Community Organizing (CO) Overview I.Like social movements, a collective effort to create change II.Unlike social movements, focus is on bringing people together on the basis of shared residence – neighborhood, city, region III.CO has a complex relationship with social movements A.Organizing can build the basis of relationships, organizations, ideas for movements B.Movements can leave behind legacies that benefit or create organizing

Contemporary Community Organizing in the United States – National Networks I.Block-club model A.NPANPA B.ACORNACORN II.Institutional model (“broad-based,” “faith-based”, or “congregation-based” [CBCO]) A.Overview – from Kleidman, Robert "Community Organizing and Regionalism." City and Community 3: Kleidman, Robert "Community Organizing and Regionalism." City and Community 3: B.National Networks 1.IAFIAF 2.Gamaliel FoundationGamaliel Foundation 3.DARTDART 4.PICOPICO

“Relational Organizing” I.Another name for CBCO II.This form of organizing starts by training people to form relationships of mutual understanding and trust III.These provide the basis for A.Community B.Action 1.Issues 2.Agitational relationships IV.The basic technique is the “one-on-one” meeting [interview]

One-On-Ones I.Overview A.Are the basis of “relational organizing” B.Are similar to sociological in-depth interviews C.Focus on “public life” 1.But opens the door to the person discussing how “private life” affects this II.Are one-way interviews A.But can be done reciprocally (person interviewed becomes person interviewing, in a separate conversation)

One-on-one Training I.Organizing stresses “leadership training” A.“leaders” are members of the community who participate in organizing B.Everyone who participates is considered a leader C.The organizational culture stresses shared and accountable leadership D.The real focus is on individual growth / transformation II.One-on-one training A.For organizers B.For class purposes

Technique I.Set aside minutes, where you will not be interrupted, for the interview A.And minutes after, to write it up II.Start with a list of a few short questions III.Try not to take notes during the interview

Attitude I.Interested, curious A.Not nosy II.Empathetic A.not judgmental III.Listening A.Not talking

Goals in order of importance, most to least I.Build relationship A.Of mutual understanding, trust B.One-on-one provides the basis for an “agitational” relationship II.Discover other person’s self-interest A.“self-interested” is different from selfish or selfless B.To organizers, it’s is a “relational” term – as a person gains insight, that person realizes self-interest is tied to that of others 1.Which others, and how? C.Discover self-interest by learning her or his “story” III.Help person clarify her or his own self-interest A.How often do we have this kind of conversation? IV.Gain information A.Note that this is the least important

Questions I.Open-ended II.Follow-ups A.What was that like? B.How did that feel? C.Why do you think... III.Start with common ground or broad question

Questions I.What brings you here? A.Follow-ups: history II.How is it going for you? III.Where do you see yourself going? A.Follow-up: legacy IV.What people, events, have most shaped you? V.What makes you... (angry, etc.)