Question for all Candidates

[Keith Brannum]

Hello everyone! 

Thank you for running for Non-Country Committee Representative. I am Keith Brannum, the out-going Non-Country Committee Representative for the EMEA region. I live in Istanbul and vote in North Carolina.

A big part of this position is building community and organizing that community to actively help get out the vote. I also constantly worked with leaders to help recruit, train and organize local volunteers and members into active organizing teams. What do you think are the most important skills in organizing communities where no committee currently exists?

Warm regards,

Keith Brannum

Non-Country Committee Representative

EMEA Region

[Karcsi]

There’s only One Skill - people skills. “Communities” are, obviously, made up of real people. Individuals, with families and birthdays and maybe pets.

And at this stage of life, living in another country, you either have excellent people skills or you don’t.

I do.

Charles Knight 

Belarus 

P. S. The elections end in 2 days! To verify such a claim one would have to pull up a social media profile and ASK someone about the candidate in question. GO FOR IT.

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[Bahareh Azizi]

Hi Keith,

Thank you for your question, and more importantly, for everything you've contributed in this role. Personally, I've learned a tremendous amount from working with you, and I truly believe the success of our efforts in Kuwait, as well as across the broader GCC, is a direct result of your hard work, vision, and dedication. So, thank you once again! And don’t worry, I’m not saying all this to sway your vote! 😂

Now, regarding your question, I believe the following skills are essential for effectively organizing communities (in no particular order):

1. The Ability to Bring People Together: One of the core aspects of this role is creating and nurturing a network of individuals, whether they are in the same country or region. It’s about empowering people to engage and collaborate. This requires identifying like-minded individuals, understanding their strengths, and leveraging their diverse experiences to build a cohesive community and accomplish shared goals with the work we do in DA.

2. Innovation and Creativity: This is particularly critical when developing community initiatives in different countries, each of which may have unique characteristics. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to community building, but we can certainly draw from lessons learned in other communities. While some universal best practices can be shared, each community will need to be built with an understanding of local dynamics—such as laws, cultural factors, and unique challenges. Creativity and innovation will play key roles in devising activities and strategies that drive recruitment and engagement. Additionally, it’s essential to maintain open communication with those on the ground, sharing ideas and providing support in the process of building these communities.

3. Listening, Continual Learning, and Openness to New Ideas: This role heavily relies on listening. It’s important that people feel heard and supported so they can organize and mobilize effectively. This is also an opportunity to keep an open mind, constantly exploring new ideas and approaches. The more we listen and learn, the more we can build a toolkit of strategies, activities, and events that will help others succeed.

4. Strategic Planning: While anyone can come up with a plan, the real skill is in developing goals that are challenging yet attainable, with clear success indicators. Plans should be shaped by the perspectives and needs of those working to build the community, with guidance and support from this position. If a plan feels too top-down, it’s less likely to gain buy-in and will ultimately be difficult to implement. The art lies in crafting plans that not only inspire but also drive action and lead to meaningful outcomes.

Thank you again.

All the best,

Bahareh

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[Irna Knapp]

Hi Keith. Good question! 

What do you think are the most important skills in organizing communities where no committee currently exists?

Support from DA leaders who can offer guidance and assist as best they can. It is a challenge to feel "alone" and to feel as though, you are the solo person for a position. I agree with the need to have people skills: 

1. Communication that is effective and timely/

2. Working with others who may be far from where you live, reaching out to them.

3. Online skills, the know-how to reach folks via all forms of online communication.

4. Be assertive, ask for help, ask questions, ask how!

Take care!

Irna

Irna de Leon-Knapp

1-646-653-0383 (USA)

855-85277392 (Cambodia)

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