The Black Commentator - Single-Payer Healthcare - Part 4

This semester I had the privilege and challenge of organizing a Healthcare-NOW! campus group at City University of New York’s Brooklyn College. This task was much more complex than I anticipated, however I learned many valuable skills that will help me to organize students and other community members in the future. I will be discussing the lessons I learned this semester, while also sharing some tips on organizing and constituency building.

When organizing a grassroots movement, having a clear mission statement is critical. Many people overlook the importance of a mission statement. It can help you set clear and realistic goals, determine your budget, and both target and build your constituency. In this case, our mission statement focused on getting relevant information about the healthcare crisis and solution to the masses of students at Brooklyn College.

When I initially began to speak to others on campus about the importance of implementing a universal healthcare system in the U.S., I quickly realized that many were uninformed or misinformed. I strongly believe that mobilizing people in a social justice movement starts with education. Passing out literature, keeping up with current news, and researching the issues is an effective tool in keeping your organization and others in the community up to date on current issues. Having a good educational website helps too, healthcare-now.org, for example.

Healthcare coverage is a national concern that affects all communities. I found that two approaches to organizing were the most successful tactics for us. Using both top-down and bottom-up strategies together, as an approach to organizing, is the most effective way, and I think that is a good way to talk about it.

In the Top- down strategy, the organization develops an approach that reaches out to the top people involved in the issue. In this case, one could utilize a Congressperson, City Council member, or a prominent community leader to reach that constituency group. For this approach, it is important to find multiple authoritative figures who are well- informed and educated on the subject. They will become the “face” of your movement. These persons will act as both spokespersons and significant leaders among the group. It is important to select a person or persons who are effective communicators and a revolutionary thinkers.

A Bottom- up approach to organizing is the most effective strategy Healthcare-NOW! used to mobilize students and inspire them to get involved in passing a national healthcare system. This approach encouraged outreach from both within and outside of the organization. This method of mobilizing the masses is mostly used in grassroots organizing.

Bottom- up promotes networking and group thinking. Networking assists the group in building a diverse constituency. Meeting new people gives one a chance to inform others about your organization’s existence and goals. Group thinking is critical in social movements because it generates useful ideas, helps you set realistic goals and helps to compile practical tactics to fulfill the group’s objectives. An example we use at Healthcare-NOW! is the strategy of Healthcare Truth Hearings. They can be small or large – on every campus and in every community – until everybody understands that we can achieve the national healthcare we deserve as a human right. The idea is that everybody from the very bottom of the economic heap on up can begin to have a voice by testifying at a Truth Hearing. We are seeking to have 1,000 such Healthcare Truth Hearings during the coming two years to make clear to Congress that we mean “business.”

Have a positive approach to solving the problem. Giving confidence to others in your group increases the likelihood of reaching your set goals. Avoid conflict between members of the group as much as possible. Controversy creates tension among members and will only slow down progress, eventually ruining the ultimate potential and objectives of the organization.

Hold elections every semester to select active committee and board members. Electing people into positions is important because it is a fair way to put people into leadership positions. It also encourages a democracy and reinforces the importance of the members reaching a consensus on decisions.

Knowing your campus and faculty well is crucial. Building good relationships with campus staff will help you in spreading information about your noble cause. Keeping in contact with them regularly will make them more willing to assist you in planning events, increasing membership, and acquiring space for events on campus. You can also ask them for permission to speak to their students during their classes. This gives you the chance to showcase your organization and inform others of upcoming events.

Serving food or refreshments at meetings and events is always a great way to increase the attendance of people, especially when dealing with college students. Just adding the words “food or refreshments will be served” on a flyer can have an enormous impact on the turnout of your events.

I thoroughly enjoyed organizing the first Healthcare-NOW! campus group. Throughout the semester, I had the opportunity to encounter interesting and innovative people, whom I may not have met if I had not gotten involved with this cause. I have found that the most essential characteristic of a good organizer is having passion about your issue and the determination necessary to accomplish your goal. Whether it is speaking to people, making flyers, or even cleaning up after an event; it is imperative that you sincerely take pride in all of your organizing actions and pass your passion along to others.

We would love to see a dozen or more campuses organizing a Healthcare Truth Hearing next semester. We are calling on people on campuses to take up this challenge. Join us as we demand that Congress take action on this issue. Call our office 800-453-1305 and leave a message if you are up for working with us. You should also mention that we are calling on the new leadership, Congressmembers Pelosi, Rangel and Stark, to hold official Congressional hearings the week of the anniversary of Dr. MLK’s assassination, as we rededicate ourselves to the justice he called for and his passion for universal healthcare for all when he said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane".

Georgette Kareithi is a member of the Healthcare NOW! Staff and is a senior at CUNY- Brooklyn College (double major in Journalism and Women’s Studies). Click here to contact Ms. Kareithi and Healthcare-NOW.

Click here to read any of the articles in this special BC series on Single-Payer Healthcare.