ORGANIZING 101 Basics in Building Parent Involvement and Activism Francine Streich UFT Parent Community Liaison

Organizing to Build Parent and School Community Voice Organizing leads to increased activism-pushing for reforms needed. Organizing parents means having parents involved in making plans/decisions It means parents will take action by lobbying, coming to rallies, making phone calls, writing letters, flyering, etc. Parent Involvement doesn’t just mean helping your child do homework and coming to PA/PTA meetings.

Building a Strong group of Parents TAKE AWAY YOUR NEGATIVE FEELINGS AND UNDERSTAND THE OBSTCLES TO ORGANIZING Don’t say “only a few people will come”, or it’s always the same few”, or “we have tried everything and it doesn’t work”. Then you are defeated before you start. Organizer rule: set realistic expectations, unless it’s a really hot issue, don’t expect more than 5-10% of total to turn out regularly. Obstacles are real and have to be recognized and worked with-child care, language, working two jobs.. Think of ways parents can get involved without having to come to a meeting. Have a menu of things people can do

WAYS TO BUILD UP CONTACT LIST BUILDING A LIST Use prime opportunities ( first day of school, parent- teacher conferences, curriculum night, games, student performances Use petitioning at the school if parents pick up students. Use “count on me” volunteer forms at meetings and events, and then follow up with calls Make sure to get phone numbers and . Ask teachers for names of concerned parents

SAMPLE TELEPHONE “rap” or script for petitioning in front of the school “Hi, my name is _____and I am calling from the _____ PTA, is ____there”? “Did you hear that we are having a very important meeting at the school on Thursday? Parents are really concerned about _____” ( name an issue-”budgets that may be cut, bullying, charter co location”, etc.) “Is that something you are concerned about”? If they say yes, say “we really need you to come to help us figure out a plan, we need everyone’s ideas”. “Can we count on you to be there”? “Do you have a pen? Let me give you the info again. Thurs May 24 th at 9 am and 6:30 pm”. Do you think you can bring someone else with you or let someone know. Great, thanks. See you Thursday If they say no, to the issue you mentioned, ask them, “what is something that you think needs to be discussed”? and say we need them to come and bring it up at the meeting. If you are petitioning ask them to sign the petition so you can get their information and let them know we are working to get a lot of signatures for this issue or just building a parent contact list to keep everyone informed of school news. Key points Stress urgency and importance Use an issue and get them talking or in agreement that its important to work on that issue. Make it clear that you want their input Get a commitment and get them to write down the meeting details Get a commitment from them to bring someone else to the meeting or tell someone else.

Using contacts to build a group. You can’t build organization with just flyers and s or robo (automatic) calls alone PERSONAL CONTACT IS KEY! Make parent to parent phone calls. Even 5 volunteers can take 15 people to call regularly to get 75 calls done. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS- THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THIS If you are able, doorknock with a flyer or blocks or housing projects that are near a school. Put signs up in store windows, Laundromats, etc. Do this with committee of staff and parents and community. Use several different flyers to build a sense of urgency if possible.” Only 3 more days”, etc Use speakers, workshops, theme nights, events tied to holidays, with some business first to get people to attend in the beginning and get committee and volunteer sign ups. FOLLOW UP WITH PEOPLE who volunteer. Have Regular Communication with a group or newsletter (even if one page) with notes from the meeting so people will feel like they missed something good. Set up facebook page. Do texting if people allow it. Not everyone can come to meetings. Think of other things people can do to be involved.( Think about what gets you to come and stay a part of something…it’s is feeling a part of something ) People need ways to contribute. Not everyone can come out to meetings, that doesn’t mean that they don’t care about the school or their child. For example, people can: help decorate, hand out flyers, make phone calls, call an elected official, write a letter, send an , design a flyer,,help with a newsletter or website. There should be minimal asks that don’t take a lot of time that people can do from home.

7 MEETINGS- what are the elements of a good meeting? When meetings are good, people are more likely to come back. Set up the room in a way that’s conducive to discussion. (circle if small enough, small groups for breakouts, etc. ) Key Elements in a good meeting Informative Different people have a chance to present or report Recognition is given for the work people have done Have some discussion question. If possible break people into small groups to do an exercise on it (for e.g. what safety concerns do we have and how do we want to address them) Stick to your agenda, don’t let one voice dominate but don’t stifle discussion either. Accomplish something- make a decision or a plan. Have some work or assignment for people to do off of the meeting where possible. (calling an elected official for e.g.) Use a count on me or volunteer sign up

TO FIGHT FOR EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS ____ I will be at the June 21 rally (5:30 pm) at 110th st and 8th Avenue _____ I can help put out flyers and posters for the June 21 Rally. ____am Day after work day ____ Saturday____ ____ I can help make phone calls for the June 21 Rally. ____ I can meet with elected officials _____ Ii can go to Community Board Meeting.. Name__________________________________ _____________________________ Phone _________________________________

Sample Meeting Agenda 1. Welcome and Introductions (people can say why they are there or what they are mainly concerned about briefly) 2. Brief Overview of Issue/Problem ( for e.g, DOE plans to close our school, or there will be a co-location, budget cuts will be happening) 3. Discussion Questions What impact will this have on our school? (make a list on chart paper) Do we want to fight this? 4. Plan of Action ( see next slide for possible questions) Divide up specific responsibilities, set dates for things to do (leafleting for eg) 5.Summary and Next Meeting Date

ORGANIZING TO TAKE ACTION 1.Identify the issue/problem 2.Figure out what outcomes you want and what is winnable Long term goal Short term goal. 3.Figure out what research needs to be done 4.Power Analysis-Figure out who the decision makers are and who can impact on them 5.Identify possible allies in the campaign 6.Figure out message for the public/press. (needs to be simple, moral authority if possible, for e.g. closing schools hurts communities) 7.Figure out an outreach plan to school, community, allies etc. 8.Figure out when to use press and how to use social media 9.Figure out how you will kick off a campaign. 10.Figure out what actions you will take and what tactics you will use (make a timeline) You always want your numbers to build up You always want to escalate in your tactics. (for egg, flyering and honk and wave on school corner is less militant than a demonstration in front of a legislators office) Be creative, capture public imagination (for egg. Schools who lost music programs did a concert on the steps of tweed with paper instruments they made)