Organizing to work on issues

[REBECCA ALWIN]

Organizing to Work on ISSUES

Organizing for Action Ideas

 

OfA Attitudes:  Respect, Empower, Include + ACT

OfA Strategy:  Turn the RESOURCES we have into the POWER we need (to persuade legislators) into the CHANGE we want (legislation).

Working on an Issue:

Identify: decision-maker (legislator) to target, primary target is the legislator, secondary target is people who can influence the targeted legislator/legislators

Identify: the resources and power we have—

information on the target (where do they live, how to best communicate with their staffers, who do they listen to, what are their habits, etc.)

allied organizations

lists of progressives, our data

social media connections

our skills

Identify the specific change we want (legislation)

1.      Identify the ones whose vote ,we need  to sway to win the legislation

2.      Brainstorm ways to influence their PERCEPTION

3.      Assess ways to influence the target and perhaps the secondary target

4.      Determine allies, connections, local validators (stakeholders, people helped or hurt by the legislation, community leaders who have a following)

5.      Determine priority relationships, check for possible conflicting events

6.      Identify effective tactics

7.      Know the legislative and event schedule

When trying to persuade

1.      ask an opening question about the person’s concerns

2.      LISTEN to the answer

3.      Acknowledge the person’s expressed concerns, problems, or issues

4.      Bring the conversation to the values you both share (fairness, responsibility, etc.)

5.      Pivot to supporting information (key fact, local example) DON’T OVERWHELM WITH INFO

6.      Contrast-This is what will happen if we don’t make this change