Community Organizing 101

Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC) is a non- partisan coalition of faith communities and partner organizations in Cuyahoga County working together to build power for social justice. GCC unites people across lines of race, class, religion, and geography to promote public, private and civic sector actions which strengthen and improve the quality of life of our neighborhoods.

Key Themes of Community Organizing Power Self-interests Relationships

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

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

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

Discuss with Partner Tell a story of a time in you life when you were acted on by dominant power, and what if anything you did about it. Keep the story “public” Spend 5 minutes swapping stories.

Sources of Power in a Democracy Position Organized Money Organized People

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congs. Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Constr. 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 $

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Civic Sector Private Sector 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

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congs. Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Constr. 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 $

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

Frederick Douglass on Power “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

Paul Tillich on Power Power without love = tyranny Love without power = sentimentality Power + Love = Justice

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

Spectrum of Self-Interest Self Preservation Self Realization

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

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

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

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

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

Two Organizing Tools to Identify Interests and Build Relationships 1. Individual meetings 2. House meetings

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

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

Individual Meetings A minute face to face meeting to explore the possibility of a public relationship. Explore: initiate with people you are interested in because you imagine that there’s something to do together. Public: Not friendship, not romance, but respect, an understanding of mutual interests, and a context to work together in the future.

With Whom? Members of your congregation Members of other congregations and organizations Other community leaders. Anyone who can help you expand your network

Life Lessons from Lois “Meeting someone is not just about meeting someone.” “She had a big job for Helen, she just didn’t know what it was yet.” “First, she reaches out to someone outside her world.” “It’s not merely that she knows lots of people. It’s that she belongs to lots of different worlds.” “(Integration) happened, but it didn’t happen by accident. It happened because a certain type of person made it happen.” “When we talk about power, this is what we are usually talking about: money and authority. But there’s a third kind of power as well – the kind Lois has. It’s social power.”

Elements of Individual Meetings Credential: who and why Be interesting – share your story and interests Be interested/curious – inquire about stories, interests, passions, values, concerns, experiences, talents, public life choices. Close with specific next step to further the public relationship another meeting a particular topic share names of people in their network pull together a house meeting attend an event connected to their interest

Nature of Conversation Yes Intentional Individual Relational Two-way/reciprocal Stories/interests/values Public/probing In Person Art No Casual Group Task-oriented Interview Small talk Private/prying Phone/ /chat Science

Summary We build a powerful organization 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.

Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congs. Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Constr. 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 $

Core Teams 5-25 member team who will be responsible for organizing your congregation Clergy and lay leaders Leaders from all corners of the congregation Agenda for Summer meeting Audit of congregational members connected to each of our issue areas Strategy for approaching each of the above