Consensus Organizing: A Community Development Workbook

Mary Ohmer has over twenty years of experience working in community organizing and development around the country with national and local nonprofit and community based organizations, foundations, and government. Dr. Ohmer has taught consensus organizing approaches as part of macro practice and community organizing social work courses. She received her Ph.D. in social work from the University of Pittsburgh in August 2004, and she is currently an assistant professor at the School of Social Work at Georgia State University. Dr. Ohmer is also currently working with the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta to help them develop and implement an evaluation of the community training. Karen DeMasi has over twenty years social work experience with nonprofit agencies with expertise in program development, strategic planning, fundraising, community development and administration. Ms. De Masi later worked with the Consensus Organizing Institute developing and implementing new training and consulting opportunities in both the private and public sector markets across the United States. She is a graduate of the University of Dayton, with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and a Master's degree in Public Administration. Ms. DeMasi currently works as an independent consultant to community building organizations throughout the Ohio/Kentucky region, including LISC.

SECTION ONE: CONSENSUS ORGANIZING IN CONTEXT Introduction to Section one 1. Approaches to Community Organizing and Their Relationship to Consensus Organizing Community, Civic Engagement, and Social Capital Community Organizing Approaches Defining Consensus Organizing and Comparing it with Other Approaches The Conceptual Model for Consensus Organizing Discussion Questions Case Study Exercises Field Exercise Web Resources 2. How the Economic, Political, and Social Context Influences Low-Income Communities and Community Organizing Why Context is important to Community Organizing Overall Economic, Political, and Social Trends and their Influence on Low-income Communities How Can Community Organizers Respond To These Trends Discussion Questions Case Study Exercises Field Exercise Web Resources 3. Understanding and Applying the Strategic Principles of Consensus Organizing The Strategic Principles of Consensus Organizing Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise Field Exercise Web Resources SECTION TWO: WHAT DOES A CONSENSUS ORGANIZER DO? Introduction to Section Two 4. The Process of Consensus Organizing Community Organizing Versus Community Outreach The Consensus Organizing Process Basic Steps in the Consensus Organizing Process Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise: The Jamestown Neighborhood Field Exercise Web Resources 5. The Role of the Consensus Organizer Characteristics of a Consensus Organizer Fundamental Attitudes and Competencies of Consensus Organizers Roles for Consensus Organizers Tools for the Organizer and Supervisor to Monitor Progress Raising Resources for Community Organizing Work Discussion Questions Case Study Exercises Field Exercises Web Resources Suggested Reading SECTION THREE: THE COMMUNITY ANALYSIS IN CONSENSUS ORGANIZING Introduction to Section Three: The Community Analysis: Building Trust, Relationships, and Strategies for Positive Community Change How does a Community Analysis differ from other types of Community Studies? Why do a Community Analysis? What are the Expected Outcomes of the Community Analysis What is the Consensus Organizer's Role in conducting a Community Analysis? Engaging the "Community" in the Community Analysis: Getting your Foot in the Door Discussion Questions Role Play Exercise 6. Step One in the Community Analysis: Understanding Neighborhoods - Their History and Current Conditions Overall Purpose of Step One of the community analysis Gathering Information about the Community Strategic Questions for Step One Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise: Step One of the Community Analysis: Palm Beach County Development Team In-Class Exercise: Getting Started on Step One of the Community Analysis Field Exercise 7. Step Two in the Community Analysis: Understanding and Engaging Individuals from Internal Community Resources Purpose of the Internal Community Analysis Strategic Questions for the Analysis of Internal Community Resources Discussion Questions Case Study Exercises In-Class Exercise: Getting Started on Step Two of the Community Analysis Field Exercise 8. Step Three in the Community Analysis: Understanding and Engaging Individuals from External Community Resources Purpose of the Analysis of External Community Resources Identifying the Self-Interest of External Community Resources Using the Analysis to Engage Members of the External Power Structure Strategic Questions for the External community analysis Discussion Questions Case Study Exercises In-Class Exercise: Getting Started on Step Three of the community analysis Field Exercise SECTION FOUR: WRAP-UP: THE COMMUNITY ANALYSIS - TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Potential "Red Flags" in the Community Analysis Writing up your Results from the Community Analysis Case Study Exercises Discussion Questions Role Play Exercises Field Exercise Web Resources SECTION FOUR: CONSENSUS ORGANIZING STRATEGIES AND TACTICS: BUILDING ON THE COMMUNITY ANALYSIS TO FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS AND EFFECT CHANGE 9. Building Personal Relationships by Identifying and Harnessing Mutual Self-Interest Understanding Self-Interest Identifying and Harnessing Self-Interest inside the Neighborhood Identifying and Harnessing Self-Interest outside the Neighborhood Relationships and Social Capital Strategies for Harnessing Mutual Self-Interest Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise: The UJIMA Network, Dayton, Ohio Field Exercise Web Resources 10. Power Matters: Understanding and Using Power to Build Partnerships The Consensus Organizing View of Power Compared to Conflict Approaches How do Consensus Organizers Grow Power? Strategies and Tactics to Facilitate Power Case Illustration: Sharing Power in Las Vegas Summary Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise: Lawrence Community Works, Lawrence, Massachusetts Field Exercise Web Resources SECTION FIVE: BUILDING A FUTURE FOR CONSENSUS ORGANIZING 11. Seeding Civic Participation through Youth Organizing Introduction: Youth as Community Assets Do Young People care about the community Case Illustration: Bridging the Divide: Engaging Youth in Community Work Practical Consensus Organizing Strategies to Engage Youth Consensus Organizing: Examples of Youth Organizing Initiatives University Programs Engaging Youth in Civic Action Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise: Y.O.! - Youth Organizers! Williamsburg, New York Field Exercises Web Resources 12. Applying Consensus Organizing to Other Fields Introduction Important Assumptions of a Consensus Organizing Approach Designing programs like a Consensus Organizer Thinking like a Consensus Organizer Introducing Consensus Organizing into your Organization Final Thoughts Discussion Questions Case Study Exercises Field Exercises Web Resources SECTION SIX: STRATEGIES EVALUATING CONSENSUS ORGANIZING AND COMMUNITY LEVEL INTERVENTIONS 13. Designing an Evaluation of a Consensus Organizing Intervention Why are Evidence-based Practice and Program Evaluation Important? Approaches to Evaluation and Research Compatible with Consensus Organizing Basic Elements of Program Evaluation Summary Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise on Program Evaluation: Kansas City Building Blocks Program Field Exercises Web Resources 14. Evaluating Consensus Organizing as a Community Level Intervention Comprehensive Community Initiatives and Consensus Organizing Strategies for Evaluating Consensus Organizing as a Community Level Intervention Summary Discussion Questions Case Study Exercise: The Evaluation of the Urban Health Initiative: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Field Exercises Web Resources Foreword

"The world is changing rapidly and the practice of Community Organizing needs to change with it. Representing both an homage to, and a departure from the "alinsky traditions" of organizing, Consensus Organizing offers techniques that are specifically designed for urban and rural communities struggling to succeed in the global economy and the information age. Ohmer and DeMasi are experienced organizers who offer a relentlessly thorough examination of the process of bringing diverse communities together to make change and to bridge the ethnic and economic divisions that keep many communities from succeeding." -- Bill Traynor, Executive Director "The case studies and class activities are excellent. The concise summary of consensus organizing would be useful." -- Gary Paul Green * American Sociological Association * "Mary Ohmer and Karen DeMasi have carefully (and possibly lovingly) written a book that can be used as a workbook and/or a resource in both the classroom and for staff trainings, and with some adjustments, in community settings to enhance resident capacity and skills." -- Patricia W. Murphy