Course Numbers: URBS 403.95; POLSC 317.06; SOC 235; WOMENSTUD 300.15; ANTHRO 303.50; COMHE 400.50

Tues. 2:05 - 5:05, 320C North                                                       Prof. Jill Gross -- 1609 West (office)
Phone: (212) 772-5600                                                                 E-Mail: igross@shiva.hunter.cuny.edu
 
 
 
 
 

Organizing is overwhelmingly about personal relationships. It is about changing the world and changing how individuals act together. K^{. Bobo, J. Kendall, Steve Max}

The course objectives are as follows:

KNOWLEDGE

1. To build an understanding of the various concepts of community and their application to community organizing.
2. To recognize the diverse types of goals, roles and strategies in organizing.
3. To appreciate the ways in which differences in values, power and resources impede community organizing and development.

SKILLS

1. To develop the capacity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of geographic (neighborhoods) and functional (interests) communities.
2. To begin to apply models of community organizing to specific social change endeavors.
3. To acquire basic organizing tools and techniques such as running meetings, public speaking, and use of the media.
4. To cultivate and apply the skills of critical analysis and problem-solving.

VALUES

1. To appreciate the complexity of and competence needed for the organizer role.
2. To value citizen, community and client/consumer participation and empowerment.
3. To appreciate the struggles and conflicts inherent in organizing for social and economic justice within a democratic framework.
 

2. Neighborhood observation and assessment (10%) -- 3-4 pages typed! With your group select a geographic area. You are then responsible for taking a walk around the agreed upon geographic area. This is the first stage of a community assessment. Using your five senses (and your sixth sense!) begin to conceptualize and understand the neighborhood. Come into class prepared to discuss your preliminary analysis in group! You are then individually responsible for submitting a 3-4 page typed paper which answers the following questions about the neighborhood you observed:

What does it look like, feel like, smell, sound and taste like? Based upon your observations, what are the strengths of the neighborhood? What are the visible problems? Is this a stable area? Is the area in transition? improving? deteriorating? What additional questions have emerged as a result of your observation? What other fact finding and assessment do you feel is needed?  And most importantly, what are the potential organizing issues that emerge from your preliminary assessment -- needs for programs? services? resources? campaigns to improve some aspect of the community? You can supplement your submission with photos, drawing, maps, etc. (this means 3-4 pages of writing plus artwork -- artwork is not required).

3. Meeting analysis (10%) -- Attend a meeting of either a community organization, a local government body, civic association or neighborhood organization (i.e. block association, tenant association, women's group) concerned with a neighborhood or issue. In 2-4 pages typed, describe the meeting in detail and analyze it. Guidelines and date for submission will be provided in class. Preferably the meeting you attend should be connected with your volunteer field experience.

4. Reaction paper for in-class film (10%) -- A short paper (2-4 pages typed) reacting to an in-class film. Full details to be provided.

5. Cyber-Recording Project (10%) -- This semester we are going to take this course on-line! What does that mean? Well quite simply I am going to put the syllabus on-line, and you will be responsible (in groups of 2-3) for recording a summary and synthesis of the major themes of one class. Each week we will spend a short portion of the class reviewing these minutes, and discussing what has been deemed important, to consider why certain things may have been left out and others included -- and we will consider the ways in which the recorders identity shaped the notes and themes recorded. The minutes will ultimately be placed on-line (once the recorders have had the opportunity to revise and review based on in-class discussion and comments). The recording group will then be responsible for submitting a final version -- on disk (to me) -- which will be placed on-line at the course web site. Note you will be graded on this, so absence from the assigned class or the review session the following week will all be factored into your grade. Students will be responsible for visiting the web site and are invited to comment in class on whether or not the minutes accurately capture the previous class session.

The timing for submission is as follows -- a draft for class viewing will be required during the week following the class your group was assigned to review. During the week after class review the group is required to submit its final version on computer disk to me! (so you have two weeks following the class in which to complete the assignment).

6. Community organizing fieldwork, written and oral presentation (40%) -- This course is designed around the premise that the best way to learn is through experience. As you all know you will be required to volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours this semester with a community organization -- the purpose is to experience the real world of organizing through participation in a community organization. You will be provided with a list of organizations (though you can also choose an organization outside of this list -- with my approval). You will be expected to negotiate and arrange this field experience on your own.

During the final weeks of the semester you will be required to do a presentation in class orally on your experiences (dates to be announced). You will also be required to submit a final paper which links your field work experience with your readings for the semester. The paper should answer the following questions:
1. What model or approach to organizing is being used by the organization?
2. What are the strengths/weaknesses of the organizations endeavors?
3. Describe the allies/opposition to the efforts?
4. What roles do the organizers and leaders play?
5. Describe the accomplishments/failures?
6. What lessons have you learned from the experience?

At the conclusion of the field assignment you will need to get a one page "letter of recommendation" from your field supervisor. This letter serves multiple purposes--it documents your activities, identifies the ways you have assisted the organization, and it provides you with a ready made letter of reference for use in potential employment in the future --- experience is key in the working world!
 

Most of the readings and text for this course are available at the Hunter branch of Barnes and Noble -- under "URBS 403.95 -- Professor Jill Simone Gross."

The course packet (PKT) -- A selection of readings have been copied and bound into a course packet entitled " Introduction to Community Organizing."

The Text (TXT) Kim Bobo, Jackie Kendall, Steve Max (1994), Organizing for Social Change: A Manual for Activists in the 1990s, second/revised edition. (California: Seven Locks Press).

Electronic readings -- full internet addresses will be provided in class in advance. This on-line version will provide hyper links to take you directly to the on-line readings in the near future.

Supplementary readings will be provided in handout form.

Office Hours: I will be available to meet by appointment on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday -- Room 1609 West.  If there are difficulties in your groups or with your projects, or you just want to chat, I am always available for discussion and consultation (I don't bite). Group issues should be handled early on and are not reasons for not completing the assignments on time.
 
 

What follows is an overall schedule of the readings for the entire semester. Specific readings will be assigned in-class (at the end of each class) for the following week.
 

I. Community Organizing -- History, Goals and Purposes

H. Rubin & I. Rubin (1992), "Organizing Is as American as Apple Pie: Lessons from History," in Community Organizing and Development, 2nd Edition (Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing), # 1 in PKT.

H. Zinn (1995), "The Unreported Resistance," in A People's History of the United States, 2nd Edition (New York, NY: Harper), # 2 in PKT.

G. Delgado (1994), "Roots of the CO Movement," in Beyond the Politics of Place: New Directions in Community Organizing, (Oakland, CA: Applied Research Center), #3 in PKT.

Rinku Sen (1996), "Alinsky Discovered Organizing (Like Columbus Discovered America)," in Third Force (Oakland, CA: Center for Third World Organizing), #4 in PKT.

T. Mizrahi (1993), "Community Organizers: For A Change," in B. Morgan & J. Palmisano (eds.), Mental Health and Social Work Career Directory, 1st Edition (Washington, DC), Handout.
 

II. Defining and Understanding "Community" in Community Organizing:
     Places, Spaces, Symbols, Shared Heritage and Sentiments

R. Warren & D. Warren (1977), "What's in a Neighborhood," in The Neighborhood Organizers Handbook, (Southbend, IN: University of Notre Dame Press), #5 in PKT.

R. Warren & D. Warren (1977), "Which Neighborhood Are You Talking About?" in The Neighborhood Organizers Handbook, (Southbend, IN: University of Notre Dame Press), #6 in PKT.

J. Jacobs (1957), "Downtown is For People," in The Exploding Metropolis (New York: Doubleday Anchor Books), Handout.

R. Hester Jr. (January/February 1990), "The Sacred Structure in a Small Town: A Return to Manteo, NC," Small Town, Handout.

W. Tolliver (1995), "Community Building: A Black Church Response," Hunter CSSW Alumni Update, Handout.
 

Assignment: Neighborhood observation and assessment (10%) -- 3-4 pages typed! Due one week after in-class discussion (date for written submission to be announced).

 III. Defining "Organizing" in Community Organizing: Models, Types, Auspices and Levels

  Geographic/Neighborhood-Based   Functional/Issue-Based
  Ideological/Value-Based    Constituency/Identity-Based

 A. Overview and Alternatives

K. Bobo, J. Kendall, S. Max (1994), "Organizing Models: The Underlying Structure of Organizations" Organizing for Social Change: A Manual for Activists in the 1990s, second/revised edition (California: Seven Locks Press), Ch. 6 in TXT.

B. Checkoway (January, 1995), "Six Strategies of Community Change," in Community Development Journal, Vol 30, No. 1, #7 in PKT.

G. Speeter (1978), "Approaches to Organizing: Which One Best Suits My Style?" in Power: A Repossession Manual: Organizing Strategies for Citizens, (Amhurst, MA: Center for Organizational and Community Development), Handout.

 B. Conflict versus Consensus: Organizing in the 1990s

S. Horwitt (1997), "Alinsky: More Important Now than Ever," Los Angeles Times, Electronic  http:\\my.voyager.net/ttresser/alinsky.htm.

E. Cortez, Jr. "Reweaving the Social Fabric," Electronic http:\\my.voyager.net/ttresser/cortes.htm.

F. Calpotura & K. Fellner (1996), "The Square Pegs Find Their Groove:Reshaping the Organizing Circle" Electronic http:\\uac.rdp.utoledo.edu/commorg/papers96/square.html.

Consensus Organizing Institute (1996), "The Consensus Organizing Model," Electronic  http://www.cpn.org/COI/coi_model.html.

 C. Case Studies

R. Epstein (1995), "Lighting the Beacon," in City Limits, #9 in PKT.

K. Johnson (1998), "SRO's Strike," in City Limits, #10 in PKT.

A. Dumois (1971), "Organizing A Community Around Health," in Social Politics, #11 in PKT.

T. Mizrahi Madison (November 1978), "The Struggle for Partnership in Health Service Planning," Health Law Project Library Bulletin, #12 in PKT.
 

 IV. Steps in Developing a Community Organizing Campaign: Focusing on the External

K. Bobo, J. Kendall, S. Max (1994), "The Fundamentals of Direct Action Organizing," Ch. 2 in TXT;
"Choosing an Issue," Ch. 3 in TXT; "Developing a Strategy," Ch. 4 in TXT; "A Guide to Tactics," Ch. 5 in TXT; "Designing Actions," Ch. 7 in TXT.

G. Speeter (1978), "Taking Action," in Power: A Repossession Manual: Organizing Strategies for Citizens, (Amhurst, MA: Center for Organizational and Community Development), Handout.
 
 

 V. Steps in Building An Organization: Focusing on the Internal
 

  membership: recruitment/motivation  Leadership: cultivation/development

S. Burghardt (1983), "From Leadership Development to Critical Consciousness," Ch. 5 in The Other Side of Organizing (Shenkman Publishers), Handout.
 

 VI. Specialized Skills

 A. Gathering and Analyzing Information:

The Role of Research, Data Collection and Dissemination as Organizing Tools

W. Collette (1984), "Research for Organizing," in L. Staples (ed.), Roots of Power (NY: Praeger), #13 in PKT.

N. Freudenberg & U. Urayoana-Trinidad (1992), "The Role of Community Organizations in AIDS Prevention in Two Latino Communities," in Health Education Quarterly, 19, # 8 in PKT.

R. Warren & D. Warren (1992), "Neighborhood Diagnosis," Handout.
 

B. Organizing and Running Meetings

K. Bobo, J. Kendall, S. Max (1994), "Holding Accountability Sessions," Ch. 8 in TXT; "Planning and Facilitating Meetings," Ch. 12 in TXT.

E. Schindler-Rainman, R. Lippitt & J. Cole (1988), "Designing Participatory Meetings" in Taking Your Meetings Out of the Doldrums (Sandiego: University Associates), #14 in PKT.

B. Lakey, "Meeting Facilitation: The Magic Method," (New Society Publishers), Handout.

 Meeting analysis (10%) - Due in writing during the week following in-class discussion (date to be announced).
 

 C. Community Relations, Outreach and Publicity

K. Bobo, J. Kendall, S. Max (1994), "Being a Great Public Speaker," Ch. 13 in TXT; "Using the Media," Ch. 14 in TXT. "Working with Community Organization Boards," Ch. 16 in TXT; "Working with Religious Organizations," Ch. 17 in TXT; "Working with Local Unions and Central Labor Councils," Ch. 18 in TXT.

 VII. Allies and Adversaries: Cultivating Support and Minimizing Opposition
 A. Coalition Building

K. Bobo, J. Kendall, S. Max (1994), "Building and Joining Coalitions," Ch. 9 in TXT.

Additional readings TBA, Handout.
 

 B. Handling Conflicts and Opposition

L. Staples (1984), "The Seven D's of Defense," in Roots of Power (New York: Praeger), #15 in PKT.

B. Lakey, G. lakey, R. Napier, J. Robinson (1995), "Dealing With Conflict" in Grassroots and Non-Profit Leadership (Philadelphia: New Society Publishers), # 16 in PKT.

D. Jones (1979), "Not in My Community: The Neighborhood Movement and Institutionalized Racism," in Social Policy, 13 (2), Handout.
 

 C. Race, Class and Gender Issues in Organizing

S. Burghardt (1982), "Democracy and Equality: Fighting Bias Inside the Organization" in Organizing for Community Action (Newbury Park, CA: Sage), #18 in PKT.

R. Severson (June/July 1995), "How to Break the Cycle of Racism," The Neighborhood Works (Chicago, IL: Center for Neighborhood Technology), # 19 in PKT.

J. Anner (June/July 1995), "Working Together: Building Successful Multicultural Movements," The Neighborhood Works (Chicago, IL: Center for Neighborhood Technology), # 24 in PKT.

B. Joseph, et. al (1989), "A Framework for Feminist Organizing: Values, Goals, Methods, Strategies and Roles," Handout.
 

 VIII. Focusing on the Organizer: Thriving for the Long Haul

K. Bobo, J. Kendall, S. Max (1994), "Working for the Long Haul," Ch. 25 in TXT.

S. Burghardt (1982), "Know Yourself: A Key to Better Organizing," in Organizing for Community Action (Newbury Park, CA: Sage), #17 in PKT.

C. Hyde (1994), "Commitment to Social Change: Voices From the Feminist Movement," in Journal of Community Practice, Vol. 1 (2), # 20 in PKT.
 
 
 

 IX. Contemporary Organizing Issues and Models

 A. Hybrid and New Organizing Models
 
S. Early & L. Cohen (Winter 1994), "Jobs with Justice: Building a Broad Based Movement for Workers' Rights," in Social Policy (New York: Social Policy Corporation), # 21 in PKT.

G. Delgado (1994), "Major Accomplishments, Limitations and New Developments
in Community Organizing," in Beyond the Politics of Place (Oakland, CA: Applied Research Center), # 22 in PKT.

L. Engdahl (June/July 1995), "Community Builders," in The Neighborhood Works (Chicago, IL: Center for Neighborhood Technology), # 23 in PKT.
 
 
 

 Supplementary Bibliography to Be Provided