STEPS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY ACTIVISM 

from Veronica Hoff

Identify All Stakeholders 

A Stakeholder is an individual or group that has an interest in a particular issue.
Stakeholders are not just those parties actively involved in the process, but those
who will experience consequences from the outcome of your project. 

Determine Common Ground of Stakeholders – Utilize as Basis of Project 

For a project to have broad-based support among stakeholders, there must be a
common sense of purpose. Each group approaches an issue from their unique
perspective. Identifying where those perspectives intersect will provide insight as to
where forces can be combined towards maximum effect. Develop a goal and an
implementation plan based upon the intersection of stakeholders' interests. A
coalition of dissimilar forces banded together for a specific united purpose has a
much greater societal impact than several individual efforts that may possibly be
working at odds with each other. 

Lose Your Ego 

Many efforts have been sidetracked or disabled when an individual’s or group’s ego
takes precedent over a project. Choose an area in which you believe and elevate it
above your own personal concerns. View your participation as a contribution to the
larger project as envisioned by all stakeholders, not myopically as the entire project.
The "knight in shining armor" concept belongs in fairy tales, not in activism. 

Identify/Procure Necessary Resources 

Determine what resources are necessary to implement your project. Identify those
already available to you and sources from which the remaining can be procured.
Coordinate those resources to facilitate the project. 

Listen/Remain Flexible 

Situations, needs and issues are rarely static. Occasionally, the original situational
and stakeholder analysis may have been incorrect. Anticipate revisiting the
implementation plan to reflect evolving understandings and conditions. Stay open to
dialogue with stakeholders and be open to criticism and suggestions. Evaluate
progress and don’t be afraid to make changes if the implementation plan doesn't
seem to be progressing as hoped. 

Coordinate:  Have one person who knows what everyone's doing. 

Delegate tasks, and hold people accountable. 

Acknowledge contributions.