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Grassroots Organizing & Coalition Building…

Learn the crucial ingredients for political change through grassroots organizing and coalition building. Discover effective strategies to create good public policy, engage in electoral politics, and hold decision-makers accountable. This comprehensive guide will help you turn your ideas into tangible results.

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Grassroots Organizing & Coalition Building…

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  1. Grassroots Organizing & Coalition Building… Skills to transform IDEAS into ACTION! American Medical Student Association

  2. Three crucial ingredients for political change Good public policy Grassroots organizing Electoral Politics “Policy provides direction and an agenda for action; grassroots organizing builds a constituency to fight for change; and electoral politics is the main way, in the absence of sweeping social movements, that we contest for power and hold decision-makers accountable for progressive public policy.” Paul Wellstone, February 18, 2001from "Winning Politics," The Nation

  3. Types of Grassroots Organizing

  4. Strategic Planning… • …is not the same as simple planning • …is planning that works within, around, and through power relationships • …is the way that you get what you want from somebody • …is the FIRST step of direct action, not something you do in the middle

  5. Planning - Midwest Academy Stylehttp://www.midwestacademy.com

  6. Goals – Keeping your eyes on the prize!

  7. Issue Goals • BIG PROBLEMS have multiple “partial” solutions • Long-term goal: increase healthcare access in America • Issue Goals: • Pass legislation that guarantees access to all children • Pass legislation that expands Medicaid eligibility • Pass legislation that sets up a single-payer system in America

  8. Internal Considerations – Costs? Benefits? Conflict?

  9. Power Grid / Coalition Building

  10. Targets - Who can give you what you want?

  11. Tactics - Putting on the pressure to win!

  12. Midwest Academy Pathway to Success!http://www.midwestacademy.com Decision-makers Ultimate Goal !!! To So they give you To continue the fight for Action! Do Empower your base to Strengthen your base What you want To

  13. Coalition Building 101

  14. Coalition Building takes time • You need time to develop relationships • You need time to go through organization processes • You need time for representatives to educate their own members about your issue

  15. Why build coalitions? • Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition • Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition • Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition • Ignore people in power UNTIL you have built a powerful coalition

  16. Who to target? • Aim for “low-hanging fruit” first, then “climb the tree” to harder groups • Organizational leaders first…organizational members Second

  17. Rule of the thirds • Rabid 1/3 of population • Will do anything for the cause! • Middle 1/3 of population • Anti 1/3 of population • Hate your cause and everything about it

  18. The goal… • Have them sign something! • Resolution or statement of support • Have them help with your tactics • Have them commit resources

  19. Summary • Direct action is a form of grassroots organizing that challenges power relationships • Strategic planning is always the first step when you plan ANY direct action campaign • Coalition building is needed to implement your strategic plan

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