The gentrification of the Mission District brought a "gang list" that affected young people in a 60-block radius, limiting their freedom of movement and association. Vicente Garcia used his 2007 Young People For fellowship to organize the community to stop the gang list.
Six Steps to Winning Your Election
Overview
Six Steps to Winning Your Election is a public sector course within the Progressive Academy Online. In this course, participants will explore and discuss the following essential components of running for public office and running a successful electoral campaign:
- When and how to launch an effective campaign
- Building volunteer networks
- Developing successful communications strategies
- Raising the necessary funds to finance a campaign
- Ensuring that voters turn out on Election Day and that their votes are counted
The course is designed for people who are interested in grassroots organizing, campaign management, and/or running for office in the future.
Course Outline
Week 1: Launching Your Campaign
Find out about the logistics of launching a campaign and discuss when a
person should run for office, which office to run for and the prior
steps necessary to launch an effective campaign.
Week 2: Building a Volunteer Army/Field Campaign
Discuss the strategies used to recruit, energize, and engage campaign
volunteers and learn about appropriate field activities for volunteers.
Week 3: Communications Part 1: Messaging
Learn effective messaging strategies and how to frame your message in
the media, through public speaking and as part of campaign materials.
Week 4: Communications Part 2: Earned vs. Paid Media
Distinguish between earned and paid media and discuss the benefits of
each. Plus, learn effective strategies for getting your message picked
up by the media.
Week 5: Fundraising 101
Learn the nuts and bolts of fundraising, including developing a pitch
to dial for dollars, implementing effective fundraising events,
utilizing the internet, and seeking both small and large contributions.
Week 6: Election Day: GOTV (Get Out the Vote) and Protecting the Vote
Discuss effective strategies to turn out supporters on Election Day and ensure that every ballot cast is counted.
Time Commitment
The course will require at least 2–4 hours per week, depending on the length of the readings and the amount of discussion throughout the week. As with any educational opportunity, the more time you can devote to the course, the more reward you will get out of it.
We recognize that some weeks are busier for participants than others. For this reason, we require that each participant commit to posting to the discussion board at least twice per week, but strongly encourage them to post more. The course will be driven by online discussion, and participants should expect to engage in the Progressive Academy Online website at least three days per week.
Course Platform
The Progressive Academy Online is a web-based learning discussion that includes curriculum posts and online discussion fora. You must have regular access to a computer to participate.
Although participants will not have to “show up”� for a lecture, the course instructor will ask for regular and timely responses to discussion questions based on readings and assignments, and that participants engage with the weekly guest speaker by posting questions weekly that guest speakers will respond to. All information and readings related to the course will be available online free of charge.