Comments on: AI-JEN POO: Organizing With Love http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2010/02/organizing-with-love/ left organizers respond to the changing times Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:31:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve Schnapp http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2010/02/organizing-with-love/comment-page-1/#comment-171 Steve Schnapp Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:48:38 +0000 http://www.organizingupgrade.com/?p=1358#comment-171 It is exhilarating to read Ai-jen Poo's interview. The overview she provides of the current opportunities is concise and insightful, the emphasis on organizing the base is very welcome, the description of the Inter-Alliance Dialogue is so hopeful, the list of lessons learned comprehensive. The only thing I would add is that while campaigns can be transformative, in my experience a necessary ingredient is to embed purposeful, democratic, ongoing, learner-based education (often called "popular education") into the organizing and mobilizing process. The road to liberation is long, and even well-chosen, well-planned campaigns can go awry, and victories snatched back almost overnight or eroded over time. Analyzing the world, one's place in it, and how to change it takes time and effort. We need to build this in to our practice. Thank you for providing a lot of great ideas on which to reflect. It is exhilarating to read Ai-jen Poo’s interview. The overview she provides of the current opportunities is concise and insightful, the emphasis on organizing the base is very welcome, the description of the Inter-Alliance Dialogue is so hopeful, the list of lessons learned comprehensive. The only thing I would add is that while campaigns can be transformative, in my experience a necessary ingredient is to embed purposeful, democratic, ongoing, learner-based education (often called “popular education”) into the organizing and mobilizing process. The road to liberation is long, and even well-chosen, well-planned campaigns can go awry, and victories snatched back almost overnight or eroded over time. Analyzing the world, one’s place in it, and how to change it takes time and effort. We need to build this in to our practice.

Thank you for providing a lot of great ideas on which to reflect.

]]> By: Vinny http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2010/02/organizing-with-love/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Vinny Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:15:18 +0000 http://www.organizingupgrade.com/?p=1358#comment-158 There's so much to comment on, but one bullet point that stands out to me is the "Create an Inspiring Environment." That Maya Angelou quote really speaks to me and makes me reflect both on what I give off in and what I receive from my working environment. We can say the right things, but give very different energy. I guess that's why the other bullet point about "Transformation of Self" is also so important. Being "centered, focused and connected to our sense of purpose" can be a real challenge. Without this, we can feel lost, frustrated, and alone. This, in turn, can affect how we organize/ work and ultimately limits the potential to build a strong core leadership or see how policy wins are connected to a larger goal. Also, I believe I agree very much with the last bullet point, but I am wondering if you could elaborate more on organizing with and without love. There’s so much to comment on, but one bullet point that stands out to me is the “Create an Inspiring Environment.” That Maya Angelou quote really speaks to me and makes me reflect both on what I give off in and what I receive from my working environment. We can say the right things, but give very different energy. I guess that’s why the other bullet point about “Transformation of Self” is also so important. Being “centered, focused and connected to our sense of purpose” can be a real challenge. Without this, we can feel lost, frustrated, and alone. This, in turn, can affect how we organize/ work and ultimately limits the potential to build a strong core leadership or see how policy wins are connected to a larger goal.

Also, I believe I agree very much with the last bullet point, but I am wondering if you could elaborate more on organizing with and without love.

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