Community Organizing 101
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This document provides an overview of community organizing. It begins with introducing civic engagement polls and discussing the history of civic progress through struggle. It then defines different forms of community organizing like direct service, self-help, education, advocacy, and direct action. Direct action involves challenging existing power structures and aims for more structural change. The document outlines principles of direct action organizing and provides an example of a local environmental justice group in Little Village. It emphasizes that organizing is about building power and creative problem solving. It concludes with breaking attendees into groups to brainstorm solutions for a civic problem and report back.
Community Organizing 101
- 1. “Community Organizing 101” Tom Tresser September 17, 2015
- 2. Let’s get social… #AdlerCivics @tomstee Let’s get referential… http://civicchicago.wikispaces.com Use this URL: https://wikispaces.com/join/PF4KTCP
- 3. LET'S START BY TAKING THIS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT POLL VIA TEXTIZEN HAVE YOU DONE ANY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY IN THE PAST 24 MONTHS? IF YES - TEXT "YES" TO 312-883-8103 IF NO - TEXT "NO" TO 312-883-8103 Standard text message rates apply Results @ https://www.textizen.com/polls/2941
- 4. Enjoy the music while results gathered… IF YES - TEXT "YES" TO 312-883-8103 IF NO - TEXT "NO" TO 312-883-8103 HAVE YOU DONE ANY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY IN THE PAST 24 MONTHS?
- 6. 6 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING “The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of struggle…Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning…Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out what the people will submit to, and you have found the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.” - Frederick Douglass, Letter to an abolitionist associate, 1849
- 7. 7 The Midwest Academy teaches an organizing philosophy, methods and skills that enable ordinary people to actively participate in the democratic process. The Academy courses and consulting services are designed for progressive organizations and coalitions that utilize civic engagement activities to build citizen power at all levels of our democracy. www.midwestacademy.com
- 9. 9 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS Direct Service Self Help Education Advocacy Direct Action Source: Midwest Academy
- 10. 10 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS Direct Service United Way's mission is to improve lives by mobilizing caring people to invest in the community where their resources are needed most.
- 11. 11 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS Self Help Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of men and women from all walks of life who meet together to attain and maintain sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership.
- 12. 12 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS Education
- 13. 13 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS Advocacy Source: Midwest Academy The mission of the ACLU is to preserve these protections and guarantees: Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state. Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin. Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake. Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.
- 14. 14 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS Direct Action
- 15. 15 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING DirectService SelfHelp Education Advocacy DirectAction Accepts Existing Power Relationships Challenges Existing Power Relationships Source: Midwest Academy
- 16. 16 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING DirectService SelfHelp Education Advocacy DirectAction Accepts Existing Power Relationships Challenges Existing Power Relationships Source: Midwest Academy Level of involvement of people directly affected by problem
- 17. “Community Organizing” 17 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING DirectService SelfHelp Education Advocacy DirectAction Accepts Existing Power Relationships Challenges Existing Power Relationships Source: Midwest Academy Amount of change of people involved in problem
- 18. 18 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING DirectService SelfHelp Education Advocacy DirectAction Accepts Existing Power Relationships Challenges Existing Power Relationships Level of structural change
- 19. 19 FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING DirectService SelfHelp Education Advocacy DirectAction Accepts Existing Power Relationships Challenges Existing Power Relationships Level of Conflict
- 20. 20 Win Real Improvements In People’s Lives Make People Aware Of Their Power Alter The Relations Of Power Build Strong Organizations Change laws and Regulations Elect good people The Three Principles Of Direct Action
- 21. 21 8 Direct Action Organizing Steps 1.People (members) identify a problem 2.Turn the problem into an issue 3.Develop strategy 4.Confront the target with large numbers 5.Decision Maker reacts to us 6.Win or move on to next round 7.Move the issue into the electoral arena 8.Move the issue back to the legislative arena
- 22. Kim Wasserman – Little Village Environmental Justice Organization http://lvejo.org
- 23. 23 Organizing is about building power
- 24. "This creative power is a striving power; this creative power can be seen in different views, in the power of evolution, in the power of life, in the power which accomplishes the goal of an ideal completion to overcome the difficulties of life." Alfred Adler - "The General System of Individual Psychology," an unpublished manuscript in the AAISF/ATP Archives.)
- 25. • Form four teams • One civic problem per team – let’s ask Kim • 20 minutes to brainstorm (additive, +) • Choose a scribe • What is your message/tactic? • How to get message out, attended to? • Report back
- 26. • 20 minutes to brainstorm (additive, +) • Choose a scribe • What is your message? • How to get message out, attended to? • Report back
- 28. Shameless Plug