Introduction to Direct Action Community Organizing

“Community Organizing” 1

Introduction toCommunity Organizing

Tom Tresser - 2017

“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

“Community Organizing” 3

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

Education

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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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Organizing is about

building power

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Your Power Equals

Your Strength

Plus Their Weakness

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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

“Community Organizing”

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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The Big Question…

What is your analysis of

and path to 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