ccw conference: community organizing and building power (1)
DESCRIPTION
Charly Carter It can be hard to impact policy change at the local, state and federal level, but it’s even harder to do it without working with the right partners. Join this session to explore concepts in building power through partnership and grassroots organizing.TRANSCRIPT
Community Organizing& Building Power
What is Community Organizing
Community organizing is the process of building power by connecting people with common concerns and
mobilizing them to seek the solutions to those problems; identifying the people and structures that can make those solutions possible; and creating pressure on those targets through negotiation or confrontation to
reach a resolution.
Rules of Community Organizing
• People are motivated by their self interest
• Organizing never ends, if you don't continue to build support it will dissipate
• No change comes without conflict and confrontation
• Anybody can be a leader
• Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but the must always be an outcome and a next step.
Rules of Community Organizing
• Organize people from where they are, not from where you'd like them to be
• Language is important. Make sure you are communicating in a way that articulates the concerns of the folks you are organizing, not your concerns.
Organizing is not Organic
Be Organized
Be Strategic
Be Strategic
What is your goal?
Who else will benefit directly from achieving your goal?
Who benefits from the status quo?
Who do you need to influence?
Who are the people/groups close to them?
Where do they live/work/govern?
Building Your BaseThe Quick Start Method
Building a Core GroupGrasstops or Grassroots
Organizing LeadersPartnering with Other Groups
Going Back to SchoolTapping into Star Power
Effective Tactics
Start with a Core Team
1-5 VolunteersGood Listeners
OrganizedPassionate about the Issue
Willing to give time
Grasstops and Grassroots
Grasstops Organizing - targets leaders of other organizations that have similar or intersecting goals to create a coalition; can demonstrate to policymakers that you have a diverse and broad coalition.
Grassroot Organizing - a base built on Individuals who identify with the issue and solution; growing this base is what gives your campaign its momentum.
Grassroots
Advantages
Army of “true believers,” directly connected to your organization
Every identifiable name is an identifiable vote
Best opportunity to identify people with powerful stories about why they support the cause.
Organize or Die
Grasstops
Advantages
Your coalition represents the total membership of all of your partner groups
Can give you a bigger microphone
Can give you access to money or other resources
You cannot do Grasstops organizing without also doing Grassroots organizing.
The Quick Start Method
Organize Leaders
• “It’s easier to get a second dollar that it is to get the first.”
• Leaders come with their own followers
The Quick Start Method
Partnering with Community Groups
• Community Groups & Neighborhood Associations, etc. have already organized their communities
• They have a handle on who the influencers are and who they can count on to volunteers; and
• They usually have a system set up to communicate with their members
The Quick Start MethodBack-to-School
• Schools can be an untapped resource for volunteers;
• Provide opportunities to educate students, parents and the community about your issue;
• Have built-in communication tools to reach parents
• Can present a different voice to decisionmakers
The Quick Start Method
Tapping into Star Power
The ability to tap into the personal/professional network of a high profile individual:
Elected officialsLocal athletes
Media personalitiesOther local celebs
The goal is endorsement of your issue and access to their supporters/constituents.
Think outside the box.
Look for role models
More voices means more power
