Midterm

Question 0

Empowerment

Answer 0

The fundamental issue with this word is that everyone has power. We can’t give power. It’s paternalistic to think we can. As organizers, we don’t empower, rather we help people catalyze and use this power.

Question 1

Tension space

Answer 1

The competitive space between how the world is and how we think the world should be. It reminds us that every conversation and action is inherently about power.

Question 2

Service-Oriented side of the spectrum

Answer 2

Services tend to be about individuals basic needs. Service providers buy into the existing power structure. They help people navigate the broken system. The service organization receives money from the government often, which can restrict policies.

Question 3

Power

Answer 3

Power is the ability to act. Power has two sources: organized money and organized people. Power defines the rules. Our first revolution is internal, coming to terms with power.

Imposed Power:
Relational Power:
Positional Power:

Question 4

Organizing Congregations

Answer 4

What congregations can offer:

• they represent particular affinity groups
• they offer a lens and way of interpreting meaning
• they are an already existing network of relationships
• they have a system of collective giving
• they have resources: space
• they span multiple communities
• they easily identify leadership

Question 5

Upstream Thinking

Answer 5

How far upstream you go is based on your sophistication. You have to keep in mind the immediacy of the need.

Question 6

1-1’s

Answer 6

Based in the belief that the power is in relationships. We knock on doors to engage the 4% and find out what the issues are.The leader is conducting these and they should only talk 30-40% of the time. It should be a peer relationship. There are three goals:

1. Build relationships
2. Identify potential relationships
3. Identify potential leaders

It’s not all about the numbers. Energize the base by introducing them to new people and getting in the news.

Question 7

Research

Answer 7

Research is revolutionary because it allows a community to define its own learning process rather than be a receptacle to information that others are giving. It also helps you make issue cuts. Research is intended for the organizers to learn about the content and craft a winnable set of demands. EBAYC calls it action learning.

Question 8

Evaluation & Reflection

Answer 8

An important step if you consider yourself a learning organization.

Question 9

Actions

Answer 9

Actions should be ambitious and realistic. Actions are value statements. They should address the structure.

Question 10

Ideological Model

Answer 10

1. Define the issue
2. Build a Base
3. 5. Complete the strategy chart
4. Action
5. Evaluation & Reflection

At the center of this model is the issue. By nature, they tend to work with coalitions or organizations operating under the relational model. Union organizing often fits into the ideological model. Empowering people and developing leaders is not the goal. Staff and leaders are almost interchangeable. Power to the movement.

Question 11

Relational Model

Answer 11

1. One to one’s: build the base by finding people that agree with you
2. Research
3. Action
4. Evaluation

This is the Alinsky model. At the center of the model is relationship because the driving belief is that changing people’s minds will help change society. Change is essentially based on individual leaders. This model may take longer to build because leaders have to be developed. This model may be more sustainable because it’s based on multiple people. Power to the people.

Two common mistakes: rushing to action without research and confusing the problem with the issue

Question 12

Blitz

Answer 12

A series of one-on-one’s, typically cold door knocking. This process builds the base by finding people who agree with you.

Question 13

Grasstop Coalitions

Answer 13

Coalitions of grassroots organizations

Question 14

OCO philosophy

Answer 14

Those closest to the pain are closest to the solution. This is the difference between organizing and advocacy.

Question 15

Empowerment-Oriented Spectrum

Answer 15

Seeks institutional and social change.
People have power and wisdom.
Advocacy: a few leaders representing the whole
Social Action: shared power, people who were once oppressed act as leaders

Question 16

4 Goals of Community Organizing

Answer 16

1. Win concrete improvements in people’s lives
2. Give people a sense of their own power (relational takes this more seriously)
3. Alter the relations of power
4. Build your base

Question 17

Reform vs Mass Revolution

Answer 17

Our task as community organizers is to win small things, to create hope about moving further right. We can’t change the balance until we have mass participation. Organizing improves our collective capacity.

Question 18

EBAYC

Answer 18

Listening
Research
Action

Question 19

POOs

Answer 19

Professional Oppositional Organizations

A small group of people doing work on behalf of the people.

Question 20

Leaders

Answer 20

People will come back for the leaders, which is why the leaders are thought to create change. Paid staff should not be the front runners in the relational model.

Question 21

Accountability Sessions

Answer 21

Going to the person with power to hold them accountable. This also holds the leaders accountable because they have to show power. If you can’t turn out a large group of people, don’t hold an accountability session.

Question 22

Theory of Social Change

Answer 22

Build counter institutions

Question 23

Targets

Answer 23

In order for you action to be effective, the target must respond.

Question 24

ERC

Answer 24

Empathy Rap: go back briefly into why what you are doing is important and maybe try to go a different approach. Close: thank them for their involvement After the 3rd ERC, move on.

Question 25

IPSOC

Answer 25

``` Introduction Problem Solution Opposition Close ```

Question 26

Tactics

Answer 26

The things you do to get the target to pay attention to you.

Question 27

Issues

Answer 27

Specific Immediate Attainable (Given our power)

Question 28

Democratic Promise

Answer 28

The democratic promise is basically motivating the disenfranchised and marginalized to organize people's organization to reclaim American Democracy. Saul wanted us to restore the Democratic promise through shared public participation in civil life.

Question 29

Strategy Chart

Answer 29

1. Long term goals 2. Organizational considerations 3. Constituents 4. Targets 5. Tactics

Question 30

Spectrum

Answer 30

``` Service-Oriented Social services Education Self-help Advocacy Social action ```