A Changing Landscape Means Changing the Method
For over 19 years, the Organizing Apprenticeship Project (OAP) has invested in building a more just Minnesota by bringing multiple communities together through civic organizing and focusing on legislative policy with a shared vision and strategy for racial equity. Recently, social media unexpectedly proved to be a powerful tool for OAP's toolbox of resources.
Conceived, in 1993, by a group of like-minded community and labor organizers; OAPs original mission was to improve Minnesota's organizing infrastructure by increasing the pool of skilled and passionate civic organizers. According to Salvador Miranda, OAPs Associate Director and Director of Training, this is accomplished by, "creating an class with anywhere from 14 to 18 apprentice organizers per class. Each apprentice is connected with a mentor who is a experienced organizer." During the six month program, together they create a plan for organizing that addresses whatever relevant issues or program work a sponsoring organization or community group might have.
By 2012, OAP had made some impressive achievements. Around 200 organizers had completed OAP's Community Organizer Apprenticeship program, with many now doing organizing and advocacy work in other states. Rena Moran, a past alumni of the program had recently been elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. OAP's Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity, a method of grading state legislators on their support for legislation favoring racial equity, now boasted seventy-eight "Champion" legislators who received high marks for their legislative record.
When the voter ID amendment, a bill expected to negatively impact voting rights for many communities of color, threatened to pass into law; OAP collaborated with numerous groups working to defeat the measure. Social media websites like Twitter and YouTube became lightning rods that increasingly brought together public outrage over the consequences the bill would create. Consequently, the amendment was defeated by a socially and historically significant margin.
In recognizing the value of social media as a communications tool, OAP has since begun collaborating with Metropolitan State University to increase and improve OAP's use of social media.
 |
| Salvador Miranda |
By 2012, OAP had made some impressive achievements. Around 200 organizers had completed OAP's Community Organizer Apprenticeship program, with many now doing organizing and advocacy work in other states. Rena Moran, a past alumni of the program had recently been elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. OAP's Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity, a method of grading state legislators on their support for legislation favoring racial equity, now boasted seventy-eight "Champion" legislators who received high marks for their legislative record.
 |
| MPR News Calls the Amendment's Defeat |
When the voter ID amendment, a bill expected to negatively impact voting rights for many communities of color, threatened to pass into law; OAP collaborated with numerous groups working to defeat the measure. Social media websites like Twitter and YouTube became lightning rods that increasingly brought together public outrage over the consequences the bill would create. Consequently, the amendment was defeated by a socially and historically significant margin.
In recognizing the value of social media as a communications tool, OAP has since begun collaborating with Metropolitan State University to increase and improve OAP's use of social media.
No comments:
Post a Comment