BUILD THe MOVEMENT
Through PERSONAL OUTREACH!


Democracy is under attack by the very people who are sworn to protect it. The solution? Experts on authoritarianism say that 3.5% of citizens are needed to successfully replace an authoritarian government. That means we need 12 million Americans to be actively engaged in this fight.

YOU can help by doing personal outreach and encouraging active engagement with friends, family, neighbors, and other people you encounter in your daily life. It will take all of us to expand the movement to levels needed to stop Trumpism in America. 

Since broad recruitment is crucial to the success of the Resistance, Indivisible Marin, has developed a toolkit outlining a range of ideas and tips for personal outreach. The content of the toolkit is also below.

OVERVIEW

  • Personal outreach, sometimes referred to as “Relational Organizing,” is the process of engaging with people in your personal network, or people you encounter in daily life, to encourage them to join the movement. 

  • Personal outreach can also be done with people you causally interact with in your daily lives - at the grocery store, the gym, walking the dog etc. 

  • Personal outreach is THE most effective form of volunteer recruitment because people who know you are more likely to hear you out and be willing to engage in a conversation with you. Plus you are a positive example with your friends and in the world.

  • Personal outreach increases your impact - and the impact increases exponentially when your friends and family reach out to their friends and family.

  • Personal Outreach involves a brief time commitment and is done at your convenience. 

KEY TACTICS

1) Engage in “recruitment” conversations in everyday life

  • Make gripe sessions an opportunity - When you find yourself in a convo with people complaining about Trump, the state of our country etc, don't just complain along with the others. Bring it to a constructive level by sharing how you are taking action with IndiMarin and ask others if they’d like to join you at an upcoming meeting or if they'd like you to send them a link to the website

  • Make chit-chat an opportunity - For example, when people, even strangers, say “how are you?” try answering that you are worried about the state of our country. It opens the door for them to say, “Me too.” Or not. But if they seem aligned, then tell them about IndiMarin and encourage them to visit the website and sign up. 

  • Wear a pro-democracy or similar political t-shirt when out running errands. You’d be surprised by how many people make positive comments which is an opportunity for engagement.

  • Add your own ideas to this list…..it’s easy to weave recruitment conversations into our daily lives when we commit to mindfully doing so!

2) Host gatherings

  • Conversation gathering - Invite some friends and neighbors over to your house for a potluck or coffee hour to chat informally about the state of our country and ways that individuals can get involved to help. Or host a gathering at a park or coffee shop. It can be casual and informal - the point is to create an opportunity to talk about what’s happening in our country and brainstorm about ways to be part of the solution. Please encourage all who attend to sign up for IndiMarin on the Join Us link at indivisiblemarin.org. It’s great if you can check in with attendees a week or so later to provide support and motivation. 

  • Postcard writing gathering - Get your friends involved in voter outreach work! Hosting a postcarding party at your house provides a great opportunity to accomplish that objective. And IndiMarin will support you every step of the way! Sign up here to be sent a Postcarding House Party Toolkit with more information.

  • Add your own ideas to the list - There are many creative ways to gather people together to encourage activism.

3) Organize your own protest

  • Organizing a small protest (5-20 people) is easy peasy! Just pick a date and time, and scope out a nearby location that is high visibility.

  • Then invite your like-minded friends. Spread the word via email, text, social media etc. 

  • You may want to host a sign-making event in your driveway first (or not.) 

  • Here are some tips for making signs

  • Be sure to encourage your protest team to stay involved by joining a local group like Indivisible Marin, or there are others from which to choose. 

  • Ongoing action is the goal for all participants!

4) Reach out to people you know in other parts of the country

  • Brainstorm a list of people you plan to contact.

    • Think about your friends and family. Make a list of people you know who are aligned with your political views. 

    • Review your list of friends on Facebook. Add those people to your working list. 

    • Think of people you know from work or school - even “way back when.”

    • Don’t be shy. If you’ve lost touch with some of your contacts, they will likely be pleased to hear from you now!

  • Decide which method of communication is best for each contact.

    • Phone - a good way to connect with an old friend or a family member

    • Text - the preferred method for many younger people

    • Email - good for former colleagues, classmates, etc.

  • Decide what “ask” is most suited to each contact. IndiMarin has identified three impactful asks. Feel free to CUSTOMIZE to fit your contact OR create your own “ask.” 

  • IndiMarin’s suggestions include:

    • Ask them to take action. They can find more volunteer opportunities on IndiMarin’s website: https://www.indivisiblemarin.org/

    • Ask them to call or email their senators and representatives and urge them to support or oppose particular policies or pieces of legislation (especially if they live in a red or purple district.)

    • Ask them to become involved in personal outreach and reach out to their contacts.

  • Tips for calling friends and family

    • Review the Change Conversation Cycle below if you choose to communicate by phone. And remember: Spend most of the conversation listening to them.

    • A good conversation starter might be to ask your friend or family member to fill in this blank: “I feel _____ about the way the country is going these days.”