Read on Twitter
As a chance to remind myself and share, for the next 8 working days, I am going to write 2 criteria 'cutting an organising issue' to act on from Aaron Shultz's #organising course.
#Organising Criteria 1: Result in a real improvement in people's lives - What is worth it for you is related to the size and power of your organisation. The issue needs to make a difference in lives of your members AND those not yet part of your organisation - to draw them in.
#Organising Criteria 2: Give People a sense of their own power
Enable leaders - people who are participating in the campaign who ordinarily do not feel powerful - to feel a sense of 'wow, look what we just did' and for non members to be impressed by what was achieved.
Enable leaders - people who are participating in the campaign who ordinarily do not feel powerful - to feel a sense of 'wow, look what we just did' and for non members to be impressed by what was achieved.
#Organising Issue Criteria 3:Alter the relations of power
The campaign should grow your power in terms of numbers and reputation. Powerful people should think twice before making future decisions that affect your people & invite you to the table because they need you to succeed.
The campaign should grow your power in terms of numbers and reputation. Powerful people should think twice before making future decisions that affect your people & invite you to the table because they need you to succeed.
#Organising Criteria 4 and 5: Be Worthwhile (otherwise,why bother) and Winnable
The campaign should be challenging,not impossible,or it may disempower people - they wont learn to win.But,POWER is the goal, not just winning.Sometimes,a strategic loss can build power in long run.
The campaign should be challenging,not impossible,or it may disempower people - they wont learn to win.But,POWER is the goal, not just winning.Sometimes,a strategic loss can build power in long run.
#Organising Criteria 6: Be Deeply Felt
A good issue is one that touches people at an emotional level, not just an intellectual one. It should encourage people to respond with anger and remorse, not abstract understandings of inequality. What images and stories capture the issue?
A good issue is one that touches people at an emotional level, not just an intellectual one. It should encourage people to respond with anger and remorse, not abstract understandings of inequality. What images and stories capture the issue?
#Organising Criteria 7: Be Easy to Understand
How can we frame the issue in clearly without jargon or unnecessary complexities? Can we speak simply about why we should care and what the change should be to address it?
How can we frame the issue in clearly without jargon or unnecessary complexities? Can we speak simply about why we should care and what the change should be to address it?
#Organising Criteria 7&8 - have a clear target (a target is always a person, not a body/organisation) and have a clear time frame. When does this campaign start and end - to help with motivation and purpose to stay on track.
