Question: SEIU was a leading force in healthcare reform in MA. With the nation now facing this battle, what lessons do you have to share?
Timothy Foley: Lots of organizations were critical for our success. You have to build community support and coalitions with other organizations. It must be broad based, organizing on a core set of principles. You can’t get caught on long conversations about complex issues. We all believed there would be a set of criteria we could all agree that a reform must have. Also, we learned that grassroots can hold politicians feet to the fire to ensure action is taken. Also, having an organized grassroots message and strength gives everyone a seat at the table. Decision makers know that voters will be evaluating the bill. So you may not be physically in the room, but you are being thought of when decisions are being made. It’s not just what the message is but who delivers the message. It looks like people are taking a good start here. We need to be organized and focused and center around the principles that we all share.
Question: Najma, can you tell us about strategies for winning a campaign for the Boston Youth Organizing Project (BYOP)?
Najma Nazy’at: Remember the mindset of our young people — licenses, graduation, etc. Imagine you are trying to get home, but it’s past 6 o’clock so your student pass doesn’t work anymore. You have no money, how do you get home? Young people complain about what’s happening to them. They complained about this problem of not being able to get home. Organizers came to school and had pizza — young people responded. Young people come up with solutions. We taught young people to frame an issue. They are surprised at how much they learn. Because it’s organizing, you not only learn, you get to do something. There are too many young people affected by issues that can be fixed administratively. For example, young people should be able to talk to their guidance counselor during their senior year. Young people need extra-curricular activities. We try to attract people every single year. We identify issues and then go after the target. A lot of times, the targets are the school bureaucracy.
Question to Colin Moore: How has winning your base been critical to winning your Planned Parenthood campaign?
Colin Moore: When it comes to the role of grassroots movement in MA, we fight complacency. We in MA have not been very progressive about issues of sexual health — we rank from 20th – 30th in the country. Things could be much better. The legislature may think they don’t need to take action. We’re always looking for ways to get the message across. We’ve sent 3000 emails to fight abstinence-only education. Grassroots organizing is the base of our approach to fighting complacency.
Question: What should people expect for the difference between the electoral campaign and issue campaigns?
Colin: You need much more patience.
Tim: Don’t focus solely on your base.
Question: What are tips for lobbying legislatures?
Tim: Tell your personal story — then you are the expert.
Najma: use the media — politicians love the media.
