Community Organizing Training Series Part 1: Relational Power Part 2: Building Powerful Organizations Part 3: Initiating Public Relationships

Definition of Power “To be able” “To be able” The ability to act The ability to act

Ways of Understanding Power Dominant Power Dominant Power Unilateral (one-way) Unilateral (one-way) Zero-sum Zero-sum Power “over” Power “over” Relational Power Relational Power Multi-lateral Multi-lateral Increasing Increasing Power “with” Power “with”

Sources of Power in a Democracy Position Position Organized Money Organized Money Organized People Organized People

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, and local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congregations Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Construction Health Care/Insurance Manufacturing Contracts/grants /regulations Campaign Donations Workers/Consumers Voters/Taxpayers Values: administration/control Power: Position Values: Profit Power: Organized $ Values: All other motives Power: Organized People and organized $

Three Levels of Power 1. Get to the table 2. Make a deal 3. Keep a deal

Our Purpose: Relational Power for Justice Ability to get to the decision making table and negotiate on behalf of our interests and values Ability to get to the decision making table and negotiate on behalf of our interests and values Make and keep deals Make and keep deals Organizing our people and our money Organizing our people and our money

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, and local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congregations Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Construction Health Care/Insurance Manufacturing Contracts/grants /regulations Campaign Donations Workers/Consumers Voters/Taxpayers Values: administration/control Power: Position Values: Profit Power: Organized $ Values: All other motives Power: Organized People and organized $

Living Between Two Worlds World as it Is Power Power Self Interest Self Interest Relationships Relationships World as it Should Be Love Do good/Altruism Recognition of common humanityEngine:Motivation:Glue:

Self Interest Selfishness (me only) Selfishness (me only) Self interest (inter- esse: me amongst others) Self interest (inter- esse: me amongst others) Selflessness (others only) Selflessness (others only)

Rabbi Hillel Says: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? “If I am only for myself, what am I? “If I am only for myself, what am I? “If not now, when?” “If not now, when?”

Spectrum of Self-Interest Self Preservation Self Realization

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, and local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congregations Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Construction Health Care/Insurance Manufacturing Contracts/grants /regulations Campaign Donations Workers/Consumers Voters/Taxpayers Values: administration/control Power: Position Values: Profit Power: Organized $ Values: All other motives Power: Organized People and organized $

Discuss with Partner What self-interest brought you here tonight? What self-interest brought you here tonight? 10 minutes 10 minutes

Malcolm Gladwell Discussion What key points did you take from this article? What key points did you take from this article? What were the self- interests of the students who initiated the sit-ins? What were the self- interests of the students who initiated the sit-ins? Why these students? Why these students? 15 minutes 15 minutes

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, and local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congregations Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Construction Health Care/Insurance Manufacturing Contracts/grants /regulations Campaign Donations Workers/Consumers Voters/Taxpayers Values: administration/control Power: Position Values: Profit Power: Organized $ Values: All other motives Power: Organized People and organized $

Joseph McNeil and the Chickens Self-interests Self-interests Relationships Relationships Tension/agitation Tension/agitation Action/Reaction Action/Reaction

How will we build power in the Civic Sector? Identifying common self interests we can only realize together Identifying common self interests we can only realize together Intentionally building relationships necessary to motivate and sustain action Intentionally building relationships necessary to motivate and sustain action

Two Organizing Tools to Identify Interests and Build Relationships 1. Individual meetings (next week) 2. House meetings (January training)

Definition of Leadership Someone who has followers Someone who has followers How many followers do you have? How many followers do you have?

How do you build your Leadership? Intentionally expand your network of relationships. Intentionally expand your network of relationships. Members of your congregation Members of your congregation Members of other congregations and organizations Members of other congregations and organizations Other community leaders. Other community leaders.

Summary We build powerful organizations by building relationships between civic sector institutions that have common self interests. We build powerful organizations by building relationships between civic sector institutions that have common self interests. We unlock the power of organized people by developing leaders with a following. We unlock the power of organized people by developing leaders with a following.

Next Training Homework: Malcolm Gladwell Article “ Six Degrees of Lois Weinberg ” October 21, 7-9 pm Trinity Cathedral Theme: Initiating Public Relationships