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Grassroots Organizing & Coalition Building…

Skills to transform IDEAS into ACTION!

American Medical Student Association

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Three crucial ingredients for political change

“Policy provides direction and an agenda for action; grassroots organizing builds a constituency to fight for change; and electoral politics is the main way, in the

absence of sweeping social movements, that we contest for power and hold decision-makers accountable for progressive public policy.”

Paul Wellstone, February 18, 2001from "Winning Politics," The Nation

Good public policy

Grassroots organizing

Electoral Politics

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Types of Grassroots Organizing

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Strategic Planning…

…is not the same as simple planning

…is planning that works within, around, and through power relationships

…is the way that you get what you want from somebody

…is the FIRST step of direct action, not something you do in the middle

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Planning - Midwest Academy Stylehttp://www.midwestacademy.com

Long Term Goals (Problems)

Resources Constituents & Allies

Primary Targets Tactics

Issue Goals

(Solutions)

Fringe Benefits Secondary Targets

Short Term Goals (Specific steps)

Internal Conflicts Opponents

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Goals – Keeping your eyes on the prize!

Long Term Goals (Problems)

What’s the overarching problem you are working on?

Issue Goals (Solutions)

What one step can I take that will help me reach my long term goal?

Short Term Goals (Specific steps)

Am I making progress in reaching my issue goal?

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Issue Goals BIG PROBLEMS have multiple “partial”

solutions

Long-term goal: increase healthcare access in America

Issue Goals: Pass legislation that guarantees access to

all children Pass legislation that expands Medicaid

eligibility Pass legislation that sets up a single-payer

system in America

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Internal Considerations – Costs? Benefits? Conflict?

Long Term Goals (Problems)

Resources

How much will it cost my group/coalition to win? Time, talent, treasure.

Issue Goals (Solutions)

Fringe Benefits

What will my group gain by being part of this campaign?

Short Term Goals (Specific steps)

Internal Conflicts

Turf issues, personnel issues

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Power Grid / Coalition BuildingLong Term Goals (Problems)

Resources Constituents & Allies

Who has something to gain from my winning?

Who must I have on board to win?

Who loves me and will do whatever I ask?

Issue Goals (Solutions)

Fringe Benefits

Short Term Goals (Specific steps)

Internal Conflicts Opponents

Who has something to lose? How strong are they?

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Targets - Who can give you what you want?Long Term Goals (Problems)

Resources Constituents & Allies

Primary Targets

People who can give me what I want (i.e., if we get this person on board, we win the issue)

Issue Goals (Solutions)

Fringe Benefits Secondary Targets

People who have more power over the primary target than me.

Short Term Goals (Specific steps)

Internal Conflicts Opponents

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Tactics - Putting on the pressure to win!Long Term Goals (Problems)

Resources Constituents & Allies

Primary Targets Tactics

Things/activities, etc. you do to the targets

Confronting the targets with expressions of your power

Putting on the pressure

Issue Goals (Solutions)

Fringe Benefits Secondary Targets

Short Term Goals (Specific steps)

Internal Conflicts Opponents

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Midwest Academy Pathway to Success!http://www.midwestacademy.com

Long Term Goals

(Problems)

Resources Constituents & Allies

Primary Targets Tactics

Issue Goals

(Solutions)

Fringe Benefits Secondary Targets

Short Term Goals

(Specific steps)

Internal Conflicts Opponents

Empower

your base toDo

To

So they give you

Action!

Decision-makers

What you want

Strengthen your baseTo

Ultimate Goal !!!

To continue

the fight for

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Coalition Building 101

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Coalition Building takes time You need time to develop relationships

You need time to go through organization processes

You need time for representatives to educate their own members about your issue

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Why build coalitions?

Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition

Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition

Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition

Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition

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Who to target?

Aim for “low-hanging fruit” first, then “climb the tree” to harder groups

Organizational leaders first…organizational members Second

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Rule of the thirds

Rabid 1/3 of population Will do anything for the cause!

Middle 1/3 of population

Anti 1/3 of population Hate your cause and everything about it

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The goal…

Have them sign something! Resolution or statement of support

Have them help with your tactics

Have them commit resources

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Summary

Direct action is a form of grassroots organizing that challenges power relationships

Strategic planning is always the first step when you plan ANY direct action campaign

Coalition building is needed to implement your strategic plan