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
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
3. Understanding and Applying the Strategic Principles of Consensus Organizing
The Strategic Principles of Consensus Organizing
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
Case Study Exercise: The Jamestown Neighborhood
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
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
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
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
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
In-Class Exercise: Getting Started on Step Two of the Community Analysis
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
In-Class Exercise: Getting Started on Step Three of the community analysis
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
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
Case Study Exercise: The UJIMA Network, Dayton, Ohio
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
Case Study Exercise: Lawrence Community Works, Lawrence, Massachusetts
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
Case Study Exercise: Y.O.! - Youth Organizers! Williamsburg, New York
12. Applying Consensus Organizing to Other Fields
Important Assumptions of a Consensus Organizing Approach
Designing programs like a Consensus Organizer
Thinking like a Consensus Organizer
Introducing Consensus Organizing into your Organization
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
Case Study Exercise on Program Evaluation: Kansas City Building Blocks Program
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
Case Study Exercise: The Evaluation of the Urban Health Initiative: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
