Notes from NYU’s “How to be an Effective Activist: a 90 Minute Training on Non-Violent Action”
Hosted by David Elcott - NYU Wagner Professor
Developing an Organizing Strategy - Daniel Altchuler Make the Road NY
Attract intersectional engagement to the issue that matters to you the most
Do your due diligence - who is already engaged in this space and what are they doing?
Decide on your goals and the steps you will take to achieve them
Power - who has the influence/power/political clout?
focus on political actors, not trolls
Once you’ve picked your targets, develop a strategy
ex. push Dem Senators to “hold the line”
Tactics - develop a sequence of actions that build on each other
Organizing - interdependent leadership
assign specific roles and encourage collaboration
How to Develop a Campaign - Rev. Noelle Damico Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Identify the vacuum in activism and determine how to fill it
Put those affected by the issue in charge
Organize around reaching as wide an audience as possible
“do not discredit the faith community”
pick audiences strategically and tailor your presentation of the issue to them
Create an atmosphere around “Not everyone can do everything but everyone can do something”
Mobilize
give out information early
identify your key constituents
use media to your advantage
phone calls work!
Action
use action as a tool of the larger campaign
lots of effort required in planning, organizing, scheduling, logistics etc; start early
pair symbols with messages
Activist Communication Strategy - Jamila Brown Digital Communications Strategist at The Opportunity Agenda
“stories matter because that is how our brains process information”
what is the current dominant narrative?
what is your narrative?
root your narrative in values
value-based messaging
affirmative stories
use UPSA (Value -> Problem -> Solution -> Action)
lead w/ value
focus on positive solutions
tell a systemic story
drive audience to action
every communication should have a corresponding action
Know Your RIghts: Demonstrating - Johanna Miller NYCLU
overview of ways of protecting yourself during demonstrations and knowing what is and isin’t legal in a dmeonstration can be found here:
https://www.nyclu.org/en/know-your-rights/palm-card-know-your-rights-demonstrating-new-york-city-2011