Talking to Strangers
Help Wanted: Organizers
I’ve heard from more than one organizing director that organizers aren’t doing the work of organizing - one-on-ones, building new relationships, getting out into the community. Here is my suggestion to them. . .
Organizer job descriptions should include talking to strangers.
And while we’re on the subject of requirements for organizer roles, you know what should not be on the list?
A college degree.
The most important skill for an organizer is building relationships. Some of us learned that skill in college; many don’t. When more than 60% of young people in the US don’t go to college, requiring a college degree excludes lots of great prospects, particularly people in communities that are historically excluded.
. . . Back to talking to strangers.
Many organizers enter the role without a good understanding of what organizing is. New organizers sometimes dreamily talk about becoming an organizer because they are interested in “policy.” Or they want to be of service.
Likewise, many job descriptions aren’t accurate. There are organizer job descriptions out there that read more like content creators, researchers or policy writers. No wonder applicants are confused!
If entry-level organizer job descriptions routinely included a requirement or responsibility that referred to talking to strangers - and making them not-strangers! - new potential organizers would get a better picture of what the job involves.
Even if the job description doesn’t explicitly say it, the interview conversation should. Just like we tell applicants that a role requires travel or working odd hours, we should be real about the heart of the job.
It would help potential applicants better understand the work and save organizing directors some heartache.
How are the organizers on your team doing?
How Organizing to Win Can Help
If you’re reading this and thinking about where your campaigns or organizing team could use a strategy boost, you’re not alone.
This is exactly the kind of work I help organizations think through: how to build an organizing strategy that does more than win. I create campaigns that bring people together to build power. I also design organizing education that organizers can put into practice immediately.
And helps them talk to strangers.
If that’s where you are, let’s talk.
Ready to Build What’s Missing?
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PS. Are you going to Netroots next week?
If you’re going, let’s meet up! Email mira@organizingtowin.net to find a time.