Gamaliel 101s
Are you new to community organizing, or are you a career organizer interested in learning something new? Welcome to Gamaliel 101s, a series of definitions, resources, blogs and more on a variety of topics related to our work, the field of community organizing, and more.
Have a suggestion for a future series? Contact us at [email protected].
Organizing 101
What is community organizing, anyway? What do we mean when we say that Gamaliel builds power? Who are our leaders? Get answers to these and many other questions in this series.
Organizing 101 Glossary
Organizing and Faith-based organizing Building relationships in the public arena that are rooted in shared self-interest is the process by which Gamaliel builds power. Shared self-interest is uncovered through one-on-one conversations. We believe that powerful movements are created when everyone involved not only has a clear understanding of why they are participating, but also has…
Organizing 101, part 2: Power
In this part of our Organizing 101 series, we’ll examine power. What do we mean when we talk about power? What forms can power take? We’ll get to these questions and more in a series of interviews with leaders and organizers from around the Network. Power, defined When you think of power, you probably think…
Organizing 101, part 1: Community Organizing
In the first part of our Organizing 101 series, we’ll dive into community organizing itself. What is community organizing, anyway? What does a career in organizing look like? How has the organizing profession changed over time? We’ll get to these questions and more in a series of interviews with senior organizers from the National…
Organizing 101, part 3: World as it is vs. How it could be
As Gamaliel community organizers, we do our work because we recognize the injustice in our world — simply, we strive to see the world as it really is. While our work is also a radical act of hope and we go to this effort because we believe that we can transform our world, we also recognize that…
Organizing 101, part 4: Dominant Narrative vs. Transformational Narrative
A public narrative is a story that, when told in many different ways, can shift public consciousness and change what is possible. At any given time there are multiple narratives in the public arena, but the dominant public narrative is a narrative that trumps all other narratives and has the most power to shape what…
Organizing 101, part 5: Organized People, Organized Money
We believe power comes from two sources: organized people and organized money. Organized people work together toward a common goal because they have a shared self-interest in the success of that goal. But let’s be clear – we live in a capitalist society. Nothing gets done without money. Having and raising money is not enough….
Organizing 101, part 6: Self-Interest
Self-interest is what compels individuals to engage in the work of organizing. What is it about a cause that speaks to you? What is at stake for you personally if nothing changes? That is your self-interest. Our culture conflates self-interest, selfishness, and selfishness, but do not be fooled. If you believe that you should live…