Tips for the Association Activist

A Guide for HCR Activists, Part 3 of 7

—NEA Human & Civil Rights

This is an excerpt from "Putting Our Values To Work: A Guide for the Association Human and Civil Rights Activist."

Start with you!

What bothers you? Somebody ought to do something about ____ (fill in the blank).

Get your facts straight about the issues that matter most to you. That's essential. But remember: Facts alone don't move people. Wishes, fears, and values are what move people.

Look for the activist opportunity that fits you—your skills, personality, and values.

Take the plunge. Make a difference. Become the change you want to see in the world.

Jump on every professional development and training opportunity that comes your way in our Association—and there are many!

Savor the journey.

Listen to others!

Listen. It's the first rule of organizing.

Engage your colleagues in one-on-one conversations at every opportunity.

When someone comes to you with a gripe, ask them: What are we going to do about it?

Stay positive. Stay hopeful. Help people believe in themselves and what they can accomplish.

Organize!

Don't agonize, organize. Don't intellectualize, organize.

Organizing is, at its core, about building relationships. People are more likely to help if they have a relationship with you.

If you want people to join with you in working on a common goal, ask them. Surveys show that 80 percent of volunteers doing community work said they began because they were asked by a friend, a family member, or a neighbor.

The more personal the "ask" is, the more effective it will be. This means recruiting in person, at events or over the phone—not through e-mail or the mailbox.

And simply asking is not enough—give reasons why they should volunteer.

Why are they needed? What is the activity important? Why is this particular timing important?

But be straight with volunteers. If an activity is tedious or difficult, own that and explain why it is still important. Credibility is crucial in maintaining this relationship.

The more you can make volunteers feel they are special and part of a select team, the more ownership they will take for the activity and the Association. And the harder they will work.

Never forget: One of the primary reasons people volunteer is to be part of something that serves a higher purpose.

Stay connected. Communicate often. Have contact when you don't need something. Look for easy opportunities to stay in touch.

Keep in mind: Working for social justice, you are always going to be, as one gospel song puts it, "Climbing up the rough side of the mountain."

Take Action

Pick battles big enough to matter and small enough to win.

Be quite clear with people about what you believe in. The principles that guide you are more important than the details of any policy.

Whatever the issue, name your adversary and personalize the issue.

We live by stories; we function and make sense of the world through stories.

Create a compelling narrative that explains the cause you are fighting for. What's your story? In this age of information overload and fragmentation, people yearn for a single narrative rather than ten thousand more bytes of information.

A compelling narrative contains protagonists and antagonists; your story should make clear what you stand for, what you cannot stand, what your antagonist represents, and where you are headed.

Involve colleagues in choosing tactics, and divide up and delegate work.

Appreciate all contributions, no matter how small.

Welcome criticism, and laugh at yourself.

When trying to connect with people, especially over the Internet, remember they are barraged with messages; so pay attention to how you are going to get their attention. Cut through the clutter.

When speaking to a group, keep in mind that they will remember how you made them feel long after they've forgotten what you said.

When reaching out to your community for support, remember we are advocates for children, young people, and students—and the more we weave our personal experiences with students into our message, the more effective an advocate we become.

Celebrate your victories, however small; learn from your defeats and move on.

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is a process; working together is success.

Educate Politicians

Because public policies and laws affect everything we do in our public schools and classrooms, we must work with politicians, and try, as best we can, to educate them.

But we must never let politicians define our vision, our convictions, or what we consider "possible." Real change originates at the grassroots, not in the State Legislature or the Congress—and we are all about real change.

We want and demand political leaders who act to make a difference. This is not a time for cautious souls; it's a time for courage.

Everyone in politics seems to think that they know more about how to educate children then we do. They do not. We are the professionals.

Related Resources

"Putting Our Values To Work"

1. Intro: Somebody Ought To Do Something
2. Frequently Asked Questions About Being an Activist
3. Tips for the Association Activist
4. Feeding the Activist's Soul
5. A Tool Kit for Human and Civil Rights Activists
6. The Activist's Library
7. The Activist's Cyberspace Resources