Nara Chandrababu Naidu's Visionary Policies For Andhra Pradesh's Development
Building An Open Progressive Community
1. Building an Open Progressive
Community
August 2nd, 2007
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com,
and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
2. Tonight’s Trainers
Arshad Hasan Chris Bowers Katrina Baker
DFA Training Director www.openleft.com www.cosmopolity.org
2 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
3. Objectives for this Session
1) Build a local and active blogosphere
2) Organize offline groups using online tools
3) Engage your local Democratic Party (using 1 & 2)
3 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
4. Online and Offline Progressive
Communities
Democratic Party
activism
Online tools: Offline action:
blogs, social DFA groups,
networks, Living Liberally,
email lists blogger brunches
What is an “Open Left”?
4 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
5. Benefits of Your Friendly Local
Blogosphere
• All politics is local
• Amplifies your message
• Builds a ‘buzz’
• Open source opposition research
• Directs resources to local campaigns
– Money
– People
5 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
6. Creating a Local Blogosphere
Getting Noticed
Write original content and post often
•
Be a good news filter
•
Find a niche and become the expert
•
Cross-post at other larger blogs
•
Be easy to find
•
Have contact info visible
•
Google & Yahoo searches
•
Technorati
•
LeftyBlogs
•
6 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
7. Creating a Local Blogosphere
Building Community
• Get together (online & offline)
– Create an email list of local bloggers
– Have regular caucuses, brunches, etc
• Link to each other
• Start a local blogroll
• Build a community blog
7 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
8. Local Blogs Impact in 2006
• Ned Lamont campaign
• Jon Tester for Senate
• Other examples: Virginia, New York,
Northern California, New Hampshire
8 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
9. Listener Submitted Questions
Get in on the discussion – The Night School Blog:
www.dfalink.com/nightschool
9 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
10. Political Communities
• Historical Context
– Community is an effective catalyst for change
• Cesar Chavez-United Farm Workers
• Lois Gibbs-Love Canal
– Decline of community groups in America-Late 20th Century
• Internet redefines community organizing
– Dean Meetups
– Emails, listserves, early blogs
• The Next Generation
– Social Networking sites--DFA-Link
– Living Liberally chapters
10 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
11. Taking It Offline
Getting Started
What’s the point?
– What is your groups’ purpose
– Why should people be interested
– For example: Why Drink Liberally?
Just do it
– Don’t be afraid of making mistakes
– Avoid ‘analysis paralysis’
11 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
12. Taking It Offline
Building a Community
1) Pick your time and place
- Should be open, accessible and fun
2) Recruit, Recruit, Recruit
- Be inviting and open to anyone
- Low entry barriers = greater participation
3) Be engaging and unique
- What sets you apart from other groups?
- What is your draw?
12 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
13. Taking It Offline
Building a Community
4) Open lines of communication
- Set up a group blog or email list
5) Ritual and regularity
- Avoid rescheduling or moving meetings
- What can people expect?
- What characterizes your gatherings?
13 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
14. The Silent Revolution
• Progressive activists winning seats as
Democratic Party precinct captains,
committeepersons or chairs
• Prominent Examples
– Kentucky
– California
– North Carolina
– Philadelphia
14 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
15. Philadelphia, 2005-2007
• Take back your precinct
• 200 progressive activists run
• Increased Democratic voter turnout by 74%
• Help elect progressive mayor
15 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
16. Benefits of Party Office
• You’ll make new friends
• Precinct captains win primaries
• Shape the direction of the party
• GOTV!
16 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
17. How to do it
• 80% is just showing up
• Know the rules, Follow the rules
• Do your job well
• Keep an open mind, but be ready to fight
• Have fun!
17 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
18. Dean for DNC Chair
• A 50 state strategy
• Online buzz
• Offline actions
• Grassroots activists swamped
local DNC meetings
18 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
19. Listener Submitted Questions
Get in on the discussion – The Night School Blog:
www.dfalink.com/nightschool
19 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
20. Homework
1) Engage your local Blogosphere
Click Here for a guide
2) Attend the next DFA or Drinking Liberally in
your area…or start one up.
-Ilya Sheyman: field@democracyforamerica.com
-Kristina Baker: info@drinkingliberally.org
3) Become a Precinct Captain in your
neighborhood
20 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
21. Coming Soon from DFA:
Attend a DFA Training Academy weekend
training near you:
Coming in September:
www.democracyforamerica.com/training
DFA Night School on
September 8-9 - Atlanta, GA
Precinct Organizing
September 29-30 - Springfield, IL
Want the DFA Training Academy to come to your town?
Request a 2008 Training!
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/training/requests
21 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com
22. Thank you for joining us!
Need to catch up on earlier Night School presentations?
Order previous semesters on DVD (and help keep Night School free)
Summer 2007 (Fundraising) now available!
https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool
https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/trust
22 Questions? Email training@democracyforamerica.com