organizing strategies

8/14/2019 Organizing Strategies

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CommunityCommunity

OrganizingOrganizingStrategiesStrategies

Leave No EvacueeLeave No EvacueeBehind!Behind!

The Fight for A Just NewThe Fight for A Just NewNew OrleansNew Orleans


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Why Organizing Is SoWhy Organizing Is SoImportant?Important?

Fundamental social change happensFundamental social change happens

when people come together towhen people come together to

organize, advocate and createorganize, advocate and create

solutions to injustice.solutions to injustice.

Communities that are working forCommunities that are working for

social justice need tools to createsocial justice need tools to create

and sustain healthy organizationsand sustain healthy organizations


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We Face An UnprecedentedWe Face An UnprecedentedOrganizing Challenge !Organizing Challenge !

More Than Two Years After Katrina:More Than Two Years After Katrina: New Orleans Pre-Katrina Population 454,000 people Post Katrina 254,000New Orleans Pre-Katrina Population 454,000 people Post Katrina 254,000

peoplepeople New Orleans Pre-Katrina African-American population 302,000 Post-New Orleans Pre-Katrina African-American population 302,000 Post-

Katrina Population 89,000 loss of 213,000Katrina Population 89,000 loss of 213,000 60,000 families in LA still in 240 sq. ft trailers or less-usually at least 3 to a60,000 families in LA still in 240 sq. ft trailers or less-usually at least 3 to a

trailertrailer

Homeless rate is exploding! More than 17,000 homeless.Homeless rate is exploding! More than 17,000 homeless. Estimated by LA Hurricane Task Force that NOLA needs at least 30,000Estimated by LA Hurricane Task Force that NOLA needs at least 30,000

affordable rental unitsaffordable rental units 80% of 5100 NOLA occupied public housing units remain closed by order of80% of 5100 NOLA occupied public housing units remain closed by order of

HUD, set for demolition and redevelopment even though experts haveHUD, set for demolition and redevelopment even though experts havefound the buildings structurally sound and that costs for repair would befound the buildings structurally sound and that costs for repair would besignificantly less.significantly less.

New Orleans Public Education system is being destroyed! NOLA now theNew Orleans Public Education system is being destroyed! NOLA now the

charter capital of the US. Public schools that did not flood and havingcharter capital of the US. Public schools that did not flood and havingstrong parental support and high test scores flipped into charters. Therestrong parental support and high test scores flipped into charters. Thereare still public schools without libraries, too few teachers, and even lessare still public schools without libraries, too few teachers, and even lesscertified teachers, more security guards than teachers, few supportivecertified teachers, more security guards than teachers, few supportiveservices such as counselors, social workers for students, teachers and staffservices such as counselors, social workers for students, teachers and staffwho are still suffering post-traumatic stress disorders..who are still suffering post-traumatic stress disorders..

Health Care in crisis! Charity Hospital which saw 350,000 visits a yearHealth Care in crisis! Charity Hospital which saw 350,000 visits a yearremains closed as well as half of NOLA s hospitals.remains closed as well as half of NOLA s hospitals.

Mental Health CDC reported that 45% of city residents reportedMental Health CDC reported that 45% of city residents reported

significant stress or dysfunction and another 25% were worse. A suicidesignificant stress or dysfunction and another 25% were worse. A suiciderate more than triple before the storm. 534 psychiatric beds shrank torate more than triple before the storm. 534 psychiatric beds shrank toabout 80 estimated that only about 8 beds available daily. Jails becomingabout 80 estimated that only about 8 beds available daily. Jails becoming


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`New Challenges Require`New Challenges RequireGreater Strategy and SkillsGreater Strategy and Skills Importance of strategic senseImportance of strategic sense

Increased importance of a race class perspectiveIncreased importance of a race class perspective

Social political and economic contextSocial political and economic contextcharacterized by globalism.characterized by globalism.

Resurgent conservative movementResurgent conservative movement

Requires a deeper strategic capacity than mostRequires a deeper strategic capacity than mostorganizations have todayorganizations have today

Range of skills required: more than just goodRange of skills required: more than just good

recruitment methods and creative actionrecruitment methods and creative actionplanning. Need systems for internal leadershipplanning. Need systems for internal leadershipdevelopment, consciousness raising, strong factdevelopment, consciousness raising, strong factresearch, creativity in framing issues and theresearch, creativity in framing issues and theability to generate broad media attention!ability to generate broad media attention!


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Learn Organizing Models Learn Organizing Models Innovate Based OnInnovate Based On

Neighborhood Realities!Neighborhood Realities! Saul Alinsky IAFSaul Alinsky IAF has been called the father of has been called the father ofcommunity organizingcommunity organizing

Key PrinciplesKey Principles3.3. Role of organizer and leader should be distinct with localRole of organizer and leader should be distinct with local

volunteer leaders and professional staff.volunteer leaders and professional staff.

4.4. The building of the organization should be the majorThe building of the organization should be the majorexpression of communities growing power; recognizingexpression of communities growing power; recognizingthat people power is mostly a matter of havingthat people power is mostly a matter of havingoverwhelming numbers.overwhelming numbers.

5.5. Issue campaigns should be focused on a specific,Issue campaigns should be focused on a specific,individual decision maker.individual decision maker.

6.6. Organizing should target winning immediate concreteOrganizing should target winning immediate concretechanges based on the needs, interests, and issues ofchanges based on the needs, interests, and issues oflocal people rather than on a explicit ideology.local people rather than on a explicit ideology.

7.7. The mode of organxing should be 24/7 : the organizerThe mode of organxing should be 24/7 : the organizerneeds to devote all emotional, physical and intellectualneeds to devote all emotional, physical and intellectualresources to the work.resources to the work.


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Expanding ApproachesExpanding Approachesfrom the Alinsky Modelfrom the Alinsky Model

Fred Ross former IAF West CoastFred Ross former IAF West CoastDirector - Community ServiceDirector - Community ServiceOrganizations reacting to limits inOrganizations reacting to limits in

the institutional model developedthe institutional model developedindividual-membership model -individual-membership model -Cesar Chavez built United FarmCesar Chavez built United FarmWorkers - house meetingsWorkers - house meetings

connected through social aid andconnected through social aid andfamily networks Mutualistas family networks Mutualistas mutual aid groups formingmutual aid groups forming

purchasing coops and revolving loanpurchasing coops and revolving loanfunds. Buildin toward strate offunds. Buildin toward strate of


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John Baumann and Dick Helfridge founded organizationJohn Baumann and Dick Helfridge founded organizationPeoples Institute for Community Organizing establishedPeoples Institute for Community Organizing establishedthe model for faith-based organizing.the model for faith-based organizing.

Key Principles:Key Principles: Congregations of all denominations are the building blocksCongregations of all denominations are the building blocks

of these community organizations.of these community organizations. Focus on the wholeFocus on the whole ffoorr CCoommmmuuninittyy OOrrggaanniizziinngg eessttaabblliisshheedd ththee mmodelodel fforor ffaaith-ith-bbaasseedd ororggaanniizziningg..CoConngrgreeggaatiotionnss ooffaallll ddeennoommiinnaattiioonnss aarree ththee bbuiluilddiingng bbllooccksksoofftthheessee ccommuommunnitityy oorgrgaanniizatizatioonsns

Developing LOMs - Locally Organized MinistriesDeveloping LOMs - Locally Organized Ministries..

FocuFocuss oonn ththee wwhole person and respect for humanhole person and respect for humandignity and creation of just society implicit criticism ofdignity and creation of just society implicit criticism ofIAF reliance on formal leadership and non-ideologicalIAF reliance on formal leadership and non-ideological(sometimes leading to a crass and overly pragmatic(sometimes leading to a crass and overly pragmaticapproach and other shortcomings in developing leadersapproach and other shortcomings in developing leadersamong the rank and file of the participating institutions.)among the rank and file of the participating institutions.)


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ACORN Association of CommunityACORN Association of Community

Organizations for Reform Now WadeOrganizations for Reform Now Wade

RathkeRathke

First to design a replicable model ofFirst to design a replicable model ofindividual membership organization.individual membership organization.

ACORNs continued outreach to individualsACORNs continued outreach to individuals

and its continued commitment toand its continued commitment to

organizing the very poor makes it anorganizing the very poor makes it animportant supplement to IAF and PICOimportant supplement to IAF and PICO

institutional models that some times onlyinstitutional models that some times only

marginally address the question of themarginally address the question of the

unor anized.unorganized.


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Other ApproachesOther Approaches

Ella BakerElla Baker

In order for us as poor and oppressedIn order for us as poor and oppressed

people to become a part of a society thatpeople to become a part of a society that

is meaningful, the system under which weis meaningful, the system under which wenow exist has to be radically changed. Thisnow exist has to be radically changed. This

means that we are going to have to learnmeans that we are going to have to learn

to think in radical terms. I use the termto think in radical terms. I use the term

radical in its original meaninggettingradical in its original meaninggettingdown to and understanding the root cause.down to and understanding the root cause.

It means facing a system that does notIt means facing a system that does not

lend itself to your needs and devisinglend itself to your needs and devising

means b which ou chan e that s stem.means by which you change that system.


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Ella BakerElla Baker

Ella Baker understood that laws,Ella Baker understood that laws,structures, and institutions had tostructures, and institutions had tochange in order to correct injusticechange in order to correct injustice

and oppression.and oppression. Key to the process: InvolveKey to the process: Involve

oppressed people, ordinary people,oppressed people, ordinary people,infusing new meanings into theinfusing new meanings into theconcept of democracy.concept of democracy.

Finding their own individual andFinding their own individual andcollective power to determine theircollective power to determine their

lives and shape the direction oflives and shape the direction of


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Ella Baker :Ella Baker :The Outsider Within."The Outsider Within."


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Summary ofSummary of

CommunityCommunityOrganizing PrinciplesOrganizing Principles


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Be Clear On The Problem &Be Clear On The Problem &Focused on The Facts!Focused on The Facts!

Clarity on the problems that need toClarity on the problems that need to

be addressed, solid evidence for theirbe addressed, solid evidence for their

critique, the ability to reach largecritique, the ability to reach large

numbers of people with both analysisnumbers of people with both analysisand proposalsand proposals


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Who Will Lead?Who Will Lead?

The importance of recruiting peopleThe importance of recruiting people

from among the most affected byfrom among the most affected by

social and economic problemssocial and economic problems

Connected questions structure,Connected questions structure,

culture, outreach methods and theculture, outreach methods and the

dilemmas of combining organizingdilemmas of combining organizing

and serviceand service


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You Frame Them Or TheyYou Frame Them Or Theywill Frame You!will Frame You!

The principles of progressive issueThe principles of progressive issue

development, reinforcing the need todevelopment, reinforcing the need to

design explicit criteria to guide issuedesign explicit criteria to guide issue

choiceschoices


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Direct ActionDirect Action

The critical role of direct action in ourThe critical role of direct action in our

work and ways to design andwork and ways to design and

conduct actions that furtherconduct actions that further

campaign goalscampaign goals


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Build Leadership Build ABuild Leadership Build AMovementMovement

The principles of leadershipThe principles of leadership

development systematic leadershipdevelopment systematic leadership

programs rooted in popularprograms rooted in popular

education modelseducation models


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Know Your EnemyKnow Your Enemy- Know Yourself- Know Yourself

The need for excellent research andThe need for excellent research and

ways to generate and use itways to generate and use it


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Coalition BuildingCoalition Building

The principles of building effectiveThe principles of building effective

alliances and networks combiningalliances and networks combining

the strength of organizedthe strength of organized

constituenciesconstituencies


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Issue DevelopmentIssue DevelopmentCriteriaCriteria

Gives sense of power, changesGives sense of power, changes

conditions and shifts power relations.conditions and shifts power relations.

WorthwhileWorthwhile

Non-DivisiveNon-Divisive

Clear demandsClear demands

Clear TargetClear Target Easy to understandEasy to understand


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Issue DevelopmentIssue DevelopmentCriteriaCriteria

WinnableWinnable

Attracts AlliesAttracts Allies

Reveals Race, Class, GenderReveals Race, Class, Genderinequities.inequities.

Clear Time frameClear Time frame

Leads to other issuesLeads to other issues Creates New HandlesCreates New Handles

Variety of tactics neededVariety of tactics needed


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Planning An ActionPlanning An Action

Questions to think about when planning aQuestions to think about when planning adirect action?direct action?

What is the issue?What is the issue?

What are the demands?What are the demands? Who is the target?Who is the target?

Where can find the target? Why areWhere can find the target? Why areholding this target responsible?holding this target responsible?

Do we have members that can testify?Do we have members that can testify? Do we have someone who can speakDo we have someone who can speak

about our demands?about our demands?


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Planning An Action 2Planning An Action 2

What is the plan for the action?What is the plan for the action?

AnnouncementAnnouncement

Set up making the caseSet up making the case

Confrontation presenting the demandsConfrontation presenting the demands

Climax getting the responseClimax getting the response

Conclusion how will we end?Conclusion how will we end?

Can this action draw the media?Can this action draw the media?

Will this action draw sympathy and support forWill this action draw sympathy and support forour demands and place the blame for theour demands and place the blame for theproblem on the target?problem on the target?

Contingency planning. What could go wrong?Contingency planning. What could go wrong?What is our contingency plan?What is our contingency plan?


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Assign Roles and otherAssign Roles and otherPreparationPreparation

Who is scouting the location of theWho is scouting the location of theaction?action?

Who are going to be the leaders outWho are going to be the leaders out

front ( MCs, testimonials, etc)front ( MCs, testimonials, etc) Who is dealing with the target?Who is dealing with the target?

Who is the chant leader?Who is the chant leader?

Who is the media spokesperson?Who is the media spokesperson? Who is managing the visuals?Who is managing the visuals?

Other roles?Other roles?


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