Tom Tresser (www.tresser.com) gave this presentation at Temple Sholom on October 12, 2022. Tom is available to teach a wide variety of workshops on civics and nonprofit management. tom@tresser.com. To listen to the audio from the presentation, got to https://soundcloud.com/civiclab/org-101-10-12-22 (1 hour, 23 min).

1. Tom Tresser
October 12, 2022
1
www.powerinstitute.us

2. www.civiclab.us
2
The CivicLab is a Black-led, Chicago-based nonprofit community-facing “do tank” dedicated to
accelerating and deepening grassroots democracy, civic engagement and social justice efforts
through collaboration, education and innovation. We originate and build tools for civic investigation,
sustainable grassroots leadership development, civic accountability and civic collaboration.
We seek to expand civic imagination about what is possible for Chicago’s future.
We are helping to recruit, develop, equip and inform new leaders to take us to that future.
Our method is: Investigate. Fabricate. Educate. Activate. Liberate. Repeat.

3. Get trained to win
www.powerinstitute.us – info@civicalb.us
• “Community Organizing 101”
• “Grassroots Campaigning 101”
• “TIF 101 – Organizing for Economic Justice”
• “Public 101” – What are we fighting for?
• “Privatization 101”
• “Chicago Budget 101” – Includes overview of “Chicago Is Not Broke”
book
• Leadership Coaching – How to get powerful and effective fast
• Classes on civic engagement, social change, and leadership for
universities and schools.
• Community Harambee (Swahili for “let’s all pull together”) –
convening stakeholders to explore, strategize and solve
3

4. The Mayor, the media, the aldermen, the downtown civic
groups, the foundations all say that Chicago is BROKE.
Don’t believe them. Read the book.
Organize using the book.
Order at www.wearenotbroke.org
"There are only a few people courageous enough to sift
through the lies and tangled webs that proves Chicago isn't
broke, but the politics are. Most people won't take the time to
do the research, but Tom Tresser and his team have and this
book should be on your list.“ - Karen Lewis, President,
Chicago Teachers Union

5. WELCOME
● First voter registration campaign in 1973
● Founded or led 14 nonprofits in arts, community
development, civic engagement
● Grassroots campaigner – fighting privatization, 2016
Olympic Bid, Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs)
● Taught at 6 local universities
● Over 200 public meetings/trainings
● Used to be a Shakesperean actor/Theater producer!
TOM TRESSER
5

6. Frederick Douglass’
Letter to an Abolitionist Associate, 1857
(1) "Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of
human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims, have been born of
earnest struggle. (2) The conflict has been exciting, agitating, all-absorbing, and for the time
being, putting all other tumults to silence. It must do this, or it does nothing. If there is no
struggle, there is no progress. (3)Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate
agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without
thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. (4)This
struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical,
but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never
will. (5) Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact
measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till
they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed
by the endurance of those whom they oppress." 6

7. 7
The “P” Word

8. 8
Form Of Power What Matters
Political - Legislative Votes - Money
Consumer Ability To Cut Profits
Legal - Regulatory Clear Laws & Regulations. Free
Legal Help
Strikes - Disruptive Cut Profits Or Stop An Agency
From Functioning.

9. Community Organizing Definitions
9

10. “Community Organizing”
10
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS
Direct Service
Self Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct Action
Source: Midwest Academy

11. “Community Organizing”
11
Direct Service
United Way's mission is to improve lives by
mobilizing caring people to invest in the
community where their resources are
needed most.
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

12. “Community Organizing”
12
Self Help
Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of men
and women from all walks of life who meet together to attain and
maintain sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire
to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership.
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

13. “Community Organizing”
13
Education
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

14. “Community Organizing”
14
Advocacy
Source: Midwest Academy
The mission of the ACLU is to preserve these protections and guarantees:
Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly.
Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict
separation of church and state.
Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of
race, sex, religion or national origin.
Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss
of your liberty or property is at stake.
Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into
your personal and private affairs.
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

15. “Community Organizing”
15
Direct Action
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

16. “Community Organizing”
16
Direct
Service
Self
Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct
Action
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

17. “Community Organizing”
17
Direct
Service
Self
Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct
Action
At once/
On site
Long time/
Multiple sites
Source: Midwest Academy
Time involvement
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

18. “Community Organizing”
18
Direct
Service
Self
Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct
Action
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Level of involvement
of people directly
affected by problem
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

19. “Community Organizing”
19
Direct
Service
Self
Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct
Action
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Source: Midwest Academy
Transformation of people
involved in effort/org
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

20. “Community Organizing”
20
Direct
Service
Self
Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct
Action
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Level of structural change
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

21. “Community Organizing”
21
Direct
Service
Self
Help
Education
Advocacy
Direct
Action
Accepts
Existing
Power
Relationships
Challenges
Existing
Power
Relationships
Level of Conflict
TYPES OF HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

22. 22
Win Real Improvements In People’s Lives
Make People Aware Of Their Power
Alter The Relations Of Power
 Build Strong Organizations
 Change laws and Regulations
 Elect good people
The Three Principles
Of Direct Action

23. Community Organizing is…
23
“Organizers identify, recruit and develop leadership; build community around
leadership; and build power out of community. Organizers bring people together,
challenging them to act on behalf of their own shared values and interests. They
develop the relationships, motivate the participation, strategize the pathways, and
take action that enable the people to gain new appreciation of their values, the
resources to which they have access, their interests, and a new capacity to use
their resources on behalf of their interests. Organizers work through ‘dialogues’ in
relationships, motivation, strategy and action carried out as campaigns.”
- Marshall Ganz

24. Roles of the Organizer
24
1. The Foot Soldier
2. The Evangelist
3. The Recruiter
4. The Group Builder
5. The Strategist
6. The Tactician
7. The Communicator
8. The Political Educator
9. The Agitator
10.The Fund-Raiser
11.The Comrade & Confidante
12.The Cadre

25. How To Pick An Issue – Does it/Is it…
1. Result in real improvement in people’s lives?
2. Give people a sense of their own power?
3. Alter the relations of power?
4. Be worthwhile/energizing?
5. Winnable?
6. Widely felt?
7. Deeply felt?
8. Easy to understand?
9. Have a clear target/Decision maker?
10. Have a clear/do-able time frame?
11. Non-divisive for your organization?
12. Build leadership?
13. Set you up for your next campaign?
14. Have a pocketbook angle
15. Help raise funds/resources?
16. Consistent with your values and vision? 25

26. Types of Direct Actions
26
http://deepgreenresistance.net

27. 27

28. The Power Matrix
28
From: https://organizingforpower.org
Power Matrix
comes here

29. The Power Matrix
29

30. 30

31. 31

32. Skill Building – Get the Manual!
32
www.inrc.org

33. Comments?
33