EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
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Education is a key component of social action. By devising a
strategy for educating Tikkun members and the public, your group will
be able to develop a firmer base and reach out to people in the larger
community.
1. Define your issue
Your TCN group will address a variety of social issues that are of concern and interest to you as members. However, in the interest of outlining a strategy, we will focus on education and action in the context of the Israel/Palestine conflict.
2. Identify your goals
A good long-term goal is peace in the Middle East and a corresponding radical change in Israeli state behavior and U.S. foreign policy. It is also very helpful to establish short- and medium-term goals. A medium-term goal might be organizing an educational event for school administrators or elected officials, or staging a rally at a local government building to protest United States support for the occupation. A short-term goal could be an initial Tikkun campus group meeting, tabling at a campus organization fair, or putting on a relatively small event, like a Middle East Teach-In for students and faculty.
3. Know your people
Get to know your social and political environment. Who do you want to reach out to? These could be Jewish students, students who are already politically active, Arab and Palestinian students, other students of color, or even students who are relatively uninformed and don’t see themselves as political agents.
You must also decide what people or groups you want to influence. Do you want another student group to engage in dialogue with the TCN group? Do you want your city council to issue a statement condemning the current tactics of the Israeli government? Do you want your elected officials to change their foreign policy, or to issue a statement in support of Palestinian claims to national sovereignty? Who are the people who disagree with your pro-Israel, pro-Palestine message, and what is the most effect way of engaging in a dialogue with them?
4. Decide on your tactics
Postering, tabling, and teach-ins are different types of educational tactics. Your choice of tactic depends on what you have decided on so far. If, for example, you have decided that a medium-term goal for your group is to have a more educated and aware student body, a tactic might be holding an all-campus teach-in. If you want to support Jewish students who feel attacked, insecure, or confused about the violence happening in Israel/Palestine, you may decide to facilitate a social support meeting.
Tactics for Educating Others
Postering
Plastering the campus with posters with your opinions is an effective way of getting your group known. However, posters don't always allow for the presentation of a thorough message, and thus can easily come off one-sided. So put some thought into what you want out there. For example, a poster could say both "End the Occupation" and "End Terrorism," not just one.
Listserve Action
Sign up for listserves that discuss issues that your group is concerned about, even if (especially if) they're groups critical of your positions. Be active on these listserves, and call people on things. These days lots of campus communication occurs via email, and this medium should not be ignored.
Dinner Discussions
Order food and advertise a "dinner discussion," getting people to show up and engage in a loosely moderated discussion of the issues. There's always the danger of these things getting out of hand, with shouts and shaking fists. Be sure to have someone respected by everyone as moderator, and make sure this person will take control if things get too crazy.
Moderated Forums
Find another group that holds differing positions than your group and engage in a large-scale moderated forum on the issues. Get one person from each group who is respected and respectful, and organize ahead of time a list of students--evenly represented on each side--to present five-minute "speeches." The moderators have to be strict, and should cut off presenters if they become especially problematic (the moderators should agree ahead of time about what kind of language is too problematic, and what kind is just contrary political opinions). This kind of event can work very well, especially on the campus of a small school; its success will depend on the abilities of the moderators to work together respectfully. You can also bring a debate framework into this forum. And you should always open it to the audience at some point.
Bringing Speakers to Campus
This can be an excellent vehicle for education. Find out who thinks like you. Call well-known people in your area (or beyond). You may be surprised who will come out to support Tikkun! Try and get your school, department, or larger school organization to financially sponsor the speaker if they require an honorarium. And remember, publicity is key for a speaker--without a large turnout, you're stuck (especially if you paid for the speaker). So be sure you get a lot of people to attend, and make it worthwhile.
Tabling
On most campuses there'll be a central area--probably a central quad or a student union building--where groups set up tables and promote their causes, whether that's selling a cappella tickets or calling for a worldwide workers' revolution. Tabling can be quite effective for getting your group's name out there and spurring conversations. Be sure to have some thorough, well-thought-out literature for people to pick up and read. And, of course, know your points when it comes to talking.
Teach-ins
Teach-ins are successful based on the turnout. So a good deal of your energy should go into publicizing and networking. Teach-ins employ a lot of the previous factors: speakers, forums, flyers, literature; they are just larger scale. To organize a teach-in, give yourselves at least a month of planning time. And break the group into committees:
Art and Publicity--Posters, banners, flyers to distribute, etc
Networking --Notices in paper; brainstorming ways and means to get people there, like announcing in your classes or relevant classes: Peace and Conflict Studies, Middle Eastern studies, etc
Media--Notify local media, send press releases and call journalist contacts Literature --You should present well-thought-out literature on what you believe and why, for people to read and take home such as flyers as well as more in-depth info. This is also an opportunity to flyer for the next TCN meeting.
Line-up--This is the committee to decide who will speak or perform, and get them there. This committee also selects the MC.
Technical—This group is responsible for PA, microphone, permits, etc.
1. Define your issue
Your TCN group will address a variety of social issues that are of concern and interest to you as members. However, in the interest of outlining a strategy, we will focus on education and action in the context of the Israel/Palestine conflict.
2. Identify your goals
A good long-term goal is peace in the Middle East and a corresponding radical change in Israeli state behavior and U.S. foreign policy. It is also very helpful to establish short- and medium-term goals. A medium-term goal might be organizing an educational event for school administrators or elected officials, or staging a rally at a local government building to protest United States support for the occupation. A short-term goal could be an initial Tikkun campus group meeting, tabling at a campus organization fair, or putting on a relatively small event, like a Middle East Teach-In for students and faculty.
3. Know your people
Get to know your social and political environment. Who do you want to reach out to? These could be Jewish students, students who are already politically active, Arab and Palestinian students, other students of color, or even students who are relatively uninformed and don’t see themselves as political agents.
You must also decide what people or groups you want to influence. Do you want another student group to engage in dialogue with the TCN group? Do you want your city council to issue a statement condemning the current tactics of the Israeli government? Do you want your elected officials to change their foreign policy, or to issue a statement in support of Palestinian claims to national sovereignty? Who are the people who disagree with your pro-Israel, pro-Palestine message, and what is the most effect way of engaging in a dialogue with them?
4. Decide on your tactics
Postering, tabling, and teach-ins are different types of educational tactics. Your choice of tactic depends on what you have decided on so far. If, for example, you have decided that a medium-term goal for your group is to have a more educated and aware student body, a tactic might be holding an all-campus teach-in. If you want to support Jewish students who feel attacked, insecure, or confused about the violence happening in Israel/Palestine, you may decide to facilitate a social support meeting.
Tactics for Educating Others
Postering
Plastering the campus with posters with your opinions is an effective way of getting your group known. However, posters don't always allow for the presentation of a thorough message, and thus can easily come off one-sided. So put some thought into what you want out there. For example, a poster could say both "End the Occupation" and "End Terrorism," not just one.
Listserve Action
Sign up for listserves that discuss issues that your group is concerned about, even if (especially if) they're groups critical of your positions. Be active on these listserves, and call people on things. These days lots of campus communication occurs via email, and this medium should not be ignored.
Dinner Discussions
Order food and advertise a "dinner discussion," getting people to show up and engage in a loosely moderated discussion of the issues. There's always the danger of these things getting out of hand, with shouts and shaking fists. Be sure to have someone respected by everyone as moderator, and make sure this person will take control if things get too crazy.
Moderated Forums
Find another group that holds differing positions than your group and engage in a large-scale moderated forum on the issues. Get one person from each group who is respected and respectful, and organize ahead of time a list of students--evenly represented on each side--to present five-minute "speeches." The moderators have to be strict, and should cut off presenters if they become especially problematic (the moderators should agree ahead of time about what kind of language is too problematic, and what kind is just contrary political opinions). This kind of event can work very well, especially on the campus of a small school; its success will depend on the abilities of the moderators to work together respectfully. You can also bring a debate framework into this forum. And you should always open it to the audience at some point.
Bringing Speakers to Campus
This can be an excellent vehicle for education. Find out who thinks like you. Call well-known people in your area (or beyond). You may be surprised who will come out to support Tikkun! Try and get your school, department, or larger school organization to financially sponsor the speaker if they require an honorarium. And remember, publicity is key for a speaker--without a large turnout, you're stuck (especially if you paid for the speaker). So be sure you get a lot of people to attend, and make it worthwhile.
Tabling
On most campuses there'll be a central area--probably a central quad or a student union building--where groups set up tables and promote their causes, whether that's selling a cappella tickets or calling for a worldwide workers' revolution. Tabling can be quite effective for getting your group's name out there and spurring conversations. Be sure to have some thorough, well-thought-out literature for people to pick up and read. And, of course, know your points when it comes to talking.
Teach-ins
Teach-ins are successful based on the turnout. So a good deal of your energy should go into publicizing and networking. Teach-ins employ a lot of the previous factors: speakers, forums, flyers, literature; they are just larger scale. To organize a teach-in, give yourselves at least a month of planning time. And break the group into committees:
Art and Publicity--Posters, banners, flyers to distribute, etc
Networking --Notices in paper; brainstorming ways and means to get people there, like announcing in your classes or relevant classes: Peace and Conflict Studies, Middle Eastern studies, etc
Media--Notify local media, send press releases and call journalist contacts Literature --You should present well-thought-out literature on what you believe and why, for people to read and take home such as flyers as well as more in-depth info. This is also an opportunity to flyer for the next TCN meeting.
Line-up--This is the committee to decide who will speak or perform, and get them there. This committee also selects the MC.
Technical—This group is responsible for PA, microphone, permits, etc.
We are an international community of people of many faiths calling for social justice and political freedom in the context of new structures of work, caring communities, and democratic social and economic arrangements. We seek to influence public discourse in order to inspire compassion, generosity, non-violence and recognition of the spiritual dimensions of life.
