F o r

Leadership

Matt W. Cummings

Assistant Director for Spirituality, Service, and Social Justice

DePauw University

matthewcummings@depauw.edu

@mattwcummings

“Come see the world

not as a static reality,

but as a reality in

process, in

transformation” –

Paulo Freire

What is coming:

1. The Reason

2. The Content

3. The Story

If we want social change

We need social theory 1

Charity

Has

Failed

Us

The Reason

1 Poverty rates over 40 years and no change

The Reason

2 Charity fosters dependence on the ruling class

False charity constrains the fearful and

subdued…to extend their trembling hands. True

generosity lies in striving so that these

hands….extend less in supplication…and more

become human hands which work, and

working transform the world. – Paulo Freire

The Reason

3 Noble intentions are not always effective outcomes

Next to money and

guns, the third largest

North American

export is the U.S.

idealist - Ivan Illich

The Reason(s)

1

2

3

Poverty rates over 40 years and no change

Charity fosters dependence on the ruling class

Noble intentions are not always effective outcomes

“Charity is false, futile, and poisonous

when offered as a substitute for justice.”

–Henry George

The Content: Want Change? Do

This. 2

Idea #1 Community Change Starts on the Block

Not the (town)‘Square

Local

People

Local

Issues Address

The role of community

development is not

economic development

It is ownership and

empowerment to

control one’s future

Idea #2 Creating Anti-Oppressive Leadership

Create a culture of constant dialogue

and feedback

Develop a shared vision that is

co-authored by stakeholders

Start with where people are at

Not where you expect them to be

Idea #3

Mobilize, Organize, Never Stop

Moving

Alinsky-Based Model

1 The power of change comes through social

capital

Alinsky-Based Model

1

2

The power of change comes through social

capital

Strengthen the unity within an already existing

organization

Alinsky-Based Model

1

2

3

The power of change comes through social

capital

Strengthen the unity within an already existing

organization

Identify the common enemy, seize it, polarize it.

Alinsky-Based Model

1

2

3

The power of change comes through social

capital

Strengthen the unity within an already existing

organization

Identify the common enemy, seize it, polarize it.

4 Mobilize and energize the poor and then turn over

leadership to them.

Change means movement.

Movement means friction.

Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict. – Saul Alinsky

Feminist-Based Model

1 Birthed originally under constrains of

patriarchal relationships

Feminist-Based Model

1

2

Birthed originally under constrains of

patriarchal relationships

Focuses on the responsibility connected

through relationships and collective orientation

Feminist-Based Model

1

2

3

Birthed originally under constrains of

patriarchal relationships

Focuses on the responsibility connected

through relationships and collective orientation

Implements small team approach that builds

relationships with power holders

Tupelo Model

Economic

Development

Community

Development

Organization Development

Leadership Development

Human Development

The Story: This is who we are 3

What are your stories and how will you create new movements of justice?

Let’s Recap

1. Charity models are too old-

school.

2. Change comes through locality.

3. Always be mobilizing and

networking.

THANK YOU!

Matt W. Cummings

Assistant Director for Spirituality, Service, and Social Justice

DePauw University

matthewcummings@depauw.edu

@mattwcummings