Creating Your Vision

What is your vision for the campus and/or community?

I want to have a community that knows how to leverage their power to affect legislation, policies, and hold elected officials accountable. I want to create an avenue for the community to interact socially, building relationships that can create political power as well.

SUMMARY: VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

•Involves one event per month aimed at getting the community together, raising awareness of issues, and registering people to vote

•Involves Community Forums on specific issues from August- November (i.e. Violence, Youth Activities, Employment Opportunities, etc)

•Interview outspoken members of community for documentary on what Roseland wants

Assessing Your Campus and Community

What campus/community problem does your blueprint address? What structures, practices and policies institutionalize the problem?

Our local elected officials are ABSENT. In fact, if you asked any random person to name one of them, you would get a blank stare. The people in the community need to be educated on what it means to be an active citizen in the community and I believe it begins with voting and holding elected officials accountable.

One of the problems is that most people drop out of school before they get to the high school course that teaches you about voting and the government. When it comes to leveraging their power as voting citizens, they know next to nothing. Thus, one part of my project is explaining the local positions and what they can do for the community and then give a little background on the current official, including when their term is over.

Another problem is that less than 25% of my community participates in elections and; or are registered to vote. Most don't believe that it means anything so I want to stress the importance of voting and how it gives them substance when speaking with an elected official about issues in the community. Voting gives you a voice, even if its voting someone out of power. I want people in my community to realize that we have power, we just haven't used it effectively to make sure that our local officials know about the problems we face and that we expect results.

Another problem is that our elected officials never come to visit the community. Those who vote choose the same official because there is usually no one else on the ballot. I however, am of the mind that if you wont come to us, we will come to you. So, I would like to hold monthly events to bring the community together to talk about issues that we face and tape and summarize the info for the officials. I also recognize that the community has a HUGE turnover rate (mostly due to new public housing policies) and that we have become a community of strangers so these events help to work on that issue as well. I want to invite the officials to these large gatherings and make sure that the people know that they were invited. If they don't show up, it makes them look bad. If they do show up, then the people get to speak with them. In the end, the event demonstrates to the community that we either have someone we should consider supporting or that we have someone who needs to go.

What communities will you work with?

• Local community

Setting Goals and Deliverables

• Goal 1: To establish a Voter Registration and Education drive reaching 2000 voter eligible members of the Roseland Community (9th Ward Chicago)
• Approximately 2000 people of voter eligible members will be registered (Only 700 currently registered)
• GOTV events in the community in October and November- increase turnout 300% ( at least 800 voters)
• Produce literature to inform voters about voting, government, and how to use their voices
• Recruit 10 volunteers to help with project
• Goal 2: To create a documentary video to increase Community Dialogue on Issues/Problems
• Community Forums on different issues in September/ October
• Interviews with random and selected people in Roseland about the community, memories, demands, etc*
• Dialogue with local officials and community using the video
• Create a video about issues in the community and what people want for elected officials and community members
• Goal 3: Create a community group that can speak about issues in the community and take action
• Community Events every month to raise awareness of group and its mission and bring community members together
• Create an outlet for action with information from gatherings
• Present demands/ suggestions from community to elected officials and meet with them to discuss progress or possible ways to work together- Demand more face time with officials
• Update community on steps taken or steps that need to be taken

What is your primary approach? Organizing

Why did you choose this approach?

There is no structure for change currently in the community aside from small activist groups on certain issues. I want to harness the frustration and bring everyone together to build a movement that can change the community. I also want to make sure that people have the tools they need to continue without me, ie learning how to dialogue with officials, present demands, etc.

Did you have secondary approaches? What are they?

Leadership and Capacity Building

What will your tactics and activities be?

Holding Community Events, Publicizing project, Hitting the Streets for Registration, Recruiting Volunteers, Gathering donations/ resources, researching community demographics and what activities are illegal or legal(!)
Throughout the summer and fall - At least once a month volunteer meeting. Also, attend other organization meetings to promote collaboration and shared knowledge.

1. Voter Registration and Education

2. Documentary Video Project

3. Establishing a community network and alliance

Connecting Back to Vision

How does your strategy contribute to your vision for your campus and/or your community?

It brings everyone together, gets people infomed about elections and the role of officials, and hopefully inspires everyone to remain active in the community. It also sends a message to elected officials that they have to WORK for our votes and that we expect results. Finally, the community will get to know each other.

Resources and skills you will need

What skills do you need for this approach?

Community Organizing
Using Media Effectively- Making Demands impossible to ignore
Effective Solicitation
Voter Registration training