Applying Community Organizing Principles to FASTWorks FAST Training of Trainers January, 2001 William Ashton, Ph.D.

Goal / Format of Talk 4 Exposure to basic ideas of community organizing in order to allow you to apply these ideas to FASTWorks –No intention to make you community organizers –May community organizing ideas can be used in FASTWorks

Applying Community Organizing Principles to FASTWorks 4 History of Community Organizing 4 Theory of Community Organizing 4 Putting It Into Action 4 Example: Neighbor Network 4 Applications to FASTWorks

History of Community Organizing 4 Alinsky’s Conflict Model 4 The Truly Disadvantaged 4 Consensus Organizing

Alinsky’s Conflict Model –Airport Noise –Movie Theater Segregation –Bank Segregation 4 Competent and angry citizens

The Truly Disadvantaged William Julius Wilson 4 Inner-city Neighborhoods of the Past 4 Loss of Middle Class –Decline of basic institutions (churches, stores, schools etc.) –Decline in social organization (sense of community, ID, norms and sanctions)

Consensus Organizing 4 Response to Wilson’s argument 4 Time & Labor Intensive 4 Stimulate Citizen Participation & Leadership Development 4 Enhance Capacities of Residents 4 Build Sustainable Linkages between Residents and Institutions

Theory of Community Organizing 4 Empowerment 4 McKnight & Kretzmann’s Assets 4 Focus upon People & Relationships

Definition of Empowerment Empowerment is a process in which a person, a community, or an institution gains mastery over their own affairs. - Rappaport 4 The Process is Important 4 “Own Affairs” - tangible resources & ability to affect one’s future 4 Empowerment is opposite of powerlessness

Gateways to Powerlessness 4 Blaming the Victim - define difference as cause of social problem 4 The Giving Enemy - gives people what they have, but at the same time robs them of dignity and personal sense of control “There can be no darker or more devastating tragedy than the death of man’s faith in himself and in his power to direct his future.” -- Saul Alinksy

Definition of Empowerment 4 Self-Efficacy - one’s belief in one’s ability to act 4 Empowerment is both a psychological attitude and an observable behavior. –Getting things done 4 Problems with Consciousness Raising

Development of Empowerment –Charles Kieffer 4 Integrity & Mobilizing Episode 4 Support - peer and professional 4 Experience: Action - Reflection Cycle 4 Reconstruct beliefs about self, community 4 4 years of intense experience

Empowerment: A Focus upon Strengths 4 Deficit Model –Illness –Blaming the Victim –Giving Enemy 4 Strengths Model –Develop Existing Community Strengths

Assets McKnight & Kretzmann 4 Asset Mapping 4 Building Relationships 4 Mobilizing the Community’s Assets for Economic Development & Information Sharing 4 Developing a Community Vision & Plan 4 Leverage Outside Resources o Support Locally Driven Development

Putting It Into Action 4 Community Organizing Process 4 Helpful Hints

Community Organizing Process 1.Familiarization with Community 2.Initial Contact 3.Gauging Community Interest 4.Relationship Building 5.Concrete Activity 6.Transition 7.Professional Termination

Early Stages 4 Familiarization with Community –Research existing materials 4 Initial Contact –Media, Local Leaders –Draw out others with interest 4 Gauging Community Interest –At least: Advisory Board

Relationship Building 4 Work with Existing Community Organizations 4 Go Door-to-Door or Hang Out for 1-on-1’s 4 needs/assets/interest survey 4 Information & Referral 4 Small Wins Focus upon Strengths

Small Wins 4 Large Problems –frustration, arousal & helplessness 4 From ‘sexual disorder’ to ‘sex life’ 4 One Day at a Time card problem –deconstruct large problems into small problems 4 Reinforces success

Concrete Activity 4 Find a McGuffin 4 Asset Development 4 Leadership / Organization Development 4 Win-Win Projects / Small Wins 4 Develop Community Vision

Be Explicit About Your Role 4 Support, Assist & Aid 4 Celebrate 4 Don’t do for someone what they can do for themselves 4 You will leave and they need to prepare for that

Transition & Professional Termination 4 Have you stayed long enough? –Are there (new) indigenous leaders? 4 Identify timeline for termination –identify goals to continue termination 4 Reenter Process

Helpful Hints 4 Organizations live in action; die in committee 4 Look for small wins and win-win 4 Celebrate Successes 4 Focus upon Strengths

Neighbor Network Project Goals 4 Asset-building program based upon McKnight & Kretzmann 4 Identifies strengths, skills, talents, knowledge and experiences and link to others in their neighborhood 4 Develops win-win relationships between neighbors

Neighbor Network Project Goals 4 Develop Leadership Skills 4 Identify and Develop ‘Block Brokers’ 4 ‘The provision of services will be by the neighbors themselves’ 4 Keys to Success –use citizen advisory board to select neighborhood select coordinator

Neighbor Network Project Reality 4 Change in Funders & Priorities –No Leadership Development 4 Lack of Interest in Advisory Board 4 Block Brokers only lasted the summer 4 Coordinator supported existing leaders and initiated projects

Applications to FASTWorks 4 Transition to FASTWorks 4 FASTWorks Goal & Community Building 4 Experiential Exercises –Development of Empowerment –Community Organizing Process 4 Hints & Concerns

Transition to FASTWorks “The leadership hierarchy shifts from team-centered to parent-centered.” 4 Difficulty changing expectations and norms about effort requirements and leadership

FASTWorks’ Goal To be a place where parents support each other as they lead their families and work with the school and the community to advocate for their children toward success in school and a healthy life. 4 Indicates need for community development skill building among parents

Exercise -- Development of Empowerment Charles Kieffer 4 Integrity & Mobilizing Episode 4 Support - peer and professional 4 Experience: Action - Reflection Cycle 4 Reconstruct beliefs about self, community 4 4 years of intense experience

Exercise -- Community Organizing Process 1.Familiarization with Community 2.Initial Contact 3.Gauging Community Interest 4.Relationship Building 5.Concrete Activity 6.Transition 7.Professional Termination

Hints & Concerns 4 Parents’ roles must be made explicit and made early 4 FASTWorks organizer must reach out to families and do “relationship building” 4 Leadership / Organization Development 4 Small Wins 4 Celebrate

Rights of Use of This Material 4 Some trainers are very protective of their materials – they’re afraid that they’re giving away their business. I feel that freely distributing information like this is just good advertising for a trainer or consultant. So please use my material as you see fit; with the provision that you, in print, reference me. Please use the following information – in full: 4 William Ashton, Ph.D. 4 The City University of New York, York College 4 Department of Political Science and Psychology 4