introduction to direct action community organizing
TRANSCRIPT
“Community Organizing” 2
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
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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
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http://industrialareasfoundation.org/affiliate-members#all
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“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 (1909-1972)
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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
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http://www.organizingforsocialchange.org
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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Source: Midwest Academy
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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.
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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.
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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.
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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Direct Action
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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Dire
ct Serv
ice
Self H
elp
Educa
tion
Advoca
cy
Dire
ct Actio
nAccepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Dire
ctServ
ice
Self H
elp
Educa
tion
Advoca
cy
Dire
ct Actio
nAccepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of involvementof people directly
affected by problem
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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Dire
ctServ
ice
Self H
elp
Educa
tion
Advoca
cy
Dire
ct Actio
nAccepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Change of people involved in problem
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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Dire
ctServ
ice
Self H
elp
Educa
tion
Advoca
cy
Dire
ct Actio
nAccepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
RelationshipsLevel of structural
change
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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Dire
ct Serv
ice
Self H
elp
Educa
tion
Advoca
cy
Dire
ct Actio
nAccepts ExistingPower
Relationships
ChallengesExistingPower
RelationshipsLevel of Conflict
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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
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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
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Their Weakness Includes:
Conflict Of InterestCampaignContributions
$ Investment in
Image
Scandal Criminal Activity
Close Election
Higher Ambition Past Connections
Need To Look
Good To Someone
Potential Rivals
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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
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Online Resources
• The Midwest Academy – Training, excellent manual, Chicago based – www.midwestacademy.com
• Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center – great workbook – www.inrc.org
• New Organizing Institute – http://neworganizing.com
• Community Organizers Handbook – www.organizershandbok.wikispaces.com
• The Ruckus Society – Tools & training for organizing – www.ruckus.org
• AlternativeROOTS – Arts. Community. Activism - http://alternateroots.org
• TechSoup – Technology for nonprofits – http://www.techsoup.org
• The Civic Commons - Technology for the public good – http://civiccommons.com
• Rainforest Action Network – Activist resources – http://ran.org
• NTEN – The Nonprofit Technology Network - http://www.nten.org/about
• Industrial Areas Foundation – Founded by Alinksky, training- www.industrialareasfoundation.org
• Gamaliel Foundation – Coalition of organizing efforts, training - www.gamaliel.org