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TRANSCRIPT
Why Organize?
As we resist the policies of the current administration in Washington, D.C., we must also renew our role as the Party of ideas. In Hawai‘i, this means embracing our proud history as a diverse and inclusive organization that is informed and effective.
In order to meaningfully engage members, build a solid activist network across the state, and ultimately help promote the DPH legislative agenda, we must change the culture within the DPH to one of year-round organizing at the precinct, district, and county levels.
To change we have to recognize, utilize and integrate three critical components: community organizing, electoral politics and public policy. This is how we build political power.
*Source: Wellstone.org
Community Organizing
Organizing means building and growing meaningful relationships with people in our communities based on shared values and common concerns. By developing these local relationships, you build a constituency that is organized and able to demand change by electing leaders and holding them accountable.
Electoral Politics
Politics is about determining who makes decisions and holding them responsible for their actions or, at times, their inaction. Electoral politics is a key way to compete for power in a democracy. But often people involved in politics focus so much on winning elections they work only with communities and individuals if it gets them closer to victory. This attitude results in elected officials and political parties without a base of community organizations to ground them with local support. It also creates emerging leaders who may abandon established leaders and parties because they have been ignored or taken for granted. In other words: it’s everyone for themselves. Electoral politics by nature is short-term and not sustainable for long-term community growth without effective community organizing and progressive public policies.
Progressive Public Policy
Policy is our vision. It is a clear agenda for a better world. Policy is why communities organize around issues they care about and candidates run for public office: they all want power to achieve their vision. This vision is reflected in our party platform.
Ultimately, it’s all connected: public policy without community organizing and electoral politics is a set of ideas, isolated from any ability to be enacted. Community organizing absent policy is directionless, and organizing without electoral politics cedes one of the most important arenas of power to other leaders. Electoral politics without a clear agenda for the future quickly becomes a cynical competition that’s focused only on winning, and politics without community organizing lacks accountability and focus.
-WellstoneAction.org
You can’t mobilize until you’ve organized!
Intentional conversations that go deeply into a person’s:
• Issues: What do they act upon?
• Interests : What’s their stake in it?
• Values : i.e. principles; What motivates them?
Assessment from the conversation:
• Capacity : What resources can be offered?
• Commitment : What resources are offered?
It’s about building a relationship so you can then ask them to take action.
Organizing + Mobilizing = Change for voters!
Prompted conversations that make an ask:
• Goal: Link person’s issue to DPH platform & make specific ask.
Now that you’ve established a relationship with a member/voter, you can make a tailored ask of her that she will respond to in a positive manner.
This will lead to engagement, mobilization, and action!
What is a one-on-one conversation?One-on-one conversations are a foundational organizing technique. It is through one-on-one conversations that you can build a relationship with someone and then move them to take action. You’ve done 1:1s before, but you might not realize it.
How is a 1:1 conversation structured?One way to structure the conversation is to think of it in terms of the Problem Solution Action (PSA) triangle.
Problem: An effective conversation starts with where person is “at” – in other words - what they are angry or passionate about. This is a problem that matters to the person you are asking and requires collective action. What is the point of agitation that drives her? What is she most passionate about? For example, perhaps the issue is tax fairness. As was explained above, you need to first discover what this is so you can build a
common ground for the rest of the conversation and the “ask” you’re going to make. This is the key relationship building part of the conversation. This is organizing.
Solution: Move to the solution. This is about offering hope through ideas, that something specific and meaningful can be done about the problem. Without hope that something can change, people simply won’t act. Broadly, the solution is electing Democrats that hold our values. More specifically, it is how the Democratic Party offers ideas, solutions, and the hope of positive change for an identified issue, problem, or passion (for example, the Earned-Income Tax Credit (EITC) bill that passed in the 2016 legislative session). There is obviously much more work for us to do in the realm of economic justice, but this is an example that can offer some hope.
Ask for Action: We then move to make our specific “ask”. This ask needs to be specific and doable. For example, joining a planning committee for an upcoming Tax Fairness event. Again, be sure to listen to what she is saying and tailor your ask specifically to the issue.
The “ask” is simply a way to think about having a conversation with someone. The PSA framework can be used anytime for any ask. It can be used when trying to recruit someone to join the DPH as a member. It can be used when asking other DPH members to attend an event. It can be used when phone banking for get-out-the-vote (GOTV) campaigns. It can be used when asking someone to donate to the DPH.
Every time you need to make an ask, you should go through these steps. The more you can link your ask to the values of the DPH, which is the answer to their specific and personal issue, the more successful you will be.
We often use the terms “organizing” and “mobilizing” interchangeably. But in fact, they are two different things.
If we have no relationship and you don’t know who I am, and I ask you to join me in supporting Democrats, are you going to say yes? Probably not. We can’t mobilize someone – ask them to make a commitment and take action with us – until we have built some level of a relationship and have achieved common ground.
Organizing conversations are intentional, planned conversation that go deeply into a person’s issues, interests, and values.
An Issue is a problem, gripe, or concern. What is this person concerned with most? For example, maybe it’s pay equity.
An Interest is why a particular issue so important to this person. Through your conversation with her, you want to uncover that hidden story that answers the why. For example, what happened to her personally that caused pay equity to be of such concern to her.
Values are never explicit. Values are something you feel and infer from a person talking about their interest in a particular issue.
You can also begin to assess their capacity and commitment.
The purpose of an organizing conversation is to build a relationship with someone and illustrate shared issues, interests, and values so you can move forward together to create change through action.
It is through this process that you will learn the problem, determine how best to link it to the solution, and then decide how to take collective action.
The Structure of a One-on-One:
One-on-one conversations often follow this basic outline, but each conversation will be unique.
1. Tell your story (think this over beforehand). Who or what sparked your interest in social change? Why are you committed to building community or organizing a small group? How will it benefit your community, your family, your personal situation?
2. Listen. Ask open-ended questions: “What brought you to this neighborhood?” or “What do you want others to know about you?” or “What do you think are the biggest problems this community is facing right now?”
3. Note your common concerns. As you listen, pay attention for any common ground you share, and note it after the person has had a chance to talk.
4. Call to Action. You might then say, “I want to form a small group and we want to have a nucleus of good people who care
involved. Are you open to an invitation to attend a first meeting?”
-American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Script
Hello, is home?
My name is , I am volunteer with the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.
How are you today? Do you have a few minutes to talk?
If yes – Great! I just want to tell you a little bit about why we are canvassing your precinct and ask you for some feedback on the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.
The DPH recently launched a statewide initiative to improve the Party's ability to win elections at every level of government. Locally, our goal is to meaningfully engage members, build a solid activist network across the state, and ultimately help promote the DPH legislative agenda.
As a member of the DPH, you know how important it is to resist the policies of the current administration in Washington, D.C., but you also understand that we must also renew our role as the Party of ideas. In Hawai‘i, this means embracing our proud history as a diverse and inclusive organization that is informed and effective.
Our goals of the program will be achieved through changing the culture within the DPH to one of year-round organizing at the precinct, district, and county levels. Regular meetings, training sessions, informational forums, and special events will be happening in your county and there are numerous ways to get involved.
We are out today to let you know about some upcoming events and get your feedback and make sure we have up-to-date information so that we can communicate better with our members.
(go through questions on MiniVAN and tell them about upcoming events - see next page)
Note: these are just talking points – use them when you practice having a 1:1 conversation.
Once questions have been asked/answered, thank them for their time and for supporting our Party, leave any DPH literature/door pieces with them, and bid them a fond “Aloha”!
What is the best way for us to communicate with you?(Suggestions: email, phone # - make sure we have correct info)
Why can DPH do better to make our Party Stronger and more effective?
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
Phone
More UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore UpdatesMore Updates
What issues concern you at the national level?
What issues concern you at the state and local level?
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
More events
More info on Leg
More forums
More action activity
Other
Better messaging
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Rail
Environment
Housing
Homelessness
Development
Education Funding
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
Health Care Taxes
Education
Environment
Medicare/Medicaid Social
Security Military
Foreign Relations
Infrastructure Jobs
Economic Equality
Other
What interest areas would you like to learn about? (DPH has many caucuses and committees that address these issues).
Would you be interested in volunteering with the Democratic Party of Hawaii?
Tell them about upcoming Precinct/District/Region/County meetings and upcoming DPH events!
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Education
Environment
LGBT
Hawaiian Affairs
Kupuna
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Women's
Young Democrats
Civics
Healthcare/MFA
Voting Matters
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help
Canvassing
Door Knocking
Events
Visibility
Letter to the Editor
Hold DPH Office
Office Help