Social Action

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Social Action
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What is social action?

• Social action is the practice of taking action
  usually as part of an organized group or
  community to create positive change, generally
  in the direction of greater equity and economic
  and social justice.
• The Iron Rule of community organizing is never to
  do for people what they can do for themselves.

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Examples of social action include

• Organized communication (letters, phone calls,
  e-mail) with policy makers and others in
  authority.
• Encouraging media stories and reporting.
• Putting together or backing a slate of candidates
  for public office.
• Attending, as a group, a public meeting at which
  an issue of interest to your community is being
  discussed.

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More examples of social action include

• Picketing or organizing a strike.
• A boycott.
• A sit-in.
• Street theater.
• Demonstrations, rallies and marches.

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Why engage in social action?

• It empowers and energizes populations that have
  traditionally been powerless, or havent
  understood their potential for exercising power.
• It unifies communities.
• It demonstrates to the world that the community
  is a force to be reckoned with.
• It may be the only thing that will move a
  stubborn opponent.

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Why engage in social action? (cont.)

• It motivates people to take other kinds of
  positive action.
•  It can be the beginning of a process that ends
  in a more unified larger community.
• It can lead to long-term positive social change.

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When should you engage in social action?

• When negotiation and reason will get you nowhere.
  
• When time is short.
• When you want to make a dramatic statement that
  will focus public attention.

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When should you engage in social action? (cont.)

• When you want to energize and empower the
  community, and develop community leadership.
• When you want to catch the attention of the
  public and the media and galvanize public
  opinion in your favor about an issue or about
  your organization or community.

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Who should be involved in social action?

• Planning and implementing a social action
  strategy should be inclusive and participatory.
• Involve previously existing community groups.
• Involve individuals affected by the issue(s) at
  hand.

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How do you engage in social action?

• Get to know the community.
• Identify the issues that are likely to lead the
  community to social action.
• Identify and contact key individuals and
  community groups.
• Recruit community members to the effort.
• Build a communication system.
• Encourage leadership from the community from the
  beginning.
• Create a structure to help the community
  accomplish its goals.

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How do you engage in social action? (cont.)

• Develop a strategic plan for social action.
• Decide what kinds of actions will work best in
  your community, and what kinds of actions the
  community is and is not willing to take part in.
• Develop contingency plans based on the level to
  which youre willing to escalate.
• Choose the time, place, target(s), and nature of
  your action based on its purpose, and on how it
  fits into your overall strategy.

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How do you engage in social action? (cont.)

• Provide training and other support necessary to
  carry out a successful action before you engage
  in it.
• Plan the action in detail, then follow your plan.
• Organize for action.
• Carry out the action.
• Follow up and evaluate.
• Finally, plan your next move based on how what
  you just did fits into your overall strategy.