Basics of Direct Action Organizing - 2015

This presentation is for my "Community Organizing" class at Roosevelt University, Spring 2015. Tom Tresser, Instructor. For more information: [email protected]. http://www.tresser.com = http://www.civiclab.us

1. Tom Tresser
[email protected]

2. 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 23
rd

anniversary of West India Emancipation
Thank You, Midwest Academy
www.midwestacademy.com

3. ““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

4. ““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

5. ““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

6. ““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

7. ““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.

8. ““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.

9. ““Community Organizing”Community Organizing” 99
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Education

10. ““Community Organizing”Community Organizing” 1010
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
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.

11. ““Community Organizing”Community Organizing” 1111
FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZING – TYPES OF HELPING
ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS
Direct Action

12. FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
D
ir
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A
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n
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy

13. FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
D
ir
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Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of involvement
of people directly
affected by problem

14. FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
D
ir
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t

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A
c
t
io
n
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Change of people
involved in problem

15. FORMS OF COMMUNITY FORMS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZINGORGANIZING
D
ir
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c
t

S
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v
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H
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A
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Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of Conflict

16. 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

17. ISSUE EVALUATION CRITERIA
What they
say
What 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

18. STRATEGY CHART
GOALS
ORGANIZATIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS
CONSTITUENTS, ALLIES
OPPONENTS TARGETS TACTICS