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This introduction to community organizing was created by Tom Tresser for the Occupy Midwest convention. More resources on organizing at http://tinyurl.com/OrganizingResources
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“Community Organizing” 1
Introduction toCommunity Organizing
“Community Organizing” 2
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
“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
“Community Organizing” 3
www.industrialareasfoundation.org
Saul Alinsky (1909 – 1972)
• Pioneer in grassroots democracy theory and practice
• Founder of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF)
• Master organizer and challenger of the status quo
“Community Organizing” 4
“Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent
abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.” - Saul Alinsky
“Community Organizing” 5
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
“Community Organizing” 6
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Source: Midwest Academy
“Community Organizing” 7
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Direct Service
Source: Midwest Academy
United Way's mission is to improve lives by mobilizing caring people to invest in the community where their resources are needed most.
“Community Organizing” 8
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Self Help
Source: Midwest Academy
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.
“Community Organizing” 9
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Education
Source: Midwest Academy
“Community Organizing” 10
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
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.
“Community Organizing” 11
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Direct Action
Source: Midwest Academy
ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities. ACORN's accomplishments include successful campaigns for better housing, schools, neighborhood safety, health care, job conditions, and more. ACORN members participate in local meetings and actively work on campaigns, elect leadership from the neighborhood level up, and pay the organization's core expenses through membership dues and grassroots fundraisers.
“Community Organizing” 12
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
“Community Organizing” 13
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of involvement
of people directly affected by
problem
“Community Organizing” 14
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Change of people involved in
problem
“Community Organizing” 15
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of structural change
“Community Organizing” 16
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of Conflict
“Community Organizing” 17
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
“Community Organizing” 18
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
“Community Organizing” 19
Organizing is about building power
“Community Organizing”
Your Power EqualsYour Strength
Plus Their Weakness
“Community Organizing”
Their Weakness Includes:
Conflict Of InterestCampaignContributions
$ Investment inImage
Scandal Criminal Activity
Close Election
Higher Ambition Past Connections
Need To LookGood To Someone
Potential Rivals
“Community Organizing”
Form Of Power What Matters
Political - Legislative Votes - Money
Consumer Ability To Cut Profits
Legal - Regulatory Clear Laws & Regulations. Free Legal Help
Strikes - Disruptive Cut Profits Or Stop An Agency From Functioning.
Forms of Power
“Community Organizing” 26
Developing Strategy
“Community Organizing” 27
Goals Org.Consid.
Consti-tuency
Targets Tactics
Goals arealways wonfrom some-one
Long Term
Intermediate
Short Term
(Not alwaysneeded)
What re-sources canyou put in? Members Leaders $$$ Staff Stuff
How will itbuild the or-ganization? Coalition
partners Visibility Budget Experience
Internalproblems inthe way?
Constitu-ents
Allies
Opponents
Who caresabout theproblem?
How arethey organ-ized?
What powerdo theyhave overthe target?
TheDecisionMaker
(Person withthe power togive you whatyou want.)
SecondaryTargets
(Pressurethem topressure theDecisionMaker)
Opponents
Steps in thecampaign.
Petitions Meetings Letters Electoral Media
Hits
(What theconstituentsdo to thetargets tomake themgive you thegoals.)
The Strategy Chart
“Community Organizing” 38
Some thoughts…
• Where there is no vision, the people perish• Imagination precedes implementation• Listen, Learn, Lead• Start where the people are• Make the path by walking it
“Community Organizing” 39
Online Resources• The Midwest Academy – Training, excellent manual – www.midwestacademy.com
• Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center – great workbook – www.inrc.org
• New Organizing Institute – www.neworganizing.com
• Community Organizers Handbook – www.organizershandbok.wikispaces.com
• The Organizers’ Collaborative – organizerscollaborative.org
• The Ruckus Society – Tools & training for organizing – www.ruckus.org
• AlternativeROOTS – Arts. Community. Activism - http://alternateroots.org
• TechSoup – Technology for nonprofits – home.techsoup.org
• The Civic Commons - Technology for the public good – http://civiccommons.com
• Rainforest Action Network – Activist resources – http://ran.org
• Mobile Active – Cell phones for civic engagement – www.mobileactive.org
• Industrial Areas Foundation – Founded by Alinksky, training- www.industrialareasfoundation.org
• Gamaliel Foundation – Coalition of organizing efforts, training - www.gamaliel.org
“Community Organizing” 40
TAKE A SHORT ONLINE SURVEY ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT…
Please visit http://tinyurl.com/CvicSurvey
“Community Organizing” 41
Tom Tresser312-804-3230
[email protected]@tomsee
www.tresser.com
Materials for community organizing online @
http://tinyurl.com/OrganizingResources