Above: Western states’ populations grew faster than much of the U.S., adding representation in the House and political power in national decisions. Image: US Census WORC Region Gains Congressional Seats and Political Power. Now we must ensure that the districting … Continued
Alissa got her start in Montana politics registering voters as a community organizer for Western Native Voice. She soon after became the State Field Director and Montana’s first full-time Native woman lobbyist. Alissa helped to create, pass, and implement state law that protects the culture of Montana’s Indigenous people.
Why recruit candidates? Community organizing is about building enough power to win tangible improvements in people’s lives and bring about a more just and sustainable society. There are three important components in bringing about change: good public policy, community organizing, … Continued
Grassroots groups around the world use video, particularly over the internet, to communicate with members and the public, encourage action, recruit members, and raise money. Organizations put self-produced videos on their websites, YouTube, Facebook, and other sites, and they send … Continued
PREPARING FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE DEFINE YOUR GOALS Before you plan a press conference you should be very clear about your goals. This will help you do a better job of planning the press conference. Some good reasons for holding … Continued
WHY LOBBY? There’s a lot of skepticism about getting involved in the legislative process today. Many people think that “money talks” and little else matters. Campaign contributions are important to politicians, and special interests do have significant influence, but they … Continued
“My co-op says electricity rates will rise 50% in the next two years. What can I do?” “Can I interconnect a wind generator to the electrical lines? Will the co-op buy excess power from me and, if so, at what … Continued
UNDERSTAND PUBLIC OFFICIALS The first step in influencing public officials is understanding them. Here are a few guidelines that are true for most, if not all, officials: They have a lot to do, and not a lot of time in … Continued
Above: Colorado Rural Voters post card sent to Western Slope voters. All politics is local. No place is this more true than Colorado’s Western Slope. Colorado Rural Voters (CORV) was first established in 2008 to focus on building political power … Continued
Take Action Hundreds of people rally at the state capitol against a bill to weaken environmental laws. Citizens go door to door with a petition against a proposed toxic dump. A group meets with the mayor to demand more affordable … Continued