Community Allies: Building a Strong

Network

Community Allies: Building a Strong NetworkWednesday, August 13

7:30-8:45

Agenda

7:30 – 8:00: Power Analysis of Labor Unions

Labor + Community = POWER

8:00 – 8:30: Building a Sustainable Network

Best Practices and New Models

8:30 – 8:45: Discussion and Wrap-Up

Building a Strong Network Begins with Community Organizing

Community organizing is a process by which a group of people organize and take measures to influence the policies or culture surrounding them. The term is usually, but not always, used to refer to local community organizing.

Building a Strong NetworkWhy is Community Organizing Important?

Because social change takes place and is more effective when people work together in an organized way. This gives us the POWER we need to achieve the changes we want.

Building a Strong NetworkUsing the Right Method

There is more than one way to organize a strong community network. People choose the methods that make the most sense to them and seem most likely to achieve their goals.

Building a Strong NetworkBasic Principles for Creating Social Change

Nonviolence-Preventing or minimizing violence against ourselves, each other, our communities, and the environment.

Social Transformation-Identifying and addressing the root causes of problems and creating solutions that truly make things better for all groups involved.

Building a Strong NetworkBasic Principles for Creating Social Change

Organizing-offering people the opportunity and support to work with others on problems they face.

Direct Democracy-Giving People the power to control their own lives, and maximizing their access to the decision-making processes that affect them.

Building a Strong NetworkBasic Principles for Creating Social Change

Economic Equality-Putting basic human needs first; insuring that all have enough before any get much more.

Social Equality-Promoting participation and leadership especially for those who have experienced discrimination in the workplace or society.

Building a Strong NetworkBest Practices

1800-1900 Mother Jones & Mine Workers- Mother Jones’ organizing methods included African American workers, women and children. Her organizing led to thousands of mines workers winning collective bargaining rights and the passage of the 1938 Child Labor Law.

1943 UAW & Community Campaign to Organize Ford 1969 Charleston Hospital Strike SEIU 1199 & Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Over 5,000 people marched in support of the workers-including labor leaders and five U.S. Congressmen.

2000 Campaign for Workers Rights in South Carolina. The Charleston 5 International Longshoremen Strike: worldwide effort of dock workers, Labor, Civil Rights and Community.

2002 Southern California Strike gathered nationwide support for over 70,000 grocery store workers.

2006 “Day Without Immigrants” May 1st rallies, which contributed to the defeat of the HR 4437 Immigration Reform proposal, meant to criminalize all undocumented immigrants living within the United States.

2008 Smithfield Campaign, organized nationwide support of community, civil rights and labor organizations.

Building a Strong NetworkNew Models

2011 Occupy and the 99% MovementMaking Change at Walmart Black Friday StrikeFast-Food Workers Strike, Demand for 'Living

Wages‘Detroit’s Community Growth PartnershipOne America—Immigrant Rights Coalition Retail Justice Alliance for Better Jobs in Retail Retail Action Project (RAP)

Building a Strong NetworkKey Steps

Working with community allies is a TWO way street. You must understand their self interest. There must be a deep understanding of the ally organization, its mission, its officers and members, how the organization operates.

Community allies often want a sense of ownership, which doesn’t mean full control, but a seat at the table, and their ideas acknowledged and considered.

Building a Strong Network Key Steps

Make sure that the relationship is transparentPresent clear goals and objectivesKnow the challenges of the ally organization

(people power, funding, resources, etc.)Understand the decision making process Understand the structure of the ally

organizationUnderstand the capacity of the ally organization

(can they accomplish the task).