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Sociology 235

10/19/99-class notes

 How to cut an issue

Identifying an issue is the key and fundamental component in organizing a campaign. It creates creativity and cohesion in a community. It’s the most difficult part of organizing because there is a whole range of balances that requires a skill. The organizer does not always identify the issue. They are not leaders of the movement; they just facilitate the community towards a goal. Different forms of community organizing means the roles of the organizers are different.

The goal is to create a power base in the community and help them to identify the problem then solve it. The underlying belief is that people don’t recognize that they can join together to solve a problem. If you can relate to an issue you are more likely to get involved. Ownership becomes important because it is about having a stake in the issue. You help people become more self-aware and share common interests when they come together. A broader vision develops in the issue discussions. The organizing process helps to solidify and bring community closer together in a system of interdependency. When this process of organizing occurs its exciting because the power becomes concrete.

The process of organizing allows people to identify frustrations and voice them. People are fearful because of lack awareness in the system and people are taught to put a lid on their aspirations so as not to create instability. Organizers try to teach that it’s okay to shake things up a little. By bringing people together you begin to overcome the issues and fears. In identifying the issue you can unify the people. People begin to share their similar aspirations for a better future and pull them in one direction. Identifying the issues activates people by making them angry and serves the purpose as a motivational factor. "The personal is political" means that we tend to think about problems in a personal way. Bobo and Kendall suggest that the political system or power structure may cause many of our personal problems and how resources are distributed. You must be able to identify leaders in the community; this is a stage that helps you identify volunteers, find experts, and committed individuals.

The first obstacle is the feeling of powerlessness from the people in the community. They feel as if they can not help in an action because they don’t think that they can change the system. People need to realize that change is possible if they unify. They are fearful of retribution from the power holders. As an organizer you want them to brainstorm solutions. Direct Action begins to work on small issues first so that the little victories are won in order to build towards the bigger ones. The communities must recognize what they have and know how to use it to make their point across. Good organizers are perceived as trouble- makers meaning that those who oppose them are going to make things difficult for them. Perception may be used as a threat. There must be an effective evaluation of who holds the political power and it may be a mayor, police chief, etc. You are faced with a perception of irrelevancy – people may feel that an issue might not directly effect them so you must tap it in as self-interest. You must help people identify what they really want. People tend to self identify with the problem and blame themselves and this causes a block. The community might resent a new organizer because they view them as outsiders trying to come and change their lives. You might be perceived as an enemy that can’t be trusted especially if you’re from a different race or have a special educational background. A way to change this form of thinking is to become more social or get someone in the community to be your liaison and introduce you to everyone else.

In Social Action the organizer has no issue based agenda, however the goal is to find out what the issue is for the community. The organizer would spend a lot of time listening to help understand the language of the community. By doing so trust is built between the organizer and the community. A common issue becomes a vehicle to build the organization.

Mass Mobilization needs an issue that will motivate people and cut across a community so it does not divide it. Bobo and Kendall theorized that if an issue will affect a person’s pocket book, then it will appeal to the people. An organizer must identify with various organizations and enlist them into the causes by utilizing them in the process.

Citizen Participation gets people involved in a process overtly and makes them believe that their participation matters. It builds a belief that a mechanism exists.

Public Advocacy involves a small group defining the issue in consultation with the experts.

Popular education builds awareness of what the problems are and get people thinking about how to respond to the issues.

Decentralization points out to people that ownership of local bases decentralizes the issues.