1. Core Team Leaders Meeting December 16, 2011 Liberty Hill Baptist Church

2. Our Purpose: Relational Power for Justice Ability to get to the decision making table and negotiate on behalf of our interests and values Ability to get to the decision making table and negotiate on behalf of our interests and values Make and keep deals Make and keep deals Organizing our people and our money Organizing our people and our money

3. Context for Community Organizing Public Sector Elected officials (national, state, and local) Government Agencies Civic Sector Families Religious Congregations Labor Unions Civic associations Advocacy Groups Private Sector Financial Services Energy companies Real Estate/Construction Health Care/Insurance Manufacturing Contracts/grants /regulations Campaign Donations Workers/Consumers Voters/Taxpayers Values: administration/control Power: Position Values: Profit Power: Organized $ Values: All other motives Power: Organized People and organized $

4. How will we build power in the Civic Sector? Identifying common self interests we can only realize together Identifying common self interests we can only realize together Intentionally building relationships necessary to motivate and sustain action Intentionally building relationships necessary to motivate and sustain action

5. Two Organizing Tools to Identify Interests and Build Relationships 1. Individual meetings 2. House meetings (January training)

6. Where Are We Going? June 6, 2011: Founding Assembly of new organization 2000+ people 2000+ people 50+ congregations 50+ congregations 4-5 point issue agenda 4-5 point issue agenda March 31: Issue Convention March 31: Issue Convention Jan-March: House meeting campaign Jan-March: House meeting campaign 300 meetings involving 300+ people 300 meetings involving 300+ people Inside and across congregations Inside and across congregations Jan. 13: House meeting leaders training (7 pm at Fairmount Presbyterian) Jan. 13: House meeting leaders training (7 pm at Fairmount Presbyterian)

7. Individual Meetings Yes Individual Individual Relational Relational Intentional Intentional Two-way/reciprocal Two-way/reciprocal Stories/interests/values Stories/interests/values Public/probing Public/probing In Person In Person Art Art No Group Task-oriented/interview Casual Interview Small talk Private/prying Phone/e-mail/chat Science

8. Elements of Individual Meetings TENSION Open-ended relationship building vs. Building relationships to work on a specific project. Credential: who and why I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ” EXODUS 3:6: “ I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ” “I’m a member the community organizing team, and it’s our job to represent the interests of our congregation in this new county-wide interfaith organization. Pastor/Rabbi/Imam X suggested that you’d be a good person to know….”

9. Elements of Individual Meetings Be interested/curious – inquire about stories, interests, passions, values, concerns, experiences, talents, public life choices. Engage! Jesus himself came near and went with them,but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “ What are you discussing with each other while you walk along? ” They stood still, looking sad.Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “ Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days? ” He asked them, “ What things? ” They replied, “ The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people… ” Jesus himself came near and went with them,but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “ What are you discussing with each other while you walk along? ” They stood still, looking sad.Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “ Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days? ” He asked them, “ What things? ” They replied, “ The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people… ” Be interesting – share your story and interests EXODUS 3:7: “ I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings. ” EXODUS 3:7: “ I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings. ”

10. Elements of Individual Meetings Close with specific next step to further the public relationship EXODUS 3:16: “ Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and say to them, ’ The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying: I have given heed to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. ” EXODUS 3:16: “ Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and say to them, ’ The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying: I have given heed to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. ” Don’t be afraid of an open-ended meeting that results in the possibility of future action. Don’t be afraid of an open-ended meeting that results in the possibility of future action. LUKE 24:29: But they urged him strongly, saying, “ Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over. ” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ” Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. “ They said to each other, “ Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road? ” LUKE 24:29: But they urged him strongly, saying, “ Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over. ” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ” Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. “ They said to each other, “ Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road? ”

11. Tips Ask “why” questions Ask “why” questions Why did you/your family come to Cleveland? Why did you/your family come to Cleveland? Why did you join your congregation? Why did you join your congregation? Why did you chose your profession? Why did you chose your profession? Why is that issue so important to you? Why is that issue so important to you? Ask for stories, not opinions Ask for stories, not opinions Prepare your own “why” stories in advance Prepare your own “why” stories in advance Listen for examples of leadership Listen for examples of leadership