Community Organizing Training Series Part 1 Relational Power

Community Organizing Training Series Part 1: Relational Power Part 2: Building Powerful Organizations Part 3: Initiating Public Relationships

Key Themes of Community Organizing Power n Self-interests n Relationships n

Definition of Power “To be able” n The ability to act n

Ways of Understanding Power n Dominant Power n n Unilateral (one-way) Zero-sum Power “over” Relational Power n n n Multi-lateral Increasing Power “with”

Discuss with Partner Tell a story of a time in you life when you were acted on by dominant power, and what if anything you did about it. n Keep the story “public” n Spend 5 minutes swapping stories. n

Sources of Power in a Democracy Position n Organized Money n Organized People n

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 $

Context for Community Organizing Values: administration/control Power: Position Values: Profit Power: Organized $ Public Sector Private Sector Contracts/grants /regulations Campaign Donations Civic Sector Voters/Taxpayers Workers/Consumers Values: All other motives Power: Organized People and organized $

Three Levels of Power 1. 2. 3. Get to the table Make a deal Keep a deal

Our Purpose: Relational Power for Justice Ability to get to the decision making table and negotiate on behalf of our interests and values n Make and keep deals n Organizing our people and our money n

Paul Tillich on Power without love = tyranny n Love without power = sentimentality n Power + Love = Justice n

Frederick Douglas on Power n “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. ”

Next Trainings Homework: Malcolm Gladwell Article October 14, 7 -9 pm Tifereth Israel Theme: Building powerful organizations October 21, 7 -9 pm Trinity Cathedral Theme: Initiating Public Relationships