Building An Open Progressive Community

Building an Open Progressive
Community

August 2nd, 2007
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com,
and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Tonight’s Trainers

Arshad Hasan Chris Bowers Katrina Baker
DFA Training Director www.openleft.com www.cosmopolity.org

2 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com

Objectives for this Session

1) Build a local and active blogosphere
2) Organize offline groups using online tools
3) Engage your local Democratic Party (using 1 & 2)


Online and Offline Progressive
Communities
Democratic Party
activism

Online tools: Offline action:
blogs, social DFA groups,
networks, Living Liberally,
email lists blogger brunches

What is an “Open Left”?


Benefits of Your Friendly Local
Blogosphere
• All politics is local
• Amplifies your message
• Builds a ‘buzz’
• Open source opposition research
• Directs resources to local campaigns
– Money
– People


Creating a Local Blogosphere
Getting Noticed
Write original content and post often
•
Be a good news filter
•
Find a niche and become the expert
•
Cross-post at other larger blogs
•
Be easy to find
•
Have contact info visible
•
Google & Yahoo searches
•
Technorati
•
LeftyBlogs
•


Creating a Local Blogosphere
Building Community
• Get together (online & offline)
– Create an email list of local bloggers
– Have regular caucuses, brunches, etc
• Link to each other
• Start a local blogroll
• Build a community blog


Local Blogs Impact in 2006
• Ned Lamont campaign

• Jon Tester for Senate

• Other examples: Virginia, New York,
Northern California, New Hampshire


Listener Submitted Questions
Get in on the discussion – The Night School Blog:
www.dfalink.com/nightschool


Political Communities
• Historical Context
– Community is an effective catalyst for change
• Cesar Chavez-United Farm Workers
• Lois Gibbs-Love Canal
– Decline of community groups in America-Late 20th Century
• Internet redefines community organizing
– Dean Meetups
– Emails, listserves, early blogs
• The Next Generation
– Social Networking sites--DFA-Link
– Living Liberally chapters


Taking It Offline
Getting Started
What’s the point?
– What is your groups’ purpose
– Why should people be interested
– For example: Why Drink Liberally?
Just do it
– Don’t be afraid of making mistakes
– Avoid ‘analysis paralysis’


Taking It Offline
Building a Community
1) Pick your time and place
- Should be open, accessible and fun
2) Recruit, Recruit, Recruit
- Be inviting and open to anyone
- Low entry barriers = greater participation
3) Be engaging and unique
- What sets you apart from other groups?
- What is your draw?


Taking It Offline
Building a Community
4) Open lines of communication
- Set up a group blog or email list

5) Ritual and regularity
- Avoid rescheduling or moving meetings
- What can people expect?
- What characterizes your gatherings?


The Silent Revolution
• Progressive activists winning seats as
Democratic Party precinct captains,
committeepersons or chairs
• Prominent Examples
– Kentucky
– California
– North Carolina
– Philadelphia


Philadelphia, 2005-2007
• Take back your precinct
• 200 progressive activists run
• Increased Democratic voter turnout by 74%
• Help elect progressive mayor


Benefits of Party Office
• You’ll make new friends
• Precinct captains win primaries
• Shape the direction of the party
• GOTV!


How to do it
• 80% is just showing up
• Know the rules, Follow the rules
• Do your job well
• Keep an open mind, but be ready to fight
• Have fun!


Dean for DNC Chair

• A 50 state strategy
• Online buzz
• Offline actions
• Grassroots activists swamped
local DNC meetings


Listener Submitted Questions
Get in on the discussion – The Night School Blog:
www.dfalink.com/nightschool


Homework
1) Engage your local Blogosphere
Click Here for a guide
2) Attend the next DFA or Drinking Liberally in
your area…or start one up.
-Ilya Sheyman: field@democracyforamerica.com
-Kristina Baker: info@drinkingliberally.org
3) Become a Precinct Captain in your
neighborhood


Coming Soon from DFA:

Attend a DFA Training Academy weekend
training near you:
Coming in September:
www.democracyforamerica.com/training
DFA Night School on
September 8-9 - Atlanta, GA
Precinct Organizing
September 29-30 - Springfield, IL

Want the DFA Training Academy to come to your town?
Request a 2008 Training!
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/training/requests


Thank you for joining us!
Need to catch up on earlier Night School presentations?
Order previous semesters on DVD (and help keep Night School free)
Summer 2007 (Fundraising) now available!

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/trust


Building An Open Progressive Community

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