A Moment in History
The origins of VIDA go back to the 1960’s and the struggle for “community control” of the schools which was waged by parents and educators of the Central Brooklyn community.
In 1972, a cadre of Central Brooklyn residents and concerned supporters, seeing the dire need for honest, effective and community based political leadership drafted Al Vann, then head of the African American Teacher’s Association, to run for State Assembly. In that year’s general election, he pulled an unprecedented 2,000 plus votes under the Vanguard Independent Party, in community which has registered overwhelmingly Democratic.
Although he did not win, it had become clear from the election that the community wanted political change. The “Vanguard” movement continued to organize and work with people of the Central Brooklyn community under the heading of the Vanguard Civic Association. This was the organizational vehicle which worked diligently over the next two years to see Al Vann elected to the New York State Assembly in 1974 and then re-elected again in 1976 by an overwhelming mandate from the community.
VIDA emerged out of the struggles for equality in the 1960s, was at the forefront of political acquisition for people of color in the 1970s and saw the fruits of their labor realized in the 80s and 90s with the successful Democratic nominations of Jesse Jackson for President in 1984 and 1988 and the election of the Honorable David N. Dinkins who became the first Black Mayor of the City of New York in 1990.
The new millennium saw recently developed leadership emerge on every branch of government. Despite this sea change, these new leaders and the old guard came together to organize, mobilize and elect the first Black President of the United States, Barack H. Obama in 2008 and reelected him 2012.
VIDA remains to be a multi-generational political force that has members who hold volunteer and elected offices from the Community Board, County Committee, District Leaders to Congress, from city-wide and state-wide offices.