Social Justice
I just returned from a 5-day leadership training workshop down in lovely Lake Yale, Florida (just north of Orlando). I was sponsored by IMPACT (Interfaith Movement for Promoting Action by Congregations Together), a new, local affiliate of The Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART). It was an exciting and inspiring week for many reasons, but the one worth noting here is the remarkable potential of direct action as a means to challenging and redeeming the economic, political and social systems that create and perpetuate injustice.
The direct action model to be employed here stems directly from the strategies devised by Saul Alinsky, the “granddaddy” of community organizing, and is empowered by the respective “prophetic calls” to do justice shared by all communities of faith. The power comes from people, in this case local religious congregations, who are organized in such a way that they’re able to exercise power at an institutional level — individuals can’t negotiate with a transit authority, but IMPACT can! At street-level, here’s how it looks:
- Justice ministry leaders conduct grassroots “listening sessions” to discover the problems affecting their respective communities.
- A general assembly is held to vote on which problems will be addressed (e.g. 600+ people from 15 congregations in C’ville selected “transportation” and “affordable housing”).
- After researching the problem, a specific issue is “cut,” and a feasible solution is developed (e.g. transportation => new bus routes, or extended hours).
- Local congregations develop “justice ministry networks” comprised of members who agree to attend an Action Meeting to which they will bring 3 other people.
- The Action Meeting is a grand exercise of organized people power where city officials and decision-makers are asked point-blank, yes or no, whether they will carry out the solutions proposed. When faced with hundreds and sometimes thousands of determined people and a well-researched, reasonable solution to a specific issue, few officials can say no!
What excites me about this direct action process is that it is simple and effective. While writing to our representatives and elected officials, public demonstrations and sit-ins, and affecting change from the voting booth are all tried and true practices, tactically, such efforts seem to pale in comparison with “direct action.” When I hear of the many wonderful examples of how this process has served to bring greater justice to communities around the country, I can’t wait to get out and start building my network!!
Technorati Tags: DART, direct action research and training center, social justice, community organizing
December 4th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
How interesting this initiative sounds and how exciting to be a part of the program from the grassroots up. Keep us informed as it progresses, please.
December 7th, 2006 at 8:06 am
Hey Michael–
Thanks for sharing the main steps in the Impact approach. Very resonant for me, from the beginnings and community-based needs assessments, to determining in specific terms what you want, and then being single-minded about working towards getting it.
So often, I think, we feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the issues — so huge, so complex, how can we do anything to change things? By engaging in just the kind of process you outline.
Excellent!
December 8th, 2006 at 8:00 am
Mable,
I must admit that I had one of those “aha” moments when I saw that what we’re doing has a needs assessment right at the very core of the process — I thought of you, and I feel grateful for having had the opportunity to study and learn in the IT program. Thanks!
Indeed, once I saw how the process works, and heard so many stories of success, my sense of feeling overwhelmed by the enormity and complexity of social justice issues was very much diminished. In fact, doing something that makes a real difference now seems actually “do-able”! – That’s what I find so exciting.