How do we mobilize in rural communities/small cities?: Difference between revisions
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*"''Art shows, speeches, parades, dinners, street parties, bicycle safaris, picnics, festivals, silent auctions, free concerts.''" '''Use your imagination,''' e.g. ''"a popup barbershop quartet or rap contest with comic protest songs. A chalktivism event held at the same time as a hopscotch tournament. A puppet making workshop showcasing the use of recycled material, followed by a parade." -''Sharon Collingwood, [https://perthcountysustainability.ca/ Perth Sustainability Hub] | *"''Art shows, speeches, parades, dinners, street parties, bicycle safaris, picnics, festivals, silent auctions, free concerts.''" '''Use your imagination,''' e.g. ''"a popup barbershop quartet or rap contest with comic protest songs. A chalktivism event held at the same time as a hopscotch tournament. A puppet making workshop showcasing the use of recycled material, followed by a parade." -''Sharon Collingwood, [https://perthcountysustainability.ca/ Perth Sustainability Hub] | ||
*Ask for support in holding more impactful actions (E.g. are their local artists who could provide music at your event?) -Member of [https://reseaudemainlequebec.org/ Reseau Demain le QC] | *Ask for support in holding more impactful actions (E.g. are their local artists who could provide music at your event?) -Member of [https://reseaudemainlequebec.org/ Reseau Demain le QC] | ||
*Use live music to bring people together and communicate campaign messages | <span style="background-color: rgb(209, 241, 238);">*Use live music to bring people together and communicate campaign messages | ||
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| style="width: 18.696%; background-color: #99e1d9; height: 51px;" | '''3. Get involved in local politics''' | | style="width: 18.696%; background-color: #99e1d9; height: 51px;" | '''3. Get involved in local politics''' | ||
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* | *<span style="background-color: rgb(209, 241, 238);">You need fewer people to make a difference in municipal elections, so these can be key events to organize around. Even if voting in progressive candidates isn't your tactic, these can be opportunities to engage with community members around critical issues.</span> | ||
<span style="background-color: rgb(209, 241, 238);">You need fewer people to make a difference in municipal elections, so these can be key events to organize around. Even if voting in progressive candidates isn't your tactic, these can be opportunities to engage with community members around critical issues.</span> | |||
*It is ''"essential to identify the different places of power, involvement and information dissemination. While municipal politics in the region may not be attractive to many, the public meetings of municipal councils that take place on a fixed date each month are '''important places to understand and influence local issues. This space is also a place for citizen engagement '''that should be utilized."'' (Translated from French) <span>-Pierre Avignon, Comité citoyen Vers un val vert </span> | *It is ''"essential to identify the different places of power, involvement and information dissemination. While municipal politics in the region may not be attractive to many, the public meetings of municipal councils that take place on a fixed date each month are '''important places to understand and influence local issues. This space is also a place for citizen engagement '''that should be utilized."'' (Translated from French) <span>-Pierre Avignon, Comité citoyen Vers un val vert </span> | ||
*"''Each'' ''set of towns is overseen by another institution: the '''regional county municipality '''(RCM), bringing together the mayors and having teams of employees more important than many small villages, it is important to be interested in them.''" (Translated from French) <span style="font-size: 14.4px;">-Pierre Avignon, Comité citoyen Vers un val vert </span><span style="font-size: 14.4px;"></span> | *"''Each'' ''set of towns is overseen by another institution: the '''regional county municipality '''(RCM), bringing together the mayors and having teams of employees more important than many small villages, it is important to be interested in them.''" (Translated from French) <span style="font-size: 14.4px;">-Pierre Avignon, Comité citoyen Vers un val vert </span><span style="font-size: 14.4px;"></span> |
Revision as of 19:17, 28 March 2023
Rural or small city organizing presents challenges and opportunities that are unique from urban or larger city environments. Many organizers may feel discouraged by limited turnout to their events compared to more populated areas. There are several considerations for organizing in rural areas/small towns, and also several things that can be leveraged to build successful campaigns. The following responds to a request asking for tips on organizing outside larger urban environments, compiling input from experienced organizers here in so-called Canada, direct insight following a learning circle with activists in rural areas/small cities and research findings from organizers in rural America.
Highlighted text is knowledge shared during our Learning Circle on this topic.
Introductory thoughts
"Community organizing has been going on for as long as there have been people living together facing challenges. Many people work together in small and rural communities all the time to address contemporary challenges, this is the basis of community organizing." -Montana Burgess, Neighbours United
"On the one hand, sometimes all it takes is a spark plug to get people who are sensitive to the causes you are defending to join you. On the other hand, it is necessary to deconstruct somewhat the idea that organizing a mobilization in urban areas is much easier and very different from rural areas. While it is true that the often younger, university-educated population of cities has a large number of committed people, this must be put into perspective. For example, a demonstration of 1,000 people in Montreal, which has 2 million inhabitants, is the equivalent (proportionately) of a march of 50 people in an entire region like the Gaspé, which has less than 100,000 inhabitants. It is therefore necessary to begin by readjusting the mobilization objectives according to the population density in presence." (Translated from French) -Pierre Avignon, Comité citoyen Vers un val vert
Barriers to mobilizing in rural areas/small cities
Differences in values, interests, concerns |
Statistically less progressive people who may place stronger value on individualism / self-reliance
E.g. fishing towns caring about open net pens + salmon farming |
Being geographically dispersed |
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Lack of / limited access to internet + media |
Low internet literacy Not everyone has broadband access
Hard for rural voices + issues to be covered |
Low population density |
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Lack of inclusivity leads to people not wanting to join group |
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Leverage points for small city/rural communities
Building connections and outreach
1. Meet people where they're at |
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2. Talk to family, friends and neighbours |
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3. Build a media list |
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4. Build networks and coalitions with other groups |
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5. Seek Indigenous Perspectives
Above: Protest, Western University, December 2022. Credit: S. Collingwood |
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6. Contact local businesses |
"Could they support an event or participate in an action? Would they donate to your organization? (You could reciprocate with an acknowledgement on your webpage or leaflet). Could you put a poster or a basket of informational cards or leaflets in their reception area?" -Sharon Collingwood, Perth Sustainability Hub
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7. Connect with local politicians |
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8. Turn to National organizations for support |
Canadian Environmental Law Association Ontario Yours to Protect
Ontario Nature Ecojustice Environmental Defence -Sharon Collingwood, Perth Sustainability Hub
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9. Consider event and meeting access |
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10. Offer public shows of support |
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11. Encourage those involved! |
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12. Try door knocking |
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13. Host booths at local events |
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14. Create bulletin and leaflet networks
Above: "Mailbox" by REM Photo Off & On is licensed under CC BY 2.0. |
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15. Socialize and get to know others! |
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16. Try dating apps! |
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Narrative and messaging
1. Listen to and learn from locals |
Farmtario
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2. Craft a narrative and image that suits the needs of locals/your target audience |
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3. Leverage key community members/people who are trusted |
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4. Avoid stereotypes in your messaging |
The following insight comes from ruralorganizing.org based in the so-called US:
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5. Use community care values-based framing [8] |
The following insight comes from ruralorganizing.org based in the so-called US:
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6. Embrace local businesses and oppose corporate corruption |
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7. Use experience with nature in your framing |
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Online presence
1. Hold hybrid/virtual meetings |
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2. Use online organizing tools |
1. "Slack allows you to easily post files, calendars, pictures, links and videos. Posts are kept for 3 months" on the free version.
2. Zoom allows you to create recurring meetings, and you can post the link in a google doc/share widely. It's easy to bookmark and reuse. -Sharon Collingwood, Perth Sustainability Hub |
3. Keep a shared drive to distribute and access resources |
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4. Use social media |
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5. Create an email list |
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Tactics and strategy
1. Make events fun and engaging to draw people in!Above: Chalktivist event, Stratford Ontario. Credit: S. Collingwood |
*Use live music to bring people together and communicate campaign messages |
2. Hold marches, rallies and blockades |
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3. Get involved in local politics |
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4. Promote positive changes you see in the community |
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5. Create subcommittees |
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6. Plan events that are easy to engage in for new volunteers |
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Unsure of what to campaign around in your small city/rural area? Check out this list of ideas from Tool Complices Pour Notre Communaute. You might also draw ideas from Mouvement Mare's campaigns, which range in focus from local community-specific to National issues.
If you have any suggested revisions or additional resources to share related to the above content, please email them to kenzie@lehub.ca.
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/organizer-toolkit-leveraging-yard-signs-rural-communities
- ↑ https://actionnetwork.org/forms/running-campaigns-in-small-towns-and-rural-communities
- ↑ https://actionnetwork.org/forms/running-campaigns-in-small-towns-and-rural-communities
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement
- ↑ https://actionnetwork.org/forms/running-campaigns-in-small-towns-and-rural-communities
- ↑ https://ruralorganizing.org/blog/resource-progressive-strategies-rural-engagement