COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Using a One-On-One Listening Process
To Select and Prioritize Community Problems and Visions
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I.
Community Organizing as a Three Step Process
A. Listen to People’s Concerns and Visions for Their Neighborhood
B. Research Potential Solutions
C. Action: Meet with Public Officials
II.
Steps in a One-On-One Listening Process
A. Identify Members of a Listening Team (people who are relational and
good listeners)
B. One-On-One Training
1. Training and Practice
2. Deciding “Who Will Visit Who” and Further Planning
C. One-On-One Visits (6-8 Weeks)
1. Visits Begin
2. Mid-Process Meeting (After 3-4 Weeks) – Evaluation and
Accountability
3. Visits Completed
D. Listening Team Meeting
1. Report and Record Community Problems and Visions
2. Prepare for Larger “Membership” Meeting
a. Prepare List of Community Problems and Visions
b. Plan Agenda and Turnout
3. Evaluate Listening Process
E. “Membership” Meeting [See Attached “Potential Agenda”]
1. Listening Team Reports Number of Visits and Presents Lists of
Community Problems and Visions
2. Membership Discusses and Votes on Priorities
3. Membership Invited to Join Research and Action Committees
F. Research and Action Committees Begin Research
III.
Things to Remember
A. Each Visitor (Listening Team Member) Visits 10 Persons
B. Each Visitor Needs 15-20 Names In Order to Do 10 Visits
C. Prioritize Only the Number of Community Problems and Visions That
the Organization Can Realistically Solve (2 to 4)
D. The Listening Process Has Created a Mobilization Network for Future
Action
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COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Potential Agenda for a Membership Meeting
To Prioritize Community Problems and Visions
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I.
Welcome
II.
Purpose of Tonight’s Meeting, Review & Approval of the Agenda 5:00
III.
Introductions
10:00
IV.
Report from the Listening Team
A. Background
B. Number of Visits Made
C. Presentation of Community Problems and Visions Heard
10:00
V.
Questions and Discussion
20:00
VI.
Voting on Priority Problems and Visions
A. Why We Must Prioritize
B. Explaining How We Will Vote
C. Voting
D. Reviewing the Results of the Vote
20:00
VII.
Inviting Persons to Join an Action Committee
A. Explanation
B. Invitation
5:00
VIII.
Action Committees – in Small Group
25:00
A. Sign-In Sheet: Name, Address, Phone Number, E-Mail Address
B. Each Person Say Name and Briefly Why They Joined This Action
Committee
C. Set Date for Next Action Committee Meeting
IX.
Brief Report from Each Action Committee to Large Group
15:00
X.
Meeting Evaluation and Closing Remarks
10:00
Total Time = 2:00
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