Three philosophies of community organizing

Saul Alinksy Godfather of community organizing influenced by labor movement organized people around community rather than just jobs known for confrontational tactics created IAF, Industrial Areas Foundation Trained many future organizers

Key concept: power Power is part of a system of checks and balances - people must have enough power to check the power of those they are fighting Wealthy already have power and use it Average people need to learn to use power in order to control their own lives "When we talk about a person's lifting himself by his own bootstraps, we are talking about power. Power must be understood for what it is, for the part it plays in every area of our life, if we are to understand it and thereby grasp the essentials of relationships and functions between groups and organizations, particularly in a pluralistic society. To know power and not fear it is essential to its constructive use and control."

Key concept: self interest People are not motivated by altruism To reach them, must appeal to their self interest Groups will fight in their own self- interest to reclaim their communities

Model: Conflict Organizing overview Using anger and blaming a selected, targeted individual by putting pressure on the target to create a concession and cause change. types institution-based – pulls together existing organizations individual-based – (Acorn model) built one member at a time tactics conflict - demonstrations, protests, sit-ins petition drives and electoral politics negotiation

Types of community organizing Institutional-based (Alinsky style) – use bowling leagues, social clubs, churches and other organizations as basic building blocks of community. Individual-based (ACORN Style) – build one member at a time. Faith-based organizing (FBCO) – uses the power and relationships of congregations, unions and associations as a starting point for building new organizations. Grassroots organizing - organization is built from scratch, developing new leadership where none existed before and organizing the unorganized.

Model: Consensus organizing Consensus Organizing Center - San Diego State University Mike Eichler Power can be created, shared and harnessed for the mutual benefit of the community and the external power structure

Consensus organizing process Consensus Organizing Center - San Diego State University Mike Eichler Develop community analysis Engage community in developing ideas and strategies for improving community Secure commitment to act on ideas Build relationships between stakeholders and power brokers

Model: Consensus organizing overview Tying the self-interest of the community to the self-interest of others to achieve a common goal. bring together neighborhood interests also bring in political, economic and social power structure from outside neighborhood focus both groups on mutual self-interest tactics Bridging resources of internal and external communities Create organizations to work on short and long term solutions

Model: Community building/asset mapping Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets 1993 John McKnight and John Kretzmann

Needs-driven map Unemployment Truancy Substandard/ foreclosed housing Broken families Child abuse Crime Graffiti Ex- offenders Illiteracy Mental disability Welfare recipients Gangs Dropouts “Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets. John P. Kretzman and John McKnight Graffitti

Citizens’ Associations Community Assets Map Local institutions Businesses Schools Citizens’ Associations Churches Block Clubs Parks Elderly Income Gifts of Individuals Artists Libraries Labelled People Youth Cultural Groups Hospitals Community Colleges “Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets. John P. Kretzman and John McKnight Graffitti

Outcomes of community analysis Knowledge of strengths and issues Relationships Help from service providers New ideas Broader picture Picture of the social network Starting point for community engagement

Model: Community building overview Forming collaborative partnerships among neighborhood stakeholders to strengthen their internal capacity to solve their problems. Asset-based community development – identifies skills and resources in community. tactics Asset mapping Building skills of community residents Community collaborations

Community organizing models Conflict organizing Using anger and blaming a selected, targeted individual by putting pressure on the target to create a concession and cause change. Community building Forming collaborative partnerships among neighborhood stakeholders to strengthen their internal capacity to solve their problems. Consensus organizing Tying the self-interest of the community to the self-interest of others to achieve a common goal.