6 IAF OrganLD Citizens Handbook（6 IAF OrganLD公民的手册）.pdfVIP

IAF Organizing The Industrial Areas Foundation probably does the best grassroots organizing in the US. Legendary organizer Saul Alinsky (See Rules for Radicals)set up in the IAF in the 70’s to train organizers. The IAF still emphasizes the training of organizers. But it has shed its confrontational approach and adopted negotiation and compromise as the main way of meeting the needs of low income people. The IAF has been instrumental in increasing wages, providing housing, and improving schools in poor neighbourhoods. This is not the place to spell out the IAF’s accomplishments or the details of its approach to organizing. But it is worthwhile summarizing a number of highly successful IAF methods that differ from those usually found in community organizing. Anyone interested in a more complete rendering of IAF practices should read Mark Warren’s excellent book Dry Bones Rattling, Community Building to Revitalize American Democracy. The IAF organizes through church networks Much of IAF organizing occurs through Christian churches particularly the Catholic church. Because of this, it is often called faith-based organizing. The IAF taps existing parish networks to find the people it needs to achieve its goals. (This approach resembles the way successful social movements co-opt existing communications networks; see Social Movements: A Summary of What Works at ). In Texas, the IAF obtained the support of the bishop, who then encouraged parishes to join the IAF. The congregations of these parishes contribute dues to the IAF and volunteer for IAF campaigns. If the community organizing through churches seems unusual, remember not so long ago church and community where intimately intertwined. Every community of place was also a community of faith. The IAF is working to broaden its organizing beyond church networks. It has begun developing relationships with secular institutions such as schools, health care providers and unions