Progressive Community Directory How-to Packet

1. Why do we need a stronger progressive community?
2. What do we do about our lack of collaboration?
3. How do I keep contact with Citizen Works?
4. How do I get started?
5. Components of a useful directory
6. Hints (important)

[You can skip to section 3 if you want to get started right away.]

1. Why do we need a stronger progressive community?

Corporations have too much power - and people don't have enough. As a society we need to start steering by higher principles than the shallow morality of the profit motive. Unfortunately, it is the constant quest for money that organizes our society. We all know the consequences of such short-sightedness and greed.

We also know that we can make the call to higher ideals. And many people are trying. There are literally thousands of organizations just in the USA that were established to further the ends of democracy, justice, liberty, and sustainability.

And yet, these organizations are - on so many fronts - losing. Why, with so many supporters and so many organizations? Some of the answer lies in the effectiveness of our adversaries; but, unfortunately, much of the blame is ours: we need to be more effective, better trained, better disciplined - and, to be addressed in this project: we must learn to work together better. Groups with common interests -- labor, environmental, social justice, consumer, and democracy organizations- simply don't collaborate in the ways they should and must.

2. What do we do about our lack of collaboration?

The problems of progressive community collaboration (or, specifically, lack thereof) cannot be solved with any one simple project. But, there are concrete steps we can take to move towards better collaboration.

The first step that we propose is quite simple: each community - and the nation as a whole - needs a directory of progressive organizations, contacts, and resources. We ask you to take on the simple (though maybe tougher than it sounds) project of creating a directory for your community.

Then, we ask that you would make enough copies to deliver a few to every local union, community center, environmental group, coffee house, and progressive bookstore, and make sure that the people who need the info get it.

3. How do I keep contact with Citizen Works?

This is your project, so we trust that you will determine the best way to do it for yourself and your community. This is project is about local organizing, but we also hope that your work can help connect groups on a national level as well.

For your work to be effectively integrated into a larger national database, we ask that you follow the structure outlined in this document. To make it easier for you and for us, we've made a template using the Excel spreadsheet. The file is called "directorytemplate.xls". If you don't have Excel, you can download the document in Word as well. When you have completed your directory, please send a copy to Jacob at the above address so that we can help unite progressive activism across the country.

4. How do I get started?

The project will be a combination of a little Internet research, a few phone calls, and some typing - anyone with a friendly voice and an honest mind can do this quickly and effectively. The directory has two big sections: first, the literal directory of allies, second, a list of useful resources for those allies. (Suggested components of each part are laid out in the next section.)

Look in the phonebook under "social services organizations" to get started, or find a few local groups on the Internet (try www.idealist.org or www.guidestar.org) and give them a call.

The beginning of a typical phone call might sound like this:

Hi, my name is Jane Activecitizen and I'm creating a directory of the progressive community here in Progressiveville, KS. I'm calling the Progessiveville Water Quality Alliance and other environmental groups, unions, and community organizations to compile a directory of progressive groups.

Once I've got it all together I'll send you a copy. It will make it easier for us to all work together. Can you tell me a little about the work you do?

Remember, most everyone you talk to will love the idea and be very happy to help you. Always ask for their ideas of other good people to talk to.

5. Components of a useful directory

Note: this section includes both categories of information that need to be included and some suggested questions.

Part One: Allies

• Unions:
  • Contact info for each union local.
  • Name and title of a contact person.
  • Number of workers.
  • "Which companies and industries have workers in this union?"
• Environmental groups:
  • Contact info for each group.
  • Name and title of a contact person.
  • Size.
  • "What are your key campaigns for this year?"
• Youth Organizations
  • Contact info.
  • Contact person.
  • Size.
  • "What sorts of projects does your group work on?"
• Consumer Groups
  • Contact info.
  • Contact person.
  • Size.
  • "What sorts of projects does your group work on and what services do you offer?"
• Progressive churches and religious groups
  • Contact info.
  • Contact person.
  • Number of members/active participants.
  • Denomination.
  • What sorts of projects does this group work on?
• Key community organizers and leaders
  • [In some communities there are a few key individuals who have their hands in almost every good project and campaign. You definitely want people like this in your directory.]
  • Contact info.
  • What sorts of projects does this person work on?
• Student Groups
  • Contact info.
  • Contact person.
  • Size.
• "What are some big campaigns your group is working on this year?"

Part Two: Resources

• Supportive community businesses (book stores, coffee shops, record stores, co-ops, progressive bars, restaurants, or other retail outlets).
  • Contact info.
  • Contact person.
  • Brief description.
  • What sorts of issues are the owners or managers interested in?
• Meeting spaces (community centers, local colleges, progressive churches).
  • Contact info for each location.
  • Contact person for each location.
  • Details on available spaces (What kind of space? How many people can it fit? What times is it generally available? Is there a charge?)
• Media (local TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines and weeklies)
  • Contact info
  • Name of the News Editor and/or Assignment Editor
  • Names of sympathetic reporters or editors.
  • Specific procedures for sending in letters to the editor and opinion editorials (Is there a special email address? Word limit?).
  • Basic advertising rates in local media (short radio ads, small print ads, etc.).
  • Phone numbers, times, and subject areas of local radio call-in shows.
  • Note: Make sure to include any local progressive weekly newspapers - they are often key for reaching the local community.
  • If you can, include smaller community or neighborhood newsletters - they're often crucial
• Local government
  • General contact info [check the phonebook to get started].
  • Contact info for whoever is in charge of permits for marches, demonstrations, and door-to-door canvassing (usually police).
  • Schedule of meetings for city council, school board, neighborhood councils, etc. (or where to find that schedule).
• Special resources (not all of these will be in each community)
  • Sympathetic local foundations.
  • Progressive community centers.
  • Independent Media Center.
  • Campus activism centers.

6. Hints, tips, and questions.

In each case, remember, you're trying to create a document that is both a) easy-to-use and b) broad. So, consider the following hints for making it user-friendly:

• Remember to always ask, "Can you think of other people I should talk to?" Your best resource is the people on your list.
• Use our template. It should save you time and effort
• The size of these documents will vary significantly: the Chicago directory might be 30 pages long, while Saratoga Springs, NY can probably fit on three.
• Make sure that the structure of the document is easy to understand.
• Even if you modify the template significantly, make sure to use a consistent format that is easy to understand.
• Include a specific contact person and title as often as possible. Try to find the most useful person - someone who would generally know what was going on AND be easy to reach. That is, don't put down the name of a temp (who won't know much about what's happening), but not the Executive Director either (who will in most cases be difficult to reach). Knowledgeable people will go by all different kinds of titles, and in a volunteer organization, might not even have a title.
• Some of this information will be available on the Internet, but don't allow yourself to think of this as an Internet project, too much of the information on the web is out-of-date or not comprehensive. You'll need to talk to real people to make sure that you get the information you need.
• Still, for preliminary research, sites like www.citysearch.com and www.lexisone.com/legalresearch/legalguide/states/states_resources_index.htm may prove useful.
• Unions tend to have similar structures and purposes, and most people know what a coffee shop is for. But you can't tell much about many of these organizations by their name. Consider a group called "The Youth Project". From this group's name all you know is that they work with youth. Are they progressive? Do they advocate for change or only engage in small-business trainings for high-school students? Are they big or small? Are they old or new? It's your responsibility to make it clear to readers of your directory what these groups are all about. This way your directory will be more than just a phone book.
• In light of civil-liberties violations since September 11th, a few people may be hesitant to give out their information. You might have to convince them that you are really working to further the quest for a people-powered democracy. If they really don't want to give out their information or ask that you not include them you'll have to respect their wishes, but don't be afraid to remind them that this will help their work.
• If people are hesitant about your legitimacy, tell them that you're a part of a national effort sponsored by Citizen Works. The local directory is the crucial core of this project, but the national directory will be important for building the movement among different communities as well.
• Labor
  • Some unions to start with: SEIU (Service Employees International Union), UAW (United Auto Workers), AFSCME (Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees), NEA (National Education Association), HERE (Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees), CWA (Communications Workers of America), the Teamsters, plus different nurses, teachers, and laborers unions.
  • Check to see if there is a metropolitan labor council in your town or an office of Jobs with Justice [http://www.jwj.org/].
  • Even if there isn't a council or JwJ office, there may already be an internal list of local unions, see if you can get a copy.
  • If all else fails, call the national AFL-CIO (202-637-5000) office and get the names of two or three union locals in your community, and call those numbers to get the rest of the locals.
• Environmental
  • There are several national groups with local offices all over the country: the Sierra Club and the Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) are the two most prominent. Make sure to include their contact info.
  • There will probably be at least one local group (or, in a bigger city, many) that works on environmental issues. You might have to ask around for a while to find one, but once you find one person, they'll probably be able to tell you about the other groups.
• Students
  • Get the number of the main switchboard of each college in your town, call the number and ask for the student government office. Ask in the student government office how to get a list of activist groups on the campus. You may need to go to the student government or student union office to get the lists. If they are hesitant, explain that you're making a community directory and that giving out some contact information will help improve relations between the campus and the surrounding community