Members of Unity & Struggle have been working to develop new methods of community organizing, reflecting on the big picture of what a (pre-)revolutionary moment asks of us. Part one in our series on organizing, “New Tools Needed: Community Organizing,” argues that existing organizing models, such as Alinksyite-style community organizing, are hegemonic and invasive. Carving up the class into distinct interest groups, community organizing fights for winnable demands and immediate interests, abandoning the goal of larger social transformation. While we may be critical of these models and their theoretical underpinnings, these are often the only models available to us.

If a primary goal of organizing is to help the class realize its power through collective action, then we need a model that foregrounds building power through confrontation. Drawing on existing workshops and wisdom, such as the International Workers of the World’s (IWW) Organizer Training 101 (OT101), the IWW General Defense Committee’s picket training, Stan Weir’s method of talking politics, as well as our own experiences in organizing, we sought to create a workshop that could accomplish two things. First, it seeks to put forward a clear theory and vision for organizing: a model that emphasizes building community power, using networks and infrastructure independent of and seeking to confront outside influences such as the police, the state, the bosses, the landlords, and sometimes non-profit organizations. Second, the training provides practical tools for developing this model of organizing.

We hope this training can be a valuable tool for organizers, and that people feel empowered to use it as needed. The training is designed to last around 6 hours, work for small and large groups, and help both experienced and brand new organizers improve their organizing.



If you’d like to organize, attend, or facilitate a training, please get in touch. We can offer online trainings and potentially send trainers to your city.

Autonomous Organizer Training Outline

I. Kick-off

Introduction Logistics What to expect in training

II. Defining “organizing”

Existing definitions Our definition Traits of an organizer

III. Organizing Scenarios

Group activity to determine an organizing scenario

IV. Planning

Terrain of a struggle Goals Strategy Tactics Benchmarks

V. Key organizing skill: Talking Politics

Get in the door Get their story Propose a vision Address obstacles Advocate & asses

VI. Organizing

Fostering relationships New member integration Skill development Reflection Celebration

Presentation slides

The slides (above) and notes (below) are available for your use. Contact us if you would like to get editable slides and notes for your own training.

Worksheet

Presenter notes

Further Reading

New Tools Needed: Community OrganizingBy Chino of Unity & Struggle, Regeneration, 2019

Secrets of a Successful Organizer by Bradbury, Brenner and Slaughter, Labor Notes, 2016

Roots to Powerby Lee Staples, Praeger Press, 2016

Playbook for Progressivesby Eric Mann, Beacon Press, 2011

Singlejack Solidarity by Stan Weir, University of Minnesota Press, 2004

The Worldview of C.L.R. James by Noel Ignatiev

Reflections on Organizing by Don Hamerquist of Sojourner Truth Organization, 1970, and Review of Reflections on Organizing by Paul Thompson of Big Flame, UK, 1970

Crisis and Class Consciousness by Advance the Struggle, 2010

Class Consciousness or Class Composition? by Salar Mohandesi, Science and Society, Vol 77, No 1, 2013.



