MLD-377: Organizing: People, Power, Change

Semester: Spring

Credit: 1.0

Syllabus: Click here for syllabus

Faculty: Marshall Ganz

Schedule

Day Time Location
First Day 1/29
Meet Day T/Th 1:10 PM - 2:30 PM L140
Review

Description

"In democratic countries, knowledge of how to combine is the mother of all other forms of knowledge; on its progress depends that of all the others," de Tocqueville observed. Fulfilling the democratic promise of equity, inclusion, and accountability requires an "organized" citizenry with the power to articulate and assert its interests effectively. Unequal access to political resources means that the voices of many remain muted unless they organize. In this course, students learn how to view social, economic, and political problems from an organizing perspective as well as how to act on them. We focus on learning five key practices: how to turn values into motivated action; how to build relationships; how to structure leadership as a collaborative team; how to strategize; and how to translate commitments into action. This framework is equally useful for community, electoral, union, and social movement organizing.

Also offered by the Graduate School of Education as A612.