Community Organizing - Story

Community Organizing

through my eyes

Citizen Legislative Advocacy in Minority Communities

www.glc-teachdemocracy2.org www.glc-teachdemocracy.org 1

CONTENT:

Introduction-page 3 - 5

America-The Dreamland by Ognyan Isaev –page 5-6

Professional Fellowship Program—page 7

Community Organizing in Toledo “Housing” - page 11-12

The project, the leading organization and partners—page 8

Community Organizing in Detroit “Youth Voice” - page 10

What is Community Organizing by Dave Beckwith—page 9

The story of Shanon by Ognyan Isaev - page 13

Charity Care Action - page 14

Tax Day Action - page 15

Give it Back - page 16

National People’s Action - page 17

Closing Remarks and Reflection - page 18


Both my mother and father are children of mixed marriages

(Roma and Non-Roma), but this has never been of a great

importance to me. I identify myself as a hundred percent

Bulgarian of Roma background. I grew up with many

friends around me both from my community and outside of

it. It’s important to note that I grew up in a mixed neighbor-

hood – around our flat live both ethnic Bulgarians and Bul-

garian Roma. Since I was a little boy I’m the “soul of the

company”. I don’t speak too much, but I am active listener,

since the time I was little. I finished my primarily education

in a prestige school (at least it was at that time; nowadays

many people would say it is segregated school with about

90% of the students being from the Roma community). It

wasn’t easy, because at that time my mom was working in

the school. No, not as teacher, she was from the cleaning

staff. She was taking care of the hygiene of the school, alt-

hough sometimes she had to educate the students, in her own

way. I felt more responsible – one mistake and my mom was

already informed about it. I was reserved, disciplined and

responsible person. Here I should mention that I performed very poor in school. I want to say that back

then I was not preparing at home for school as the other students, I was not writing my homework. But

going into class, knowing when I’ll be tested, I was quickly going through the materials and I was gain-

ing good marks. At the end of my primary education I had many average marks and only one higher in

English. I don’t know, I loved that language (I still love it).

I grew up and quickly realized what I want to do – continue my education. I must say that the quick deci-

sion I made was because the alternative was to work with my brother and father on constructing build-

ings. I actually tried to work with them, but I told my self – no, that can’t be it, there’s got to be more in

life. There must be something different. In high school I felt the need to be responsible – this time not

because my mom was in the school, but because I was one of the first people from my community who

continued their high school education. I felt the need to be responsible because I found out that from

about 500 students I was the only Roma. At that time I did realize that the color of your skin matters and

your ethnic background could be a taboo. In school I had friends, but I also had enemies too, people that

bullied me. I started pretending going to school, but

instead of that I was going to different cafés and I

was solving crosswords from the morning until the

time that school was finishing. I was doing that for a

month and then my teacher found out and requested

a meeting with my parents. I remember that it was

unpleasant situation; even I was ashamed to say

“well, there is this guy who treats me bad, because

I’m different. He does jokes with me and thinks I’m

from a different world - world inferior to his”. Not

long after, it all worked out like a movie and we be-

came friends. I was friends with all 28 people in the

class and they all started to respect me. And I, in

turn, became more responsible and started putting more efforts on learning.


I graduated high school with decent marks. I had

the wish to continue my education, to graduate

from university. It was just a wish and to be hon-

est, I didn’t do much about it, although I attempted

entry exams in the nearest University to my town. I

was not enrolled and decided to wait for the next

year and try again. Back to my community, I was

‘busy’ with ‘important’ things – coffee bars, par-

ties, friends and so on. But the boredom, the

‘nothing’ I was doing and the time that I was los-

ing were killing me. It was good that it ended up

fast.

So my luck came in the form of an application form. The application was for a 9-month training course

for young Roma with secondary education and who are able to speak basic level of English. I came

across the application by chance and thanks to a friend of mine from another Roma neighboring, who

was volunteering in a local association. I was fascinated by the opportunity to be trained both in Bulgaria

and in Spain (Even though later on the plans changed and instead of Spain I was trained in Denmark). At

that time I didn’t know anything about citizens' activities, civil society initiatives, projects and trainings.

Nothing was clear to me. By that time I had not met Roma youth, graduates, knowledgeable, capable and

people with a clear purpose. I bumped into them when I appeared for the interview for the training pro-

gram. We were about 120 people from all over Bulgaria, competing for 5 places. Guess what I wanted to

do when I saw how many good candidates there were. Yes, I wanted to go, and on top of that I was last

on the list for an interview. I thought I have a ball in my stomach and it was churning until it was my

turn. I passed the threshold and thereafter I felt comfortable, calm. With the interviewers we talked about

life, about my city, my neighborhood. They made me think about the future of my neighborhood for a

first time, the people of my ethnicity. It was then when both they (interviewers) and I realized that this

would be my calling – to help my community. I started to travel, to meet with young people from my eth-

nic group, to learn about civil society, civic initiatives, mobilization, development of disadvantaged com-

munities and other fancy words from the NGO sphere. So I passed successfully the long-term training

course on Leadership and Community Development and then joined C.E.G.A. Foundation’s team. Initial-

ly my work in CEGA was focused on youth groups, unregistered and informal. Our program was target-

ing young people who have the desire to change something in their neighborhoods and communities for

better, but they lack the know-how. I travelled around small localities in Bulgaria to meet with such

groups. The program was building capacity among these groups, giving them knowledge and skills in

different areas: communication, teamwork, working with local authorities, working with the media, or-

ganizing campaigns and more. For the five years of work on this program, I was able to work with more

than 40 youth groups. Some of them later grew up into registered organizations. I then started coordinat-

ing the international partnerships of the Foundation and nowadays I’m responsible for international initi-

atives around Europe and beyond. My work is connected with a lot of traveling, meeting people from

different parts of the world, ethnicities, religions and cultures. Since I was very young I had a dream that

might have been inspired by watching too much MTV. I dreamed of one day travelling to the USA. I

wanted to see what is like to walk the streets of the busy New York. Ears later, this dream came true.

Thanks to the "Professional Fellowship" program of the U.S. Department and the project "Citizens Legis-

lative in Minority Communities", led by "Great Lake Consortium" I was able to get in touch with the

work of local and national organizations in the Community Organizing field in the USA.


The air ocean noise unforgivable breach human hearing. The plane

takes to the ground - a wide, black and thick asphalt line crosses over

the landscape of American land to Canada. Descend after nearly nine

hours in the air. I can smell satisfaction at the end

of a landing - soft as serving a new mattress. Step

on the land that many people around the world

dream to build his life. I still fit into my skin

without a sense of boundless happiness of the fact

that I am in the U.S. Tired and moody I’m going

to the exit with my large luggage. The colleagues

are also sluggish after the long flight. In anticipa-

tion of the van from the hotel where we were

staying, I stare at people at the bus station and

those within 15 feet of it - smoke and try not to

disturb anyone.

The reality in every state is completely different.

It has everything and every bit for everyone. The

economy - there are States with strong and weak economy. This means reach and poor citizens with

highly developed middle class. Much of the social services are provided by civil society organizations -

the government or particular state delegated to them. In some states the main budget revenue comes from

taxes. Recently, the idea of charging the superrich that is 1% of the population and holds most of the

money (through earnings), increasingly became much known. Perhaps you've heard of the movement

"We are 99%"! (The movement is described below)

The political system is complex intertwined and seriously differs from Europe (and Bulgaria), but Ameri-

cans are satisfied with the fact that there is no one-man party power, although every American complains

of corporations that influence the decisions of politicians. As citizens, Americans are highly developed -

they care about what affects them today or will affect them tomorrow. They are reasonable preventative

and analytical and sometimes genuinely opened in their speeches.

In our country we do not know many details of all their civil movement, unless you bother to dig through

their history, which is filled with personal stories, tumultuous development of the United States as the

strongest country. Like Rosa Parks - one of the individuals who laid the foundations of civil rebellion.

On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery Parks she sits on a bus in a place that is reserved for white people.

They warned her to move. She refused and the police arrested her for insubordination. This highly im-

pressed all Americans - white and colored. Several days later, the whole city protests against the behavior

towards Rosa Parks. The victory is not delayed - The U.S. Supreme Court repeals the segregation in pub-

lic transportation.

From the outside it all seems spontaneous. This act, however, is very well planned. Parks and many other

citizens, including Martin Luther King, explore what would make the white people stand behind the

cause of blacks. Subsequently start major civil movements of African Americans rights, freedoms and

dignity.

America – the Dreamland

By Ognyan Isaev


Malcolm X is another great figure in the American history. He is a Muslim who has radical reform ideas

and is a promising strong leader. On 21 February 1965 he is dead-shot. In his body there were 21 bullets.

He was the one that said "Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or any-

thing. If you're a man, you take it".

The truth that comes out of all information sources is that the free-

dom and equality that the African Americans won, is not because

of one person, one act or money. It is all due to the strong general

American desire that is nurtured wisely and discreetly. We should

not forget all the people that fell victims towards the route to

change.

It is extremely difficult to make comparisons between the develop-

ments of American civil society to any other. Historically, politi-

cally and especially in cultural terms the differences are great. For

example, we strive for the ‘American’ democracy, without being

aware that we are not ready for it, because we simply do not know

it. Another question is that the Americans are not satisfied with it.

While we change political systems like handkerchiefs the Ameri-

cans are developing democracy for more than 200 years. While we

can’t agree around three main priorities to follow for at least 10

years, the US are simply a world leader with clear priorities and

policies in every part of the world.

Americans have strong individual personalities. They consider themselves as U.S. citizens. Americans

could not afford to verbalize their thought for skin color, appearance or sexual orientation of the person

standing in front of them or to make jokes at such occasion. Here, in Bulgaria, that is not the case. Fur-

thermore, society expects you to verbalize, to offend, to hate.

Photo from Chicago Photo from Detroit


The Professional Fellows Program brings emerging leaders from

around the world to the United States for intensive short-term fel-

lowships designed to broaden their professional expertise. Partici-

pants are placed in non-profit organizations, private sector businesses, and government offices across the

country to learn first-hand how issues in their field are addressed in the United States. Participants build

a broad network with both their American colleagues and their fellow participants. The program also pro-

vides an opportunity for Fellows to develop a deeper understanding of American society. Thousands of

Americans host, work with, and learn from the foreign fellows while they are in the United States. The

second phase of the Professional Fellows Programs involves the selection of Americans to participate in

official follow-up programs overseas, in conjunction with the fellows they hosted in the United States.

In

2012, an estimated 450 participants from 50 countries come in both the spring and fall for programs fo-

cusing on entrepreneurial development, women’s empowerment, and the legislative process. At the end

of each program, the Fellows gather in Washington, DC, for a closing Professional Fellows Congress,

where they have the opportunity to compare and contrast what they have experienced in the U.S. with

practices and systems in their home countries. Professional Fellows also explore ways to effect positive

change in their communities through engagement in civil society, advisory groups, and the policy formu-

lation process. Approximately 300 American fellows are then be selected to participate in follow-up pro-

grams overseas to spend time in the workplaces and communities of the foreign counterparts that they

previously hosted in the United States. .

The Professional Fellows Program is one of many professional exchange programs funded by the U.S.

Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. These exchanges are designed to fos-

ter mutual understanding between the people of the United States and foreign citizens worldwide. Every

year, approximately 50,000 foreign and American participants take part in a wide range of exchange pro-

grams funded by the State Department, including the Fulbright Program and the International Visitor

Leadership Program.

Professional Fellows Program


The overall goal of the project is to provide a professional development opportunity for up-and-coming

and mid-level professionals to gain knowledge of U.S. practices in engaging citizens and community

leaders in collaboration to inform changes in legislation that make a difference in minority communities

(incl. Roma, disabled, immigrant populations) and strengthen democracy. Foreign participants are ex-

posed to diverse community organizing methods to engage citizens as active participants in solving prob-

lems in their own communities. They also gain hands-on experience at both public and civil society insti-

tutions in the U.S. and a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture and people. They examine the re-

lationship between civil society and government and learn methods to fight public corruption and devel-

op accountability. Through internship placements at national, state and local organizations across the

U.S. they gain knowledge and experience as well as adaptable approaches that they can implement after

their return.

The U.S. participants of this exchange have an opportunity to share professional expertise and gain a

deeper understanding of the societies, cultures and people of other countries. U.S. mentors travel for

a reciprocal visit overseas. This citizen civic exchange promotes mutual understanding, create long-term

professional ties, and enhance the collaboration between.

The Great Lakes Consortium for International Development & Training (GLC) is a cooperative ef-

fort of Bowling Green State University, Lourdes University, the university of Toledo and the WSOS

Community Action Commission, Inc. to initiate, seek support for and coordinate international training

and development efforts so as to link and enhance capacity and resources with needs in the world com-

munity.

WSOS Community Action Commission Inc.

WSOS is dedicated to creating opportunities that will help our community and all of its members build a

better future. We help individuals and families to acquire the skills and knowledge to become self-

sufficient and to more fully participate in our community. We achieve this by developing projects and

partnerships that allow people to help themselves.

Creating Effective Grassroots Alternatives (C.E.G.A.) in Bulgaria,

Civil Collegium Foundation (CCF) in Hungary,

The Resource Center for Public Participation (CeRe) in Romania;

and the Centre for Community Organization (CKO) in Slovakia.

The Project “Citizen Legislative Advocacy in Minority Communities”

Leading Organizations

Partners


Community organizing is the process of building power

through involving a constituency in identifying problems they

share and the solutions to those problems that they desire; identi-

fying the people and structures that can make those solutions possible; enlisting those targets in the effort

through negotiation and using confrontation and pressure when needed; and building an institution that is

democratically controlled by that constituency that can develop the capacity to take on further problems

and that embodies the will and the power of that constituency.

Heather Booth, founder of the Midwest Academy and legendary community organizer, expressed the

fundamentals in this formula:

Community organizing is NOT a technique for problem solving. Those who would use simple confronta-

tion or mass meetings to meet their own selfish need for power, and skip the step of democratic involve-

ment and control in the selecting of issues, the crafting of demands or the negotiating of the victory are

called demagogues. Their organizations are a hollow sham, without the empowering aspect that human-

izes and ennobles the effort.

Community organizing is not merely a process that

is good for its own sake. Unless the organization

wins concrete, measurable benefits for those who

participate, it will not last long. The groups that

content themselves with holding endless meetings

and plod along involving everyone in discussions

that never lead to action or to victory are doomed

to shrink into nothing. People want to see results.

That's why they get involved. There is a theory

(isn't there always?) that says that folks join up if

two things are true. First, they must see a potential

for either benefit or harm to themselves if the

group succeeds or fails. Second, they must see that their personal involvement has an impact on the

whole effort. This makes sense to me. Winning is critical, but if the group's going to win whether I get

involved or not - if my personal involvement is not critical - then I can stay home and watch TV.

Community organizing is not just a neighborhood thing, not just a minority thing, not just a 60's thing.

Many - especially those uncomfortable with a particular community organizing effort because it's con-

fronting them at the time - seek to 'label' organizing as somehow out of date or out of place. The fact is

that the method, the strategy the science of community organizing has been applied all over the world.

In the following lines I’ll introduce to you the organizations and their campaign in which I took part di-

rectly while I was in the USA for 42 days. As part of the Fellowship Exchange Program I had the chance

to meet organizations and organizers from Detroit, Toledo, Virginia and Chicago. In Chicago I was hav-

ing my internship in different organizations for 3 weeks.

OOO = Organizers Organize Organizations

The text is from the paper “People Power from the Grassroot” written by Mr. Dave Beckwith

What is Community Organizing?


In the following lines I’ll introduce to you the organizations and their campaigns in which I took part di-

rectly while I was in the USA for 42 days. As part of the Fellowship Exchange Program I had the chance

to meet organizations and organizers from Detroit, Toledo, Virginia and Chicago. In Chicago I was hav-

ing my internship in different organizations for 3 weeks.

During the program in Detroit the organizers from the Harriet Tumban Center introduced to us several of

their practices. One of them made a great impression to me and that was the initiative “Youth Voice”.

Youth Voice is an organization for young people in Detroit to come together, build their own power, and

create change. In individual chapters and a youth-driven executive board, Youth Voce members become

leaders by developing solutions to issues that affect

their lives and community.

Youth Voice currently has 10 chapters that is based in

Southwest, North, Northwest, Brightmoor/Cody Rouge,

and East Detroit with new chapters developing in Ypsi-

lanti, MI. Together, they meet weekly and learn organ-

izing strategies by picking issues they want to work on,

conducting research, building relationships with city

officials, and working together to implement solutions

with the support of an adult organizer.

Among other things, Youth Voice encourages its young

membership to mobilize and advocate for better

schools, safer and cleaner neighborhoods, youth em-

ployment, recreational opportunities and a more respon-

sive system of care for youth.

A major goal of Youth Voice is allowing young people to have constructive input in institutions and poli-

cies that directly affect them. While we were in De-

troit, the organizers had a meeting with students from

a small school, accommodated in a big building to-

gether with several other schools. The students shared

what their major problems are and how they solve

them. The biggest issue they fight with is the youth

violence in Detroit.

The Cody High School YOUTH VOICE chapter has

secured 75 additional DDOT bus passes for students,

opened an additional security entrance to the school to

ease flow of students into the school and cut down on

truancy rates. Moreover they succeeded to move bus

route and bus stop closer to the school to reduce the

risk of them becoming victims of violence. With their

help, Detroit secured $1,5 million from the Depart-

ment of Justice for a citywide violence reduction program Ceasefire.

Community Organizing in Detroit – YOUTH VOICE


In Toledo we got to know more about anoth-

er problem, which concerns big part of the

USA population – the issue with houses. More precise-

ly, in this part of the US the problem is with the aban-

doned properties. As part of our training from the One

Village Council’s organizers we had the chance to visit

one of the neighborhoods in Toledo and get to know

closer the issue with the abandoned properties. We vis-

ited a particular house on the Baker Street. At first look

you don’t think there is anything wrong. You don’t see

anything bad, but just an owner who decided not to take

care of their property, because most probably he/she

lives somewhere else. But after talking to Mrs. Janet

Smolenski (member of the organization and resident of

the neighborhood) and her neighbors and after having a

closer look on the property, we found out that the house is actually very dangerous. It is a prerequisite for

youth gangs gathering around and in it; in the backyard there is also a huge hole, which could bring trou-

bles. The neighbors say that for few months they are trying to trigger the municipality of Toledo to knock

down the building and solve the issue. The municipality

responded that they don’t have enough money or the

property is not on the list for demolishing. After our

group dispersed around the homes next to the abandoned

one, we found out that the owner has not maintained the

house for more than 2 years. The property crumbles and

becomes dangerous for the neighborhood children, and is

also damaging the image of the neighborhood.

Once we have identified the problem, we asked to meet

with representatives of the municipality and as the organ-

izers of the One Council have relationship with them,

they made a call and a few minutes later a municipal rep-

resentative came.

Harriet Tubman Center—Detroit

Harriet Tubman Center it is an organization founded in 2006 to fill a void in the recruitment and devel-

opment of professional community organizers. The Center began with conversations among congrega-

tion centered community-organizers, university students and professors, union organizers, and inde-

pendent young organizers seeking solidarity, professional development and wider career options.

HTC is focused on creating connected, competent organizers through internships and job placement

opportunities. Since 2007, The Harriet Tubman Center has recruited hundreds of people for communi-

ty organizing internships and has trained and graduated 56 interns. Leadership development in a wide

variety of local institutions has led to tangible victories in school parent organizations, a youth organi-

zation, a union of homeless and low income tenants (Detroit Action Commonwealth) and several con-

gregations.

Community Organizing in Toledo – HOUSING


We explained the problem, gathered neighbors who described the problem in details, including docu-

ments (complaints that are filed).

In fact, there are hundreds of abandoned properties

throughout the city, although the majority are concen-

trated in the city center, North and East Toledo. And

with the foreclosure and economic crisis, the problem

is only getting worse. Since 2011, the City increased

its efforts to bring down the buildings and at the end

of 2011 had demolished 400 buildings. In 2012, the

list of buildings to be demolished is over 700, but the

local authorities explained that they have no funds to

break down even 1/3 of the number.

From this meeting with the local government repre-

sentative we received a promise that the issue will be

taken into account and the property will be next on the list for demolition of buildings. A little later,

while the group was doing their internship around U.S. we received information that the house was de-

molished and the municipality kept the promise.

One Village Council

One Village Council (OVC) is a direct action organization in an urban neighborhood located directly

north of Toledo and is about 5 square miles and 30,000 residents. It is the oldest and most diverse ur-

ban neighborhood in the city.

The primary groups living in ONE Village consist of Caucasians, African-Americans, and Latinos.

The OVC has enacted many forms of direct action to get results including holding public accountabil-

ity meetings, public demonstrations, candidate forums, and media leveraging.

The OVC is currently working on establishing a city-wide alliance of other community organizing

groups including faith base and unions to win on bigger issues affecting residents areas that OVC is

currently organizing around are education, economic development, and safety.


In the following lines I’ll introduce to you different practic-

es, which small and big organizations from Chicago are

organizing. Before that I should tell you that in America

not everything is pink and perfect. Here is a story written by Ognyan Isaev, who was doing his internship

with me in Chicago within the Exchange Program.

The second week of my internship I went out very early in the morning together with my friends. We had

in our heads the idea to find a homeless person and

invite him/her for a breakfast. It was not difficult,

because in “USA homeless are on every corner”, as

one social worker told us later. Especially in a city

like Chicago this is an easy mission, I would add. I

guess this doesn’t fit our (Bulgarian) perceptions of

the American dream. Just 100 meters from the John

Hancock, the heart of Chicago, we saw a gray blan-

ket. We got closer. “Hi, how are you?”- I asked

with a smile. It is about 9-10 degrees Celsius out-

side. The Michigan’s lake winter lowers the tem-

perature with a degree. “I’m fine!” – says the

homeless. I asked him to come with us for break-

fast. He smiled and stood up. He was lying on a

box, wearing many layers of clothes. Next to him

were few plastic coffee cups. More or less this was all of his “furniture”.

“I’m blessed”, the homeless guy was repeating. His name was Shannon, with Irish roots. We entered the

restaurant. He asked for the restroom. He was very kind, intelligent and clever guy. Many people who

have a house would most probably have worse skills in terms of behavior and communication. If some-

body doesn’t like homeless people or hates them, Shannon is ready to break all dark stereotypes about

this group. Shannon is 42 years old. He was a building constructor, but got fired six years ago. He had a

car and a house, but he had to sell them because he

couldn’t pay the taxes. When it comes to taxes in

the USA, particularly to those on property, the law

is very strict. So Shannon arrived in Chicago three

years ago to start over his life. But he was not

lucky. He couldn’t get a job and his documents

were stolen. He also got beaten several times. “And

sooner or later you start living as a homeless” – he

says. He also says “To be homeless in the USA is a

social situation, in which everyone can be”.

Extremely erudite Shannon quoted parts of the Bi-

ble in every second sentence, which impressed us a

lot. The breakfast finished and we said goodbye. “I

believe in empathy” – he said. Shannon is a lucky

person, because we could have had somebody else

for breakfast instead of him. In a while I realized

that we are happy too, because he was a chance for us to make something good, but also he gave as a

chance to learn about the world of the homeless and face the stereotypes we care with us.

The Story of Shannon

by Ognyan Isaev


The next initiative which I’ll introduce to you is from

Chicago and is implemented as part of the „Occupy

Movement”. It is called „We are the 99%“.

The Occupy movement is an international protest movement against social and economic inequality, its

primary goal being to make the economic and political relations in all societies less vertically hierar-

chical and more flatly distributed. Local groups often have different focus, but among the movement's

prime concerns is the belief that large corporations and the global financial system control the world in a

way that disproportionately benefits a minority and undermines democracy. The first Occupy protest to

receive wide coverage was Occupy Wall Street in New York City's Zuccotti Park, which began on 17

September 2011.

We are the 99% is a political slogan widely used by the Occupy movement. The phrase directly refers

to the concentration of income and wealth among the top earning 1%, and reflects a belief that the "99%"

are paying the price for the mistakes of a tiny minority within the upper class. According to IRS reports,

as of 2009 all individuals with income less than $343,927 belong to the lower 99% of the United States'

income distribution. It should be mentioned that many of the organizations in Chicago are cooperating in

implementing the different causes related to the “Occupy Movement” and the phrase „We are the 99%”.

As part of the European fellows’ delegation that was

having their professional internship in Chicago, I met

Lakeview Logan Square and had the chance to see how

community organizing direct actions are being implemented in practice. We joined fifty uninsured indi-

viduals and taxpayers who went to Rush University Medical Center’s new tower to denounce the hospi-

tal’s poor charity care record compared to the value of its tax breaks. Everyone was holding posters, slo-

gans and wearing a T-shirts with the logo of the organization. One community organizer was with us,

who beforehand divided the roles amongst us, especially the roles of those who are the main actors in the

direct action. There was a person who was responsible for the media, a person responsible for the police,

a person who was giving tone for the chanting and a person who was the spokesperson with the demands.

The issue that united the protestors was that Rush University Medical Centre’s new hospital tower costs

$637 million. That means that for every $1 in charity care Rush spent, they spent over $33 on their new

building. Taxpayer subsidies helped pay for the new

tower, and we support Rush’s operations on an ongoing

basis by granting them property and sales tax exemptions

to the tune of $33 million. And the people are asking if

they are getting their money’s worth. While waiting to

meet with Rush CEO, they held a press conference in the

lobby of the new tower calling on Rush to do more chari-

ty care. The event was organized by Lakeview Action

Coalition, which is a member of the Fair Care Coalition.

The Fair Care Coalition is calling for a fair solution that

guarantees people are able to access care regardless of

their insurance status, that fairly distributes the responsi-

bility of providing care for the uninsured, and that guar-

antees tax payers receive a fair return for the public sub-

sidies given to non-profit hospitals. The coalition was established in connection with large-scale cam-

paign Stand Up Chicago, which fights against big corporations to pay their fair share.

Occupy Movement & We are the 99%

Charity Care Action


The next campaign in

which I had the chance to

take part was related to the Tax Day in U.S.A. On Tax

Day (April 17), hundreds of Chicagoans took to the

streets to demand that billion-dollar corporations and

their millionaire executives’ pay their fair share in taxes.

The mass protest, consisting of two large rallies and four

separate marches, was part a growing wave of frustration

felt by 99% families who want the corporations that cre-

ated the economic emergency to start paying their fair

share in taxes. Protesters called upon their elected repre-

sentatives to support the Buffett Rule—the Paying a Fair Share Act, H.R.3909, S.2230, which puts an

end to millionaires paying lower taxes than working people—and to close corporate tax loopholes. They

also demanded that tax-dodging corporations and executives stop taking advantage of loopholes and oth-

er tax-avoidance strategies.

Protesters dressed as “99% Citizen Tax Enforcers,” in

black suits, sunglasses and briefcases, unfurled a long

banner to expose the amount in taxes “dodged” by the

1% since 2001. The number—$2.15 Trillion—stretched

the length of a city block.

Each organization, organizer of the protest, was respon-

sible for each of the four separate marches, including

the Lakeview Action Coalition and SOUL – Southsiders

Organized for Unity and Liberation, where I was help-

ing during my internship in Chicago.

A day before the mass protest, preparation was going all

around in delivering short-term training session on non-

violent direct action. Each organization supporting the

protest delivered such training to its members and interested people.

Lakeview Action Coalition

The Lakeview Action Coalition (LAC) is a non-profit, multi-issue community organization. The Co-

alition is comprised of 49 institutional members, including religious congregations, non-profit agen-

cies, banks, business associations, a credit union and a senior citizens caucus.

LAC enables its members to act on their values in public life by participating in the decisions that

shape our community's future. It fulfills this mission by organizing people around issues affecting

their members and by developing leaders through training, action and reflection. Since its founding in

1993, they have fought for justice, solidarity and diversity.

Lakeview Action Coalition (LAC) works to make charity care more accessible at local, private hos-

pitals. In the spring of 2012, during our presence within the Fellowship Program, LAC and their al-

lies in the Fair Care Coalition passed statewide legislation (Public Act 97-690) that says anyone be-

low 200% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) in urban areas (or below 125% of the FPL in rural are-

as) is entitled to a 100% discount on their hospital bill as long as they apply for financial assistance!

Tax Day Action


Another campaign I took direct part in was focused on housing in the

north part of Chicago. As an intern in Northside P.O.W.E.R., I had the

chance to have a closer look of the action from the inside.

Before the day of the event the organizers made hundreds of calls to inter-

ested people, members of the organization, and asked them to stop by the office for an appointment and

allocation of roles during the action. The community organizers were two people and a third one coordi-

nated the whole organization of the event. In terms of roles there were two spokespersons; a third was

responsible for the media and a fourth for the police. A fifth person was responsible for the chanting. My

colleague from the Fellowship Delegation and I were having a special task: we had to enter first in the

bank and hold the doors open while all the others enter.

The event was a peaceful march from the office of P.O.W.E.R. to the nearest branch of JP Morgan Chase

Bank and the demand of the organization was an appointment with the Chairman of JP Morgan Chase to

discuss a plan to return 500 vacant, foreclosed homes in Rogers Park and the nearby suburbs to the local

community. The units would be owned and managed by a local, reputable nonprofit housing organization

that would rent them at reasonable rates.

Northside P.O.W.E.R. members took over the lobby of

the Chase Bank at 1763 W Howard St. in Chicago and

demanded that the manager call Mr. Tilton’s office to

urge him to meet with organization representa-

tives. This action followed a letter and several attempts

by phone to schedule a meeting.

Initially the branch manager refused to make the call,

but Northside P.O.W.E.R. members chanted in unison

and refused to leave the lobby. After about 15 minutes

of lobby occupation, the manager and Northside

P.O.W.E.R.’s spokesperson agreed that we would wait

outside while she and the spokesperson made the call

together. On the 20 minutes we got the response that

the manager of the central office will call back on the

same day for scheduling meeting with the Northside P.O.W.E.R.’ representatives. A day later the phone

call was made from the manager and a meeting was scheduled.

Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation

SOUL is a social justice organization on the South Side and South Suburbs of Chicago dedicated to

the belief that all people ought to have decent, affordable housing, access to healthy, nutritious food

in every neighborhood, a clean environment so children will be able to breathe the air and drink the

water, public transit that allows people to get to job opportunities, a full employment economy so

everyone has the opportunity to work, and living wages so people who work full-time do not remain

poor.

SOUL is working to build a movement to create change, starting on the South Side and South Sub-

urbs. SOUL’s inclusive, multi-generational membership includes religious congregations, affordable

housing groups, block clubs, students, and neighborhood groups across the South Side and South

Suburbs.

Give it Back


I should mention the organization National

People’s Action (NPA), hosting my 3 weeks

internship in Chicagoans’ organizations.

Thanks to NPA I had the chance to work

with their local partners and participate in their di-

rect actions described above.

National People's Action (NPA) founded in 1972 is

a network of grassroots organizations with a fierce

reputation for direct action from across the country

that work to advance a national economic and racial

justice agenda. NPA has over 200 organizers work-

ing to unite everyday people in cities, towns, and

rural communities throughout the United States

through direct-action, house meetings and commu-

nity organizing. They have 26 affiliates in 14 States.

Their target population is not limited to a geograph-

ical area or regional group but rather works with

and on behalf of hard working Americans every-

where to ensure an equitable and just democracy.

The population includes people from all walks of life despite differences in age, race, sexual orientation,

income and culture. NPA aims for an inclusive open

population in which people feel welcome and a part of

grassroots power organizing.

NPA works with them indirectly, through their member

organizations, which have different strategies. Usually

they work through already existing institutions that

already serve them (churches, schools, union) or they

apply doorknocker in the minority neighborhood.

The organization is part of larger coalitions such like

New Bottom Line, which has over 30 national wide

spread members, NPA is also in coalition with Labor

Union, Environmental Coalition and one of the 99%

Spring Training.

Northside P.O.W.E.R. (People Organized to Work, Educate and Restore) is an institution-based

people’s power organization whose members are located in the Northside of the City of Chicago and

North Shore Communities. Northside P.O.W.E.R. works on issues that address the causes of hunger

and poverty.

Northside P.O.W.E.R. was created in 2004, as a result of a strategic planning process undertaken by

A Just Harvest’s board of directors. Reflecting upon the fact that the numbers of hungry people have

continued to increase in recent years, the board decided that the organization needed to go beyond

feeding people to address the causes of hunger and poverty.

National People’s Action


Coming from a minority background and

having the chance to see and participate in

many campaign and initiatives (some of

which described above), my impression is

that the discrimination in the U.S. is not as widespread as it is here in Bulgaria and generally in Europe.

Even though for the last 20 years, local and national organizations, including my organization - C.E.G.A.

Foundation, fight against intolerance, discrimination, for equal access to education and political reform

for the advancement of the Roma community, we still have a long way to go.

My experience in the U.S. gave me deeper understanding of what Americans are fighting against, what

are their struggles and how they demand change for the communities. As an outsider I’m really im-

pressed by the commitment of every individual involved in any community organizing action. Ordinary

people are so much interested to know what would happen tomorrow and how they could help to bring

changes. This is something we definitely need to work on more here in Bulgaria. I am wondering how

my life would have went if back in the days, after graduating high school, there was a community organ-

izer in my neighborhood that could involve me in important community processes. And even more im-

portantly, I wonder how a commu-

nity organizer could change the

lives of other people from my

community (and other communi-

ties) who did not have the same

chances as I did in terms of train-

ing and possibilities to work for

social justice.

In my opinion the sense of com-

munity is much more developed

within the American society and

this is one of the main reasons

why community organizing seems

to be more challenging over here

in Bulgaria. I have to say however,

that in my conversations with U.S.

community organizers, they have

opposed to this conclusion. Yet, I

am thinking that for Bulgarians and Bulgarian Roma to start doing more effective community organizing,

we need to work on our sense of community first. And this is not an easy thing – but not impossible.

Having the chance to share an accommodation with 19 Americans I could learn a lot about their life,

their struggles and successes and also prove myself the community sense they have in their heart.

I’m also very impressed by the involvement of the churches in US citizens’ life. I found them really

strong and with influence on people’s life. They play huge role in the Community Organizing as people

are gathering in the congregations and discussing issues that affect them. This was another contrast that I

noticed, considering the passive behavior of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and their controversial par-

ticipation in social life here in Bulgaria.

Closing Remarks and Reflection

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