Who will save USPS? Who has a bigger stake? Who has the power to be heard?
What is the United States Postal Service's value? A person could listen all day to Capitol Hill hearings, the last two Postmaster Generals, and all but one of the Postal Board of Governors and learn quickly that they don't know. The information is there to help them, but has been ignore intentionally for six years.
Thomas Padlan-Malm, whose second career as a postal clerk at 19352, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, exposed him to the power and will of the sorority/service organizations, especially the Delta Sigma Thetas, who received over 130 applications during a campus drive for membership the invited 13 to join. This is the kind of selection required to ensure the visionary thought so absent from the USPS's failing DELIVERING FOR AMERICA transformation.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
The Greek Challenge
In June 2020, the White House, all key Capitol Hill decision makers, all the committee members, and of the oversight organizations received clarity and correction, tactical advice, and a vision for a reimagined Postal Service from its strengths. It showed why money was lost, why thinking was wrong, and provided a path to correction and a sustaining and successful service. Its author discussed the proper planning elements absent for the DELIVERING FOR AMERICA plan being developed. It presented overlooked data, mis-interpreted data, and gave clarity to the services and workforce opportunities that would set a more proper bearing. It was the first of four documents, deeply researched and grounded in best practices, prevailing academic theory, and case study.
Information: In August 2025, Padlan-Malm challenged Postmasters, clerks, and letter carriers to show the decision makers in Washington, DC, how every office in America could defend itself by using a single overlooked product that every office can sell that (1) will ensure every office pays for itself and (2) bring actual benefits to local businesses, community organizations, et al. There is no advertising medium more affordable or effective available for small business America than the Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) program. It just needs to be explained to prospective customers. The campaign challenge was ignored, mostly. Yet, success of those who accepted, as one office said, "We don't just pay our offices bills and payroll with EDDM, we're paying the bills of 6 or 7 offices around us."
During the short application period when the 130 women/students brought their application packages to the postal window, they each laid them on the counter with the same requests, requirements, and conversations. The window clerk, Padlan-Malm, would ask, "Why are you applying?" This quickly circulated through the community to the extent that some of the young women came prepared to reply. A few raised goosebumps. On eyopung lady to him, she liked what he was doing. She like that people were asked to think about it. "Do you know what a Habitat family is?" one applicant asked. She said, "I am only here through their work with Habitat."
When the Delta's convened in Washington, DC, their six point agenda was missing this most important issue - the United States Postal Service.
Thomas Padlan-Malm challenges the HBCU network to examine the management of the United States Postal Service through fixed and meaningful metrics, examining the flaws in information and the motivations of (and ignorance behind) decisions.
The business colleges within the HBCUs are positioned to restore the moratorium on proper long-term strategic planning, teaching best practices and prevailing academic theory through practical execution. HBCUs are positioned to lead an end to four decades of managing from fear and risk aversion, leveraging intelligence and critical mass against the ignorance and fear.
Take Charge. Let us ignore the recent terrible reports, and set the performance standard to 2019, before transformation began. Let us understand all the data, then observe the opportunities that emerge when questions are properly asked, with a spirit of support and help behind power unignorable.
Why YOU? Who would have the power to be heard in Washington above the noise of lobbyists and opportunistic extractors? Who should be motivated to ensure a mail system continues to excel? Who has more graduates of HBCUs, and the powerful vision of their associated and activist-minded sororities, fraternities, and service organizations leading, managing, staying upwardly mobile, and thriving?
The power is in the people, the colleges, the organizations with the right intellectual vision, appealing spirit for success, and the tools, practices, and proven repeatable methods that work.
TACTIC ONE: SHOW THEM HOW. Do the members of service sororities and fraternities have time to talk to the businesses in their community about the possible marketing help from EDDM? This is an overlooked and (small test) proven opportunity that reveals to the leaders of these offices, the chance to pay all of their bills.
