After a month-long series of letters and conversations between me and the Rector, me and the Deacons and me and the Vestry, I am proud to announce that St. Phillips is moving its money to New York Commercial Bank, a community based bank here in New York City.

I've got some other targets on my list:

Zeta Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Flatbush Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Club of America

Brownsville Police Athletic League Center

Starrett City Boxing Club

West Indian American Day Carnival Association

Flatbush Regular Democratic Club

The Veterans Alliance Fund

Christian Cultural Center

Greater Allen AME Cathedral

Brooklyn Brownstone School

Erasmus Hall High School

Boys and Girls High School

Excellence Boys School of Bed-Stuy

Now this is a pretty healthy list of the private organizations I deal with in my ordinary life. I'm sure you've got a list just like it. Basically, I make a very simple pitch to people I know, in writing, that goes like this:

1. Doing business with a local bank helps the community because our money will be invested in the community instead of on Wall Street with the speculators.

2. You'll save our organization money.

3. You'll be contributing to helping rid the influence of Wall Street over the political system which seeks to undermine the things our organization stands for.

Then encourage your fellow members to write as well. And your neighbors. Give them a stamp and an envelope.

I can't say enough how important it is to write a physical letter rather than email or call. Especially if it is handwritten. I've discovered that people treat such letters with a deference they do not give to email or phonecalls.

After encouraging and cajoling all your friends and family members this holiday season, also start cajoling organizations. There was a long, long list of small business owners that I am a patron of that I haven't even begun to tap. I'm going to talk to Mr. Cho in the morning when I pick up my shirts. I'm going to talk to Wasim at the deli and tell him the same thing. The same to Mr. Antonio Jackson III when I stop at the newstand to get my Times before I get the A-train.

In other words, you don't have to be out in the streets to have an impact.

