The importance of trust between disparate types of people within an organization; the need to follow your instincts, but also check your instincts with people …
The challenge of being successful from local to national levels. Huge effect of 9/11 on immigrant communities. Ana Maria immigrated from Colombia at the age …
Long-term staffer at organizations that focus on access to day care, sex education. Focus on making participation a realistic option for young women with children. …
Broad background in movement activism (civil rights, anti-war, black nationalism) led to openness to building permanent organizations run by their members. Realistic view of the …
Being open to the strengths of movement, community-based, single-issue, electoral, and identity-based organizing. Change depends on historical openings, elected leadership that is open, understanding the …
Big picture conversation about the potential for community organizing to make large scale change and what stands in the way of that; community organizing still …
Extensive work in educating funders about community organizing; strategic thinker about what new capacities community organizations need to develop. Began at Mass Fair Share; Florida …
Early field organizing in the Alinsky model. Extensive experience in building statewide coalitions (labor, consumer, environmental, utilities). Early adoption of electoral strategies to accompany issue …
One of the leaders/founders of environmental justice organizing in the South; particular interest in working with young people. Initially worked for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth …
Long career with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI). Iowa CCI has had working relationships with National Peoples’ Action, Western Organization Resource Council; Center for …
Importance of people’s stories; patience; curiosity. Good overview of issues that have affected the Boston area, including major conflict over school integration in the ‘70’s. …
Committed to a “high-touch” form of organizing with deep staffing; goal is to be a space where immigrants, especially Latin American, can both receive services …
Being formed by family’s values, patriotism, and sense of injustice. Taking advantage of many different types of learning experiences, both academic and real-life. What’s possible …
Good explanation of the rationale behind forming organizing networks: as support organizations for local community organizing and as coordinators of statewide and national campaigns. Initially …
Good and thorough description of her development as an organizer and her grounding in historical movements. Importance of seeing humanity in your opponents. Using anger …
Organizing experience that started with a faith-based network, moved to issue-based. He values movements, but sees that mobilizing overwhelms leadership development and ownership. “There is …
Organizing can offer a vision and agenda grounded in reality, but often prefers to pursue goals that their constituents do not share. Importance of institutions …