Transcript Community Organizing Training Series Part 1: Relational Power Part 2: Building Powerful Organizations Part 3: Initiating Public Relationships Our Purpose: Relational Power for Justice    Ability to get to the decision making table.

Community
Organizing Training
Series
Part 1: Relational Power
Part 2: Building Powerful
Organizations
Part 3: Initiating Public
Relationships
Our Purpose:
Relational Power
for Justice
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Ability to get to the decision
making table and negotiate
on behalf of our interests
and values
Make and keep deals
Organizing our people and
our money
Context for Community Organizing
Values: administration/control
Power: Position
Values: Profit
Power: Organized $
Private Sector
Public Sector
•Financial Services
Contracts/grants
•Elected officials
•Energy companies
/regulations
(national, state, and local)
•Real Estate/Construction
Campaign
•Government Agencies
•Health Care/Insurance
Donations
•Manufacturing
Voters/Taxpayers
Civic Sector
•Families
•Religious Congregations
•Labor Unions
•Civic associations
•Advocacy Groups
Workers/Consumers
Values: All other motives
Power: Organized People
and organized $
How will we build
power in the
Civic Sector?

Identifying common self
interests we can only
realize together
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Intentionally building
relationships necessary to
motivate and sustain action
Self Interest

Selfishness (me only)
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Self interest (inter-esse:
me amongst others)
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Selflessness (others only)
Spectrum of
Self-Interest
Self Preservation
Self Realization
Two Organizing Tools
to Identify Interests and
Build Relationships
1.
Individual meetings
2.
House meetings (January
training)
Definition of
Leadership
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Someone who has
followers
How many followers do
you have?
How do you build
your Leadership?
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Intentionally expand your
network of relationships.
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Members of your congregation
Members of other congregations
and organizations
Other community leaders.
Individual Meetings
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A 30-60 minute face to face meeting
to explore the possibility of a public
relationship.
Explore: initiate with people you are
interested in because you imagine
that there’s something to do
together.
Public: Not friendship, not romance,
but respect, an understanding of
mutual interests, and a context to
work together in the future.
With Whom?
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Members of your congregation
Members of other
congregations and
organizations
Other community leaders.
Anyone who can help you
expand your network
Life Lessons from
Lois
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“Meeting someone is not just about
meeting someone.”
“She had a big job for Helen, she just
didn’t know what it was yet.”
“First, she reaches out to someone outside
her world.”
“It’s not merely that she knows lots of
people. It’s that she belongs to lots of
different worlds.”
“(Integration) happened, but it didn’t
happen by accident. It happened because
a certain type of person made it happen.”
“When we talk about power, this is what we
are usually talking about: money and
authority. But there’s a third kind of power
as well – the kind Lois has. It’s social
power.”
Break Out Sessions

Group 1: Rear of Nave
Group 2: East Trancept
Group 3: Chapel
Group 4: Cathedral Hall
Group 5: Conference Room C
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Reconvene at 8:45 pm
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Nature of Conversation
Yes
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Intentional
Individual
Relational
Two-way/reciprocal
Stories/interests/values
Public/probing
In Person
Art
No
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Casual
Group
Task-oriented
Interview
Small talk
Private/prying
Phone/e-mail/chat
Science
Elements of
Individual Meetings
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Credential: who and why
Be interesting – share your story and
interests
Be interested/curious – inquire about
stories, interests, passions, values,
concerns, experiences, talents, public
life choices.
Close with specific next step to further
the public relationship
 another meeting a particular topic
 share names of people in their
network
 pull together a house meeting
 attend an event connected to their
interest
Next Steps

5 individual meetings in November
and December
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4 within your congregation
1 with someone else in this room
November core team meeting in
your congregation
Dec. 16 meeting for core team
leaders
Jan. 13 Training: House meetings
Jan-February: House meeting
campaign
Core Team
Meetings

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5-25 member team who will be
responsible for organizing your
congregation
Clergy and lay leaders
Leaders from all corners of the
congregation
Agenda for first meeting
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Individual meetings with each other
Individual meeting accountability
Turnout for January 13 house meeting
training
Caucus now by congregation to
schedule a date in November for
your first meeting.