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Review, Reflect, Recycle

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Yes, we can?

by Dennis Donovan, 7/28/08 • It has been interesting for me to watch the Obama campaign.

There is no doubt that Senator Obama can give a great speech, but organizing is more than a speech. I know that some of his field operation uses organizing methods, but how much does he concretely talk about how to bring people together around their self-interests?

By the People is a weblog on civic engagement produced by the Center for Democracy and Citizenship at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs of the University of Minnesota.


In other words, how does the chant “yes we can,” translate into “how can we?”

Obama’s roots are in organizing. When will we hear his stories of people organizing to solve housing problems, education issues, and to build parks and playgrounds? Will he remind us of the partnership that government had with the people during the Great Depression and how the people engaged in public work to build a better America?

Organizing is hard work. It is not easy to engage people in deep conversation to uncover their stories and passions. People will only act on their interests when they become motivated, and when they acquire public skills and confidence. This takes time, trust and a deep commitment. Organizing is like running a marathon, not a sprint.

It will be interesting to see how Senator Obama deals with the tension between his celebrity status and his roots as an organizer.

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