This presentation outlines the basics of Direct Action community organizing as taught by the Midwest Academy in Chicago and as developed by Saul Alinsky. Tom Tresser, tom@tresser.com.

1. “Community Organizing” 1
Introduction to
Community
Organizing
Tom Tresser - 2013

2. “Community Organizing” 2
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
“The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows
that all concessions yet made to her august claims have
been born of struggle…Those who profess to favor
freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want
crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain
without thunder and lightning…Power concedes nothing
without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out
what the people will submit to, and you have found the
exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed
upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted
with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of
tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom
they oppress.”
- Frederick Douglass, Letter to an abolitionist associate, 1849

3. “Community Organizing” 3
www.industrialareasfoundation.org
Saul Alinsky (1909 – 1972)
• Pioneer in grassroots
democracy theory and
practice
• Founder of the Industrial
Areas Foundation (IAF)
• Master organizer and
challenger of the status quo

4. “Community Organizing” 4
“Change means movement.
Movement means friction. Only in the
frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent
abstract world can movement or
change occur without that abrasive
friction of conflict.” - Saul Alinsky

5. “Community Organizing” 5
The Midwest Academy teaches an organizing philosophy,
methods and skills that enable ordinary people to actively
participate in the democratic process. The Academy courses
and consulting services are designed for progressive
organizations and coalitions that utilize civic engagement
activities to build citizen power at all levels of our democracy.
www.midwestacademy.com

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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
– TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Source: Midwest Academy

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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
– TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Direct Service
United Way's mission is to improve lives by
mobilizing caring people to invest in the
community where their resources are
needed most.

8. “Community Organizing” 8
FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
– TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Self Help
Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of men
and women from all walks of life who meet together to attain and
maintain sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to
stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership.

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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
– TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Education

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FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
– TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Advocacy
Source: Midwest Academy
The mission of the ACLU is to preserve these protections and guarantees:
Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly.
Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict
separation of church and state.
Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of
race, sex, religion or national origin.
Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the
loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into
your personal and private affairs.

11. “Community Organizing” 11
FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
– TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Direct Action
KOCO's organizing agenda is directly informed by its constituency, the low-income and working families
within the North Kenwood, Oakland, and its adjacent communities. KOCO's organizing approach
engages residents in identifying the issues that they want to see addressed, and facilitating the planning,
strategizing and training opportunities to aid residents in addressing issues. KOCO is a membership-
driven organization.
Our Mission
Through the sustained engagement of low-income and working families, KOCO develops multi-
generational leaders who impact decision-making process and public policies, improving the quality of
life in our local communities

12. “Community Organizing” 12
FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
DirectService
SelfHelp
Education
Advocacy
DirectAction
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy

13. “Community Organizing” 13
FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
DirectService
SelfHelp
Education
Advocacy
DirectAction
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of involvement
of people directly
affected by problem

14. “Community Organizing” 14
FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
DirectService
SelfHelp
Education
Advocacy
DirectAction
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Change of people
involved in problem

15. “Community Organizing” 15
FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
DirectService
SelfHelp
Education
Advocacy
DirectAction
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Level of structural
change

16. “Community Organizing” 16
FORMS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
DirectService
SelfHelp
Education
Advocacy
DirectAction
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Level of Conflict

17. “Community Organizing” 17
Win Real Improvements In People’s Lives
Make People Aware Of Their Power
Alter The Relations Of Power
Build Strong Organizations
Change laws and Regulations
Elect good people
The Three Principles
Of Direct Action

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8 Direct Action Organizing Steps
1.People (members) identify a problem
2.Turn the problem into an issue
3.Develop strategy
4.Confront the target with large numbers
5.Decision Maker reacts to us
6.Win or move on to next round
7.Move the issue into the electoral arena
8.Move the issue back to the legislative arena

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Organizing is about
building power

20. “Community Organizing”
Your Power Equals
Your Strength
Plus Their Weakness

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Their Weakness Includes:
Conflict Of Interest
Campaign
Contributions
$ Investment in
Image
Scandal
Criminal Activity
Close Election
Higher Ambition Past Connections
Need To Look
Good To Someone
Potential Rivals

22. “Community Organizing”
Form Of Power What Matters
Political - Legislative Votes - Money
Consumer Ability To Cut Profits
Legal - Regulatory Clear Laws & Regulations. Free
Legal Help
Strikes - Disruptive Cut Profits Or Stop An Agency
From Functioning.
Forms of Power

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Some thoughts…
• Where there is no vision, the people perish
• Imagination precedes implementation
• Listen, Learn, Lead
• Start where the people are
• Make the path by walking it

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Online Resources
• The Midwest Academy – Training, excellent manual – www.midwestacademy.com
• Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center – great workbook – www.inrc.org
• New Organizing Institute – www.neworganizing.com
• Community Organizers Handbook – www.organizershandbok.wikispaces.com
• The Organizers’ Collaborative – organizerscollaborative.org
• The Ruckus Society – Tools & training for organizing – www.ruckus.org
• AlternativeROOTS – Arts. Community. Activism - http://alternateroots.org
• TechSoup – Technology for nonprofits – home.techsoup.org
• The Civic Commons - Technology for the public good – http://civiccommons.com
• Rainforest Action Network – Activist resources – http://ran.org
• Mobile Active – Cell phones for civic engagement – www.mobileactive.org
• Industrial Areas Foundation – Founded by Alinksky, training- www.industrialareasfoundation.org
• Gamaliel Foundation – Coalition of organizing efforts, training - www.gamaliel.org