort and lobby legislators.

We have a bill to change KY’s Constitution and we put pressure on legislators all across the state. The bill passed the state house, but stalled in the state senate.