basics of direct action organizing - 2015
TRANSCRIPT
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, 1857 speech on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of West India Emancipation
Thank You, Midwest Academywww.midwestacademy.com
““Community Organizing”Community Organizing” 33
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”Community Organizing” 44
“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”Community Organizing” 55
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”Community Organizing” 66
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”Community Organizing” 77
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
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.
““Community Organizing”Community Organizing” 88
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
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.
““Community Organizing”Community Organizing” 99
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Education
““Community Organizing”Community Organizing” 1010
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONSAdvocacy
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”Community Organizing” 1111
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Direct Action
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct
Servic e
Self Help
Educa tion
Advoc acy
Direct Actio n
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct
Servic e
Self Help
Educa tion
Advoc acy
Direct Actio n
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of involvementof people directly
affected by problem
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct
Servic e
Self Help
Educa tion
Advoc acy
Direct Actio n
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Change of people involved in problem
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
Direct
Servic e
Self Help
Educa tion
Advoc acy
Direct Actio n
Accepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of Conflict
THREE PRINCIPLES OF THREE PRINCIPLES OF DIRECT ACTION ORGANIZINGDIRECT ACTION ORGANIZING
Source: Midwest Academy
1.Win real, immediate, concrete improvements in people’s live
2.Give people a sense of their own power
3.Alter the relationships of power
ISSUE EVALUATION CRITERIAWhat they
sayWhat you observe
1. Result in real improvement
2. Give people a sense of power
3. Alter the relations of power
4. Be worthwhile
5. Be winnable
6. Be widely felt
7. Be deeply felt
8. Be easy to understand
9. Have a clear target
10. Have a clear time frame
11. Be non-divisive
12. Builds leadership
13. Sets up organization for next campaign
14. Has a pocketbook angle
15. Raises money
STRATEGY CHART
GOALSORGANIZATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
CONSTITUENTS, ALLIESOPPONENTS TARGETS TACTICS