Parent Power
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Grassroots Action and Power
What is Power?
We are taught many different things throughout life about power, some of it is good and much of it is bad. While power can be used constructively or destructively, its definition has a positive connotation:
Power is the ability to create change, either through the action of an individual or
an entire group of people.
Why is Power a Necessity?
Sometimes we assume that just because we’re on the “right” side of an issue, we will win.
Unfortunately, this in itself will not yield a victory. Building power by organizing a strong base of grassroots advocates will demonstrate that there are many people who care about an issue, and those people are taking action to create change. The more people that actively support our work, the more influence we will have on decision makers whose support we need.
Sources of Power
There are three main sources of power. Often we associate power with two things: people or groups who have money; or people or groups who have authority due to their position.
The third source of power is just as influential, if not more, and that is power in numbers, or people power. This type of power is built when a group of like-minded, concerned citizens work together for change.
Who Your Power Can Influence
With the strength of people power, you can influence:
• The media
• Elected officials
• Opinion leaders
• Other leaders in your community (such as company or agency leaders)
• Members of your family or community
Your personal stories can illuminate problems and point to solutions in a way that no statistic can match.
How to Build Power Through Grassroots Organizing
It is only through seeking out like-minded supporters and asking them to join your efforts that you will build power to be successful. Your group of supporters will probably start out small, but thankfully, there will be many ways to expand your base of supporters as your work unfolds. www.grassrootssolutions.com
Bull’s Eye Worksheet
This simple worksheet can help you prioritize who you can easily approach to get involved in advocating on behalf of your issue:
• Step One: Think of the 3-5 individuals and groups with whom you have a direct connection and already know would be supportive of your issue. Write those down in the first ring of the Bull’s-eye. These people are your “base.” These are the first people to ask to get involved.
• Step Two: Think of “the next layer out” of individuals and groups in your universe – people with whom you have a direct connection, who might be interested in your issue, but are more distant than your base either
because their connection is weaker or because the issue is less relevant to them. Write 3-5 groups that fall into this category in the second ring of the Bull’s-eye. These people are those you can ask to get involved
once you have secured your “base.”
• Step Three: Think of individuals and groups you would like to see involved, but don’t necessarily have a direct connection with. These groups could include unlikely partners. Write these groups in the third and final ring of the Bull’s-eye. YOU
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High number of grassroots advocates needed to have impact Small number of grassroots advocates needed to have impact
The Grassroots Contact Pyramid
When deciding the mobilizing activities that you will undertake, it’s important to balance your grassroots resources with the tactics you select. A general rule of thumb is that the more personal the tactic is, the higher the impact it will have, and therefore the fewer people you will need in order to demonstrate grassroots power.
For example, a generic postcard campaign in which volunteer advocates simply stamp and sign a pre-printed message and mail it to their legislator will be recognized as generic and orchestrated. Therefore, you will need to generate a very high number of them to get on the decision maker’s “radar screen.”
Conversely, a personal visit in a legislator’s home district with five constituents who tell their personal story about the issue has very high impact, and requires fewer grassroots advocates. Keep these tips in mind when deciding which tactics to use in your grassroots advocacy campaign:
1. Dominate something. Concentrate an action in a small period of days, for example, to concentrate its potency.
2. Do a few things well rather than many things poorly.
3. The more personal the strategy, the fewer volunteer advocates you need in order to make it effective.
4. Force multiply. Find ways to leverage your existing volunteer advocates to get more volunteer advocates.
5. Follow up. Select strategies that are conducive to reporting back to volunteer advocates. Highly personal tactics (visits, handwritten personal letters, etc.) Less personal tactics (petitions, rallies, etc.)
More Grassroots Actions