A STUDENT GUIDE FOR

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

By Itzel Calvo Medina

01
 “
Love and study cannot
exist without struggle,
and struggle cannot
occur solely inside
the refuge we call
the university, being
grounded in the world
we wish to make is
fundamental.”

— Robin D.G. Kelley

02
 Contents
Organizin g 101

PAGE 13

Inte re ste d i n Ge tt i n g Invol ve d ?

PAGE 14

PAGE 05 G u i d i n g Q u e s t i o n s to As k
Yo u rs e l f B e fo re G e tt i n g
Ab out th e Auth or Invol ve d i n O rgani z i n g

PAGE 06 PAGE 16

Ab out th e Design er I n te rs e c t i o n a l i ty a n d H ow I t
I m pa c t s Yo u r Pre s e n ce i n a
PAGE 07 Co m m u n i ty S pa ce

L a n d Ackn ow ledg m ent PAGE 17

PAGE 08 Gu i di n g Pri n ci p l e s for Di gi t a l

O rgani z i n g
Th e Future is Here
PAGE 19

PAGE 10 Fi n d i n g Co m m u n i ty S t re n g t h s ;
Fi n di n g O u r S tre n g th s
Fram ewo rk

PAGE 20

S h o r t Te rm vs . Lo n g Te rm G oa l s

PAGE 21

H ow Do I Fi n d Co m m un i ty ?

03
 Contents

Organizin g 102

PAGE 24

S usta ina ble Organi z i n g Ti p s

PAGE 28

Ty pes o f Co nflic t

PAGE 29

Co nflic t R es o lu t i on

Organizin g 103
PAGE 33

R es ources
PAGE 30

PAGE 35
Bridg i n g Ac a d e m i a a n d
Orga n i z i n g Th an k You

04
 About the author:

About the
Author
Itzel Calvo Medina is an Ethnic Studies
Major and Education Minor at the
University of California, Berkeley. She
is a transfer student from City College
of San Francisco and has been an
immigrant rights organizer since 2013.
She migrated with her family from
Oaxaca, Mexico in 1999 and currently
resides in San Francisco.

05
 About the author:

About the
Designer
Maria Hu Wu is a queer chinese
immigrant from Mexico, currently living
in Oakland. She graduated from San
Francisco State University with a B.S
in Industrial Design after transferring
from City College of San Francisco. She
started organizing for immigrant rights
in 2015 and is now a freelance designer
and illustrator.

06
Land Acknowledgment

I would like to offer a Land Acknowledgement.

Berkeley sits on the territory of Huichin, the ancestral and

unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people,
the successors of the historic and sovereign Verona Band
of Alameda County. This land was and continues to be of
great importance to the Ohlone people. By offering this
land acknowledgment I affirm Indigenous sovereignty
and am committed to holding the University of California
Berkeley more accountable to the demands of American
Indians and Indigenous People. I recognize that this
student guide will benefit students at UC Berkeley and
outside of the university, my intention is to ensure that I
acknowledge how the university is a colonial tool. We must
remain critical of the kind of relationship we have with the
University. While recognizing the importance of renaming
buildings that were named after colonizers, and offering
land acknowledgments we must also sit with knowing that
this is not enough. We must educate ourselves on the
original people of this land and offer our support in every
action we take.

One way to offer our support is by contributing to the

voluntary land tax at Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. To learn more
about what action steps we can take to support please visit
Native American Student Development.

07
The Future is Here
As we are finalizing edits for this student guide, a world wide pandemic
has brought me to realize that nothing is set in stone. Organizing
is constantly changing and adapting to the nature of our political
environment. As shelter in place orders began to happen all over the
country, digital organizing took front stage. With so much uncertainty
of the future it is important to document how organizing has shifted
not stopped. Especially after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man
by a Minneapolis police officer, protests continued on the streets
with masks and as much physical distance as possible. This upsurge
is contrasted by the thousands of people protesting the government
to reopen the economy so they could go back to work, with complete
disregard of the human impact of COVID-19 specifically on Black,
Indigenous, and people of color. This pandemic has materialized
itself into another social issue that is impacting the most vulnerable
people. Houseless people have nowhere to “shelter in place”, people
inside prisons and detention centers are being exposed to the virus at
disproportionate rates and while some social distancing regulations
have forced the release of some individuals, the folks who have prior
convictions are labeled as mandatory detention, during a pandemic
that has already killed millions worldwide, the dehumanization of Black
and Brown people in cages continues. There should be no mandatory
detention during a time that public health is at risk. How we move
forward from this pandemic is up to us to create and imagine a better
world than the one that existed before.

08
The Future is Here
While the future might be uncertain, it is clear that people in power
are no longer able to ignore systemic racism. We are seeing a need for
reprioritization of public education and the value of service workers
with material conditions not simply by being labeled as “essential
workers”. Organizing for a just world is essential at this time and
everyone has a role to play.

We are currently witnessing the gains come into fruition from decades
worth of organizing by Black, Indigenous and people of color. We are
seeing symbolic monuments of colonizers torn down, the defunding
of police departments and ending of contracts with public schools.
People are fighting inside prisons and contracts between ICE and
private corporations are being dismantled. Young people are taking to
the streets demanding justice. I feel an immense amount of pressure
having the access to write this student guide to community organizing
during this civil uprising. This tool has to be made accessible to the
people yearning for resources. I am only one of many in this fight for
liberation and am incredibly honored to share this piece with the world.

09
Framework

I wrote this guide as a collection of anecdotes and lessons I have

learned from being an undocumented, working-class woman of color
who is also an organizer and a student. I want this guide to inspire
people to organize in their communities and develop the tools they need
in the ongoing fight for liberation and freedom.

I chose to write this guide as a form of resilience. Over the past six
years, I have been an organizer and have had to balance school, work,
and being an activist. At times I had to prioritize my organizing over my
own academic goals, and I am now just understanding how to balance
each part of my life.

Throughout this experience I gained a family composed of resilient and

determined individuals who will stop at nothing to ensure our people
and communities are liberated and able to become their best selves. In
a time when it all seems too much, and we want to give up— We don’t.
This is for the organizers I have been inspired by, and I hope the lessons
in this guide will inspire the next generation of organizers coming into
this work to find balance and healthier ways of organizing.

I come from an immigrant rights organizing standpoint with an

abolitionist perspective. I have navigated academic, community, and
non-profit spaces, all of which have different missions and visions
for change. These experiences shape how I see the world. I have
been purposeful in maintaining my roots in community. This guide is
filled with lessons I’ve learned though my own experience, however,
everyone’s journey in organizing is different.

10
Framework

Organizing for me has allowed me to become more in tune with myself

and has radically changed the way I see the world, but organizing has
not been an easy experience. Throughout my time being an organizer,
I have seen how, within a movement, people can lose sight of their
values and cause harm to others. Friendships have been broken and
trust has been broken within movement spaces because we exist
within a system that was not created with us in mind. Our everyday
experiences impact us in ways that matriculate into our organizing
efforts; as we fight against a system that is created to break us, it is
only a matter of time before we realize we are capable of hurting the
movements we are in. As someone who started organizing at a young
age, I never thought I would experience disappointment from people
I once admired. While this did not deter me from organizing, it put a
dent in my work. I have learned to see those dents as reminders to
myself and others that we are not always right, and we have to learn
from our past mistakes.

This guide is not a step by step manual for you to join a movement
and be successful, but rather a testimony to the many things you can
and will face when you’re starting to organize. There are not enough
archives of people doing the work and documenting what works and
what issues arise while organizing; I hope this is a helpful tool for
someone who can see themselves in this process of radicalization.
My experience is one of many, I can only honor those around me that
I continue to learn from by creating this, to make space for those
coming into movement work.

11
Organizing 101
Interested in Getting
Involved?

012
Interested in Getting
Involved?
VALUING COMMUNITY questions about so you can do TRYING AND MAKING
WISDOM some research on your own. It MISTAKES
might be confusing at first and
As students and academics it is okay to feel like you are lost One of the things that I learned
we hold a certain place in sometimes. There are going to along the way is that sometimes
our communities. We might be people that explain things in you are just going to learn things
have institutional knowledge a more profound way— if you by doing them and making
(knowledge that is produced listen. It is our job as students mistakes. Sometimes you have
in universities) that is helpful to supplement the work we are to be open to trying new things,
in our understanding of the doing in the community. We like speaking at a rally for the
world, but the knowledge that as students have access to first time... and then realizing
community has—regardless of libraries, databases and experts you don’t like it! Perhaps
academic background—is rich that can support the needs of speaking at a rally is not your
and rooted in lived experiences the community. It is important to thing, but writing down talking
that are often not documented in note that just because you are points for the speaker is. Or
scholarly work but hold immense impacted by an issue, doesn’t maybe you enjoy making sure
value. mean you will automatically that the rally’s momentum keeps
know how to fight that issue going by doing chants. Finding
in community spaces. There what feels right with you and
LISTENING & RESEARCHING are many strategies used by what compliments your skills
different organizing spaces and the efforts of the group, is
When entering community and you will have to do a lot of how you can figure out how to
spaces where we are beginning listening and learning when you contribute.
to learn the issues that a are first starting to organize.
community is advocating for,
it is important to listen closely.
Take note of the things you have

13
Guiding Questions to
Ask Yourself Before
Getting Involved in
Organizing:
When I got involved in organizing, I was new to the Bay Area,
but what I found is that the Bay Area is FULL of resources and
organizations fighting for social justice and social change.
It can become pretty overwhelming, especially if you are
just beginning to figure out what you want to do. As I began
organizing in immigrant rights, I realized that my struggle
is intersectional and that, not only is my immigration status
important, but also racial justice, housing accessibility, and
workers rights are important and interconnected to immigration.
With that lens, I was able to grow in my own political
consciousness, and I was able to meet a lot of other people that
were in the movement that had similar values.

As you explore what makes you want to get involved, self

reflection is important. Think, journal, or talk to a friend about
the following questions. These questions can guide you in
finding the space you are looking for as a new organizer or an
organizer finding space in a new community.

14
Guiding Questions

What moves you?

What angers you?

What is something that you’re confused about?

What is IMPORTANT to you?

What/who do you see daily?

What do you get excited about?

What moves you to celebrate

What do you hope for?

15
Intersectionality and How It
Impacts Your Presence in a
Community Space

As students, it is important to a term used in the Combahee By acknowledging our

acknowledge our intersecting River Collective statement: intersecting identities, we
identities as we begin to learn are able to place ourselves in
about issues that impact our relation to the people we want
“The most general statement
community. When I started to work with. Our presence in
learning about immigration of our politics at the present a community space shapes the
issues, I realized that policies time would be that we kind of work we are willing and
impacted me not just due to are actively committed to able to do. Regardless of our
my immigration status but also identities, we all have different
struggling against racial,
because I was working-class. privileges, and it is important
sexual, heterosexual, and
My race impacted where I could to know that those privileges
live with my family, the types class oppression, and see create power dynamics that we
of jobs that were available to as our particular task the might not be aware of.
my parents because of their development of integrated
immigration status, and the lack
analysis and practice based
of access they experienced
as young adults with children. upon the fact that the major
“Intersectionality” is when a set systems of oppression are
of social and political structures interlocking. The synthesis of
impact you and the way you see
these oppressions creates the
the world. Each identity you hold
also impacts the other, which conditions of our lives.”
makes me think of “simultinaity,”

16
Guiding Principles for
Digital Organizing:
As resources and guides for plugging into organizing become
increasingly available through social media, it is crucial to remain
critical. We encourage asking questions about which organizations
or individuals are the creator or originators of the content and who is
the intended audience of the tool. We can consider how we engage
with those tools before re-sharing, commenting, and critiquing.
Some posts, resources, or tools, while well intentioned, can distract
from crucial information that Black organizers and educators want
to make sure is heard and spread in the community. Here are some
questions to ask yourself.

17
Guiding Principles for Digital Organizing

Who is creating this tool, resource, information, call to action?

Have they organized in their community? Do they know what
the community needs are?

Who is the audience?

Who is being centered?

If I share this, what is my goal? Have I credited the author?

18
Finding Community
Strengths; Finding Our
Strengths.
Sometimes in communities we find ourselves focusing on what is missing or
what we need instead of what we already have. We have our own agency and
self-determination, and we bring many gifts and skills. We can take inventory
of the skills and resources that exist within the community. Then, we are in a
stronger place to invite collaboration, allyship, and outside support.

What are the strengths, capacities, What are the strengths, capacities,
and resources I bring with me? and resources of our community?

Are there opportunities to connect Once we do this, we are in a stronger

those strengths together and build position to ask for help from our allies
what we want to see? and other community members.

19
Short Term vs. Long Term Goals
Setting a goal for yourself is important when joining a group. It will
help you set boundaries and let your group know your intentions
when joining.

Are you joining a student organization that you will end up leaving
after you graduate?

What are tangible goals to reach before you leave? Are you setting
benchmarks with your group?

Are you trying to learn more about the issues the organization is
working on to continue your development elsewhere?

Is this experience going to help your long term career goals?

What is the length of the internship/fellowship/volunteer position?

It is important to be honest with yourself and the group about your

intentions. This allows both parties to be clear on the outcome of
participation. If you are going to be interning for a short period of
time (like the summer or a semester), it might make sense to focus
on a current campaign or a short term project where you can learn
while supporting the organization, particularly considering the
training and investment they will offer you.

Remember that community organizers have ongoing campaigns…

sometimes a couple at the same time! They are very busy. If you
are meeting with them and make commitments, be sure to honor
them and respect their time. Follow up with them and show
enthusiasm. If you decide you can’t commit to new projects, be sure
to let them know. It is much better to know sooner than later.

20
How Do I Find
Community?
Now that you have established the reasons that you
want to get involved in community work and have
decided which type of groups you want to join, you can
start exploring what groups are already doing the type
of work you believe in. Remember: there have been
organizations or individuals that have been organizing
in communities for years. You can learn from and add
value toward their efforts instead of trying to create
something from scratch.

Go to a club meeting,
community event, or
open house on campus

Some campus organizations might have

connections to community organizations,
and they can help connect you to them and
resources.

Attend a community
forum outside of
campus

Even if the topic is something you already

know, there is always room to learn more
about an issue

21
 Go to a rally and
learn about different
organizations

At rallies, folks will mention which organization

they ’re from, and this is a good way to meet
them directly and engage with the group,

Get to know your

classmates, your
professor, and staff on
campus

Check online, join

groups or listservs

Sometimes it can be intimidating to go up

to people or show up to events, and a good
way to transition is by joining or following
groups online and staying informed on what’s
happening. Most organizations have ways
to contact them through social media but
keep in mind that not all organizations have
designated people running these tools, and it
might be harder to reach them only through
these avenues. Ie. Instagram! Twitter! FB!

22
Organizing 102
Organizing and
Balancing Life

23
Sustainable Organizing Tips
While creating this guide I reflected on the unhealthy patterns that
I had when starting to organize. In hopes of f inding alternative
solutions to these unhealthy ways, I have collected a few tips on
how to be a healthy organizer.

Organizing can be a choice for some people, but for some of

us, we have had to organize because our survival depends on it.
Organizing is a commitment of love to your community, so of
course you are going to go above and beyond for them. Something
that I always think about is one of my mentors telling me: “Take care
of yourself, because we’re in it for the long run.” I think of this every
time I have to make a compromise. I have missed a lot of special
events, opportunities, and even lost some relationships because I
prioritized organizing over everything.

Organizing has been essential to my personal development and I

don’t regret my decisions, but I also realize that the decisions I was
making were not balanced. As people who are directly impacted
by the systems that we are trying to abolish, we can f ind ourselves
prioritizing the work we are doing over the people we are f ighting
for.

As I see new folks coming into organizing I have seen a shift to be

more intentional in the work we do. The self-care component that
is present now was not at the center of organizing when I started.
I am thankful that folks have been learning and incorporating
healthy habits into organizing.

The following tips are some that I have personally learned and have
witnessed with my fellow organizers.

24
 You don’t have to say yes to If you’re having a long day,
everything! remember to take snacks and
a water bottle.
As you start organizing you will get invited to
different spaces, remember that your energy is There’s nothing worse than having a long day
precious and that you need to take breaks in order and having to spend extra money on coffee and
to process new learnings. When you say yes to pastries or water in between meetings.. Especially
something, think about all the other things you are if you are traveling long distances, be sure to
already doing and are putting on the backburner remember that your health comes first. You can’t
because you continue to put more things on your fight the power on an empty stomach! Look out for
plate. your college resources - there are tons of events
on campus and in the community with free food
and healthy options at a cheap price.

Don’t forget about your personal Checking in with loved ones

goals and dreams while organizing

I spent years organizing for access to education, Remember that you are not an organizing robot
and it took four years to transfer from community and make time for friends and family. Sometimes
college because I often prioritized my time in being an organizer can disconnect us from
organizing instead of taking classes. our personal bubble and we forget that those
Yes the struggle needs you, but the struggle relationships need nurturing as well. It is also vital
will continue after you, so don’t forget that your to check in with your comrades on a personal
personal goals are as important as organizing. level. I find that building trust with the people
College will end one day for you, so enjoy it while you’re organizing with is essential to sustaining a
you’re there! movement. Go grab coffee, watch a movie, have a
potluck. Enjoy each other!

25
 Organizing should not be Delegate, delegate, delegate!
transactional

Organizing isn’t just about showing up; it’s about There are many ways to split up tasks, big or
being in community with each other. Relationships small. Delegating tasks will help others in stepping
are the key to sustainability in our movement work. up and can also serve as a way to see the
We are creating a better world for each other, it is development of new leadership.
essential to build community with the people we
are fighting alongside.

It’s okay to take a break!

Living in a capitalist world, we are conditioned to Creativity is everything

always stay busy. Don’t compromise your health by
always showing up to everything. There are always
people that can and will continue to do this work Seasoned organizers have their way of doing
when we need time off. We deserve to have fun, things, but there is always room for creativity.
we deserve to take time for ourselves, we deserve Don’t let jaded people put your energy or new
freedom, and - most of all - we deserve to have ideas down. Sometimes seasoned organizers get
autonomy over our bodies and time. When we take tunnel vision and forget that there can be new
care of our mental and physical health, we come ways of doing things.
back stronger!

26
 Celebrate your victories!

The purpose of organizing is to create change

inside and outside of our communities, so
when you win a campaign, reach your goal, or
make any change they are worth celebrating.
Recognizing our victories gives us the energy
we need to continue organizing.

27
Types of Conflict
As we get deeper in organizing, we make new friendships and develop
relationships with organizations. Sometimes people we meet will become so
important in our lives that we continuously learn and grow from them. Conflict is the
outcome of not being mindful of our positionality in organizing spaces and when
we don’t address different issues that arise and let them linger.

The following three types of conflict are the ones I have come across, and it is
good to keep these in mind for when you are in spaces and come in contact with
conflict.
Interpersonal Conflict

Is when you encounter conflict with another

person you are organizing with. It can also be
a person you are working with but not directly
organizing with. Issues that might come up
could be as difficult as a disagreement in
strategy or tactics in organizing.

Organizational Conflict

Being in an organization will help you understand the

political context of the world you are entering and with
that comes the history of your organization and other
organizations working on the same issues. You might
be surprised at first at how an organization that looks
amazing on the outside has a lot of organizational
issues internally. Those can range from organizational
structure to misrepresentation of community and
mission values.

Internal Conflict

One of the things that will happen when

you start organizing and learning about the
issue you are passionate about is internal
conflict. The ideas you have of the world will
be challenged. You will question everything,
including things about yourself that you
thought would never change.

28
CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
About the author:

Putting this in practice is harder than it

looks, it takes a lot of courage and often
the help of many people to repair/heal
from the harm done. Our communities
are not immune to the systemic issues
that create harm within our communities.
It is important that we are gentle with
ourselves when navigating conflict
resolution.

As an abolitionist, I have learned that

those that cause harm have been harmed
by their environment and are also
harming themselves. We must remove
ourselves from the punitive system of
accountability that this society pushes
on us and find alternative solutions for
our community. There are multiple ways
to address harm and conflict. See the
resources page for more resources on
conflict resolution by amazing organizers!

29
Organizing 103
Bridging Organizing
and Academia

030
Bridging Organizing and
Academia
This portion of the guidebook is HOW DO I HOLD BOTH against concepts in class that I
dedicated to transfer students ORGANIZING + EXPERIENCE do not see as “true” or “factual”
and/or those that began IN THE CLASSROOM? based on lived experiences. And
organizing in the community I learned new knowledge that
prior to entering a 4-year A lot of what I was learning informs the work I do.
university. Your experience is in the classroom in classes
unique and has allowed you to applied to my organizing Even if you are not taking any
learn the multiplicity of your role experience, and in some ways classes that have a community
in community building. Coming it informed my understanding component aspect to it, you can
into Berkeley as an Ethnic of the issues I was organizing always find a way to take what
Studies Major opened my world around. “Community Engaged you are learning and apply it to
to new teachings and learning Scholarship” is something I what you are learning in your
opportunities. For the first time learned my first semester at community organizing. You can
in my academic experience was Cal, although I had been doing become a bridge between the
supplementing my community it, it had a name to it now. I see University and the community,
organizing, and quite frankly, community engaged scholarship and, when necessary funnel tool,
my organizing experience had and community engaged learning research and resources to meet
exposed me to a lot of the as ways to bridge community your community’s needs.
practices that I was reading organizing and academia,
about. I was finding the theory allowing your academic goals to GETTING SUPPORT!
to my practice connect in ways contribute to your community
that I can see. This project is an organizing experience and vice One of the biggest things
example of how my organizing versa. that helped me in shaping my
experience outside the university organizing experience was
led me to the creating of this I learned to bring the questions getting support from community
manual that will be used in an I have seen in community into members and teachers in
academic setting. the classroom. I learned to push organizing spaces.

31
Something that I am learning them to immigration attorneys. have learned that academia has
now—that I wish I had access Some of them were survivors negatively impacted Indigineous,
to before coming to Cal!— of violence and I did not working class, and marginalized
was accessing mental health have the necessary tools to communities by extracting
resources. There are many types be able to support them, or knowledge and not giving those
of support out there. If you myself through the process. communities the recognition
feel more comfortable in group I asked my supervisor if we they deserve.
therapy that is an option and if could have trainings on case
you feel like you need a more management working with We must always question
intimate space that is available survivors of domestic violence the role of academia in our
for you as well. Visit your local and sexual harassment and it community. We must continue to
health center on campus and was surprisingly granted. Learn center directly impacted people
ask what’s available to you, they to voice the needs you have, when conducting research,
often even have resources in the because you are the person doing volunteer work, or doing
community! working directly with community anything could influence the
members. In order for you to be social justice outcomes for your
Whether we choose to there to support the community, communities.
acknowledge it or not, burnout you need to feel supported as
is a real thing. When you are well. SUPPORT OTHERS
young and starting to organize
and work with communities that HOW DO I DEVELOP BELIEF As we begin our own transition
face traumas and violence, it is into a new phase of organizing
IN MY OWN EXPERTISE?
not easy to remove ourselves or academia, we must make
from that pain. Especially if you You come with community room for those entering the
are also experiencing that same expertise, lived experiences, and 102 phase to learn and grow
violence, we don’t often carry knowledge that some of your with us. Sharing your lived
the tools we need to support peers might not have accessed. experiences with people coming
each other. You bring expertise! into organizing is how we move
this work forward. Remember to
A question that comes up is, always celebrate the victories
There was a time where I was
“How do I navigate Academia along your way. Your experience
working with undocumented
while trying to support the will be a catalyst for someone
workers and my job was to do
intakes for them to connect needs of my community?” As else’s journey.
an Ethnic Studies Scholar, I

32
Transformative Justice

CREATING A TRANSFORMATIVE 10 TIPS ON RECEIVING CRITICAL

JUSTICE INFORMED SEXUAL FEEDBACK: A GUIDE FOR ACTIVISTS
HARASSMENT PROTOCOL // Brooke Anderson
// Ejeris Dixon / Vision Change Win
FUMBLING TOWARD REPAIR: A
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE AND WORKBOOK FOR COMMUNITY
DISABILITY JUSTICE ACCOUNTABILITY FACILITATORS
// Mia Mingus // Mariam Kabe

HOW TO SURVIVE THE END OF THE BEYOND SURVIVAL: STRATEGIES AND

WORLD PODCAST STORIES FROM THE TRANSFORMATIVE
// Adrienne Maree Brown JUSTICE MOVEMENT
// Ejeris Dixon & Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-
OUR RELATIONSHIPS KEEP US ALIVE: Samarasinha
LET’S PRIORITIZE THEM IN 2018
// Ejeris Dixon CONFLICT: A FORCE FOR BREAKTHROUGH
SOCIAL CHANGE
THE ANATOMY OF AN APOLOGY // OpenSource Leadership Strategies
// Raina

33
Books About
Community Organizing

MOUNTAIN MOVERS: STUDENT

ACTIVISM AND THE EMERGENCE
Inspiration for
OF ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES This guide
// Russell Jeung, Karen Umemoto,
Harvey Dong, Eric Mar, Lisa Hirai
Tsuchitani, Arnold Pan

EMERGENT STRATEGY: SHAPING LETTER TO MY FAMILY OF

DISPLACED PEOPLES
CHANGE, CHANGING WORLDS
// Written by Kemi Bello,
// Adrienne Maree Brown
artwork by Julio Salgado

TOOLS FOR RADICAL DEMOCRACY

// Joan Minieri & Paul Getsos

STIR IT UP
// Ejeris Dixon

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 Thank You
This guide would not have been possible without the vision of Victoria
Robinson, she entrusted me with this project and believed in me to bring this
guide to life. I have been incredibly grateful for this opportunity to share some
of the lessons learned from my experience as a student and a community
organizer. Although it is hard to balance movement work with school, I am
starting to engage both aspects of my life. I am now realizing that every space
I go, I am intentional about making it a space to create change. Organizing has
been fundamental to my growth as a person and I cherish those who have
nurtured that part of me that continues to grow and learn.

I would also like to thank Douglas for supporting me throughout the time I
worked on this guide. Andrea Wise helped gather my thoughts and put them
in writing which is a great skill that inspires me. Maria Hu Wu was essential
in capturing the visual representation of this guide and introducing me to
transformative justice resources in this guide.

Janice Le for supporting with editing this guide and being further inspiration
for this guide. And for all of my organizing family, I hope this guide is a
testament to the love that you have shared while organizing that continues to
inspire me to keep going.

I would also like to acknowledge professor Lisa H. Tsuchitani who worded

something so beautiful while I was in her class. While addressing our class on
community agreements she said “Building community is an active practice”.
These words are a gentle reminder that building community does not take
you following a couple of steps in this manual, or even the amount of time you
spend in a community. It is an active practice you have to commit for yourself
and those you are building community with.

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