chapter manual Jewish Voice for Peace
Inside: Launching Your Chapter | Organizing 101 | Ongoing Chapter Development
Jewish Voice for Peace • 1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 1020, Oakland, CA 94612 • (510) 465-1777 Table of Contents
Launching your chapter
Build a Chapter in 5 Steps! Page 1 Chapter Basics Page 2 Guiding Principles Page 4 JVP Chapter Charter Page 5 Bank Account Business Page 6 Membership & Chapters Page 10
Organizing 101
What is Organizing? Page 12 Bringing People Together: Events & Meetings Page 13
Decision-Making & Structure Page 15
Base Building & Leadership Development
One to Ones Page 16 Onion of Basebuilding Page 21
Mapping Your Networks Page 22
Communications & messaging
Media Page 23 Social Media Page 29 How to Write an Email Blast Page 31 How to Submit a Blog Post Page 37
Using our National List to Send a Local E-blast Page 38
Campaign Building & Action Planning
Coalition Building Page 39 Action Planning Checklist Page 43 Winning Campaigns in 9 Steps Page 45
Media Checklist for Actions Page 46
ongoing chapter development
Chapter Levels Page 48 New BDS Campaign Guidelines Page 49
Strategic Filters Page 50
Strategic Focus Areas & councils
JVP Rabbinical Council Page 51 Legislative Organizing Page 52 Interfaith Organizing Page 53 Academic Advisory Council Page 54 JVP Student Network Page 55 Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Page 56 Artists & Cultural Workers Council Page 57 about jvp
Why JVP Supports the BDS Movement Page 58 Frequently Asked Questions Page 59 launching Your Chapter Build a Chapter in 5 Steps!
1. Make a plan: Read through this chapter manual: get ideas for the shape and feel you want in your chapter, make sure you agree with our guiding principles, think about what support you’ll need to get your chapter off the ground. As you are developing an idea of what you want to create, schedule a phone call with one of our JVP National Organizing Team to talk through the process.
If you’re in the Midwest or South, contact Ilana Rossoff ([email protected]). If you’re in the West/ Southwest, contact Jimmy ([email protected]). And if you’re on the East Coast, contact Alana Krivo-Kaufman ([email protected]).
2. Identify your core leadership team: With the support of your regional organizer, you will find at least 3 other local activists who will create a core leadership team with you for the chapter.
3. Bring people together: Host a first gathering – invite your personal networks, and tap the online listserv of JVP supporters and members in your community.
4. Make it official: When your regional organizer sees you are ready, you will sign our Chapter Charter. You’ll then get a JVP email address, get your chapter up on www.jvp.org and start organizing for justice, equality, and freedom for Palestinians!
5. Stay in touch! Our chapters are wonderfully independent and locally-led, but we are all stronger as an organization when our local work inspires and shapes national strategy, and when national resources and staff can support you to do your best organizing. Keep in touch with us!
Launching Your Chapter Page 1 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Chapter Basics
at least some of JVP Chapters do the following:
Base-building: growing the number of supporters and members in the chapter through regular and systematic outreach and education.
Leadership development: supporting each other to grow strengths and skills in their practice of organizing.
Attend national and regional leadership development opportunities within JVP.
Respond quickly to calls for solidarity actions from Palestinian leaders and our other close allies.
Participate in coalition work with other Palestine Solidarity groups and groups focused on other social justice issues.
Respond to JVP national action alerts and protest opportunities.
Host public education events (movie series, speaking tours, lectures, poetry slams, etc).
Shift the public conversation in your local area (op eds, speaking at venues, etc).
Take action in one of our key strategic focus areas:
•• Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns •• Shift culture through arts, cultural work, and media engagement •• Build relationships and advocate with your Members of Congress •• Connect with and support Palestine and local electeds in your area solidarity organizing on local campuses •• Host Jewish ritual events that build community and provide space for political education
JVP Chapter structure includes:
qq Regular meetings. qq Decision-making process. qq Base-building and leadership development plans and process. qq Structure for a core leadership team that plans regular meetings and guides ongoing organizing. qq Plan for raising funds to support your activism. qq Regular contact with JVP national staff with questions, feedback, and updates. qq Financial structure in line with national guidelines.
Launching Your Chapter Page 2 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org National Resources for Chapters:
Support from Organizers: The JVP organizing team is here for you – get in touch, bounce ideas of us, schedule a call, we LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Your regional organizer is available for regular communication about your chapter organizing, and to provide coaching, trainings, and access to various materials.
Materials & Resources: Organizing toolkits, organizing & campaign planning worksheets, brochures & newsletters, posters, banners, t-shirts, buttons, webinar trainings on different areas of organizing, and more!
Regional eblasts through national list: When you organize events and actions, we can publicize them to JVP members and supporters in your area that are on the national list. See page 42 of the Chapter Manual for more information about how to send a regional eblast.
Financial support: Fundraising is an integral and important part about organizing, both to support making your work happen and to bring others into deeper relationship and investment in your work. You can reach out to [email protected] for support in developing your grassroots fundraising efforts to fund the the campaigns and events of your chapter. If you occasion- ally just need a little money for a one-off event, you can up to twice a year your chapter can request a mini-grant of $200. The application for chapter mini-grants is here.
Communication & sharing among chapter leaders: We have a list-serv of representatives from every chapter around the country to share resources, advice, and get updates on national efforts. We also have a JVP Chapter Leaders googledrive where you can find resources and mate- rials at any time. And there’s a JVP Chapters Facebook group to share exciting updates!
Contact information of members & supporters in your area for outreach: Up to four times a year JVP will share the names and phone numbers of members & supporters on our national list in your area so you can reach out to them to invite them to an upcoming event or connect with them to plug them into your organizing. Be in touch with your regional organizer about this.
501c3 status: JVP is registered as a 501c3 in every state where we have a chapter. This means you are not responsible for filing taxes on local funds or any personal liability, and other benefits. It also means those who have bank accounts need to report on their finances to JVP National. See below for more information about bank accounts and financial report- ing guidelines.
Leadership Development Institutes (LDI): An LDI is an in-person gathering for chapter and council leaders for intensive training in organizing skills and politi- cal analysis and for in-person community building. LDIs happen for chapters regionally and for councils nationally.
National Member Meeting (NMM): Every other year JVP members from across the country join together for a high-energy weekend of learning, conver- sation, community building and resource sharing
The JVP-CC (JVP Community Center): The virtual home for JVP’s Community Building and Educational programming which takes place on our online Adobe Connect software. The calendar for all JVP-CC programs can be found at: www. jvp.org/calendar. If your chapter has skills or ideas to share, let us know and we’ll make that happen!
Launching Your Chapter Page 3 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Guiding Principles
Before you think about launching a chapter, start by reading through our guiding principles to get a good idea of what organizing at JVP is all about. These are the foundational values driving our work both nationally and locally.
1. Grassroots Organizing, Leadership Development, and Relationships We believe that global systems of power that uphold injustice can be changed by grassroots movements. We build grassroots power through relationships that move people to action. 2. The Capacity for People to Change Foundational to our work for justice and peace is believing people, organizations, and communities are dynamic. We create space for people to move and transform. We encourage continual learning, skill-development and political education for people to evolve in their thinking and deepen their investment in action to realize justice for all people. 3. Solidarity and Accountability As part of the global movement for justice in Palestine we work in close partnership with a broad spectrum of allies, partners, faith-based, peace, and social justice organizations in the US, Israel/ Palestine and beyond. We seek to be accountable to those directly affected by Israel’s discriminatory and violent policies and practices, while working to effectively build and accountably deploy our power as American Jews. 4. Respect for the Humanity of all People We believe parity of power will create opportunities for peace between individuals and globally. Our vision of peace, justice and equality for all people guides our work. 5. Jewish Communities Centered Around Justice We are inspired by Jewish traditions to work for justice and such work is part of our own liberation. We work to build Jewish communities that reflect the understanding that being Jewish and Judaism are not synonymous with Zionism or support for Israel. Our work is part of a broader struggle and commitment to end racism, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry, and all forms of oppression. 6. Flexibility and Tenacity for the Long Haul As an organization and as individual activists we understand that this is long-term work and the change we seek likely won’t happen quickly or through just one strategy. We enable broad participa- tion, employ multiple approaches, adapt based on what we are learning, and honor the diverse contri- butions of activists and leaders.
Launching Your Chapter Page 4 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Jvp Chapter Charter
Our members and chapters are the strength of Jewish Voice for Peace. The intent of the relationship between chapters and JVP as a national organization is for it to be mutually supporting. This agreement lays out the formal agreements between each chapter and JVP.
Between JVP- and Jewish Voice for Peace, Inc. (JVP).
Chapter Responsibilities (Indicate agreement by initialing each item)
We endorse JVP’s mission. We have read JVP’s Policy Positions and Guidelines on JVP’s website and will work within them. We understand that guidelines violations will result in losing chapter status. We commit to encouraging chapter members to join JVP. We will stay in good touch with the national organizing team at JVP, and are required to clear certain activities with JVP Nationally, in particular, lobbying by asking an elected official to vote a certain way on specific legislation and planning a high risk action. We have designated a chapter coordinator who is responsible for being a liaison with JVP nationaly. Our chapter coordinator is: . As this information changes, we will update Jewish Voice for Peace.
Chapter Guidelines for Campaigns or Actions (Indicate agreement by initialing each item)
Chapters will be required to ensure that any campaign or action: Stays in close communication with national organizing team Builds power: locally, nationally, or globally Educates audiences about Israeli policies or conditions on the ground in Israel/Palestine and/or helps further the public conversation about Israel/Palestine Includes only nonviolent tactics for the chapter members to engage in Clearly articulates the way the target is causing, complicit in, or supporting injustice Contains messaging that accurately locates power with the decision-makers responsible for unjust policy and does so without implicating all Israelis or Jews Does not imply that Israelis and Palestinians are equal victims JVP chapters will only enter coalitions that have clear working agreements for joint and separate action. Those agreements should allow the chapter to stay within the guidelines above.
Launching Your Chapter Page 5 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Bank Account, Budget & Reporting guidelines
JVP chapters which use JVP’s 501(c)(3) status have to be held to the highest standard of fiscal reporting. From the IRS’s perspective, thesechapters are included in JVP’s budget and non-profit status. Thus financial or other irregularities in these chapters could endanger the organization as a whole. Using JVP’s 501(c)(3) status is a serious commitment.
The following conditions must be met to use JVP’s 501(c)(3) status:
Treasurers
Please identify a treasurer – and share their contact information with your regional coordinator, as well as with our Manager of Operations, Elana Baurer ([email protected]). This person can be one of the chapter leaders, or another chapter member. We will set up a budget report/management training for them.
Tier Designations:
Chapters with $1,000 or less (without a bank account) Chapters with $1,000 or less (with a bank account) Chapters with $1,000-$5000 (bank account required, yearly reporting) Chapters with $5000+ (bank account required, quarterly reporting)
Your chapter budget status and reporting will be based on which tier your chapter falls within (i.e. the amount of money your chapter has at the end of the quarter). The tier designations are based on cut off points which can change quarterly. JVP National will let you know if we think your status has changed. And please let us know if you notice that your tier has changed.
National Holding Funds
Funds donated to your chapter via your chapter donation website (created by National) or check and cash dona- tions received in the JVP National office are held by National for your chapter. If your chapter has a bank account, National will send funds to your chapter on a monthly basis. If your chapter does not have a bank account, JVP National will hold the funds and your chapter can request the funds using a check request or reimbursement form – see below for more information.
Launching Your Chapter Page 6 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Chapters with $1,000 or less (without a bank account)
If your chapter has $1,000 or less, you are not required to open a bank account. If you choose not to have a bank account, you must let JVP National (your regional coordinator and Elana Baurer) know where the money is being kept –- we suggest a safe or a lock box. We will request a signed document from the treasurer saying the following: ““I verify the funds are being kept at x address in x way (lock box, etc.).” If your chapter has $1,000 or less, we still strongly encourage you to open a bank account so that you have a secure/ traceable place to keep your money [see guidelines for this category below]. While your chapter is holding $1000 or less, you will be expected to give a financial report to JVP once a year. (Reports for these chapters will be due 30 days after the close of the fiscal year. JVP’s fiscal year ends on June 30, so reports are due July 31.) If you choose not to open a bank account and want any money that National is holding for you, you can request it from Liz Ingenthron in the Oakland JVP office. The fund request must be for something specific (e.g. an honorar- ium or venue rental) and you must provide documentation for the expenses (receipts, itineraries or planned activi- ties). JVP National will process these requests as soon as possible (typically within 2-3 weeks). JVP National can cut checks directly to vendors your chapter has the appropriate funds in the JVP National account. However, if you have your own chapter bank account, you should cut your own check. The report guidelines will have JVP National’s expense categories, with limited line items.
Chapters with $1,000 or less (with a bank account)
You may open a bank account as long as we are registered to do business in your state (please check in with Liz to confirm your state’s status). While your chapter is holding $1000 or less, you will be expected to give a financial report to JVP once a year. (Reports for these chapters will be due 30 days after the close of the fiscal year. JVP’s fiscal year ends on June 30, so reports are due July 31.) Liz will send your chapter checks for the money received through JVP National on a monthly basis. The funds do not have to be requested. The report guidelines will have JVP National’s expense categories, with limited line items.
Chapters with $1,000-$5000 (bank account required)
Your chapter is required to open up a bank account (once we are registered to do business in your state). You are expected to do yearly reporting. The first report will be due one month after the end of each fiscal year. JVP’s fiscal year ends June 30, so financial reports are due July 31. Bank statements should still go to JVP National on a monthly basis. JVP National will forward funds to your chapter as it they come in – funds do not need to be requested. The report guidelines will have JVP National’s expense categories, with limited line items.
Launching Your Chapter Page 7 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Chapters with $5000+
Your chapter has the same guidelines as those with smaller incomes and bank accounts. However, you are required to do quarterly reporting (i.e. reports are due 30 days after the close of each quarter). JVP’s fiscal quarters end on September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30. Your reports reflecting spending and income from each quarter are therefore due on October 31, January 31, April 30, and July 31. Bank statements should still go to JVP National on a monthly basis. JVP National will forward funds to your chapter as it they come in – funds do not need to be requested. The report guidelines will have JVP National’s expense categories, with limited line items.
Opening a Bank Account
You will be notified once JVP National has registered to do business in your state. Once this happens, you can open a bank account using JVP National’s Federal EIN #. Please take the following steps to open your bank account:
1. Question to ask your bank/credit union of choice: “We are a chapter of a national non-profit organization (501(c)3). With permission from our national organization (A Jewish Voice for Peace), we would like to open a checking account for our local chapter. What documents do we need to provide in order to open an account?”
2. Request applicable forms/documents from Liz Ingenthron at JVP Oakland ([email protected])
3. Open account
4. See if your bank/credit union can also send monthly and/or quarterly statements to JVP National directly.
Reporting Checklist:
Monthly Bank Statements (for chapters with bank accounts)
If you have a bank account, please send along copies of your monthly bank statements with each month. Some banks/credit unions may send us these reports directly, if you request this of them.
Chapter Budget Allocations
You will be given a categories and allocations chart which will help you designate your spending line items and how they relate to the larger JVP National budget. These allocations are also required for the 990 that JVP National has to fill out each year.
Ingoing/Outgoing Checks
Please include in your reports copies of every check written by your chapter, and a reconciliation of each state-
Launching Your Chapter Page 8 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org ment. In addition, every check written to your chapter must be copied and used to reconcile the deposit section of the bank statement reconciliation.
Chapter Income Reporting Form All money that comes into your chapter must be logged, including the purpose of the donation (ie. event fees, personal donations) along with the names and addresses (where possible) from whom it was received. Please use the attached Chapter Income Reporting Form to report income.
Chapter Disbursement Reporting Form Your chapter should also keep track of your expenses (costs). Every time your chapter spends money, whether to purchase coffee, reimburse a member for postage, to pay a bill, etc., a record must be kept of each such action, AND a receipt or invoice must be submitted with the bank statements. Your chapter should use and submit the attached Chapter Disbursement Reporting Form to report expenses.
Donor Access
For every chapter donation over $100 received, Audrey Bruner of the Brooklyn JVP National office should be noti- fied within 30 days. Please share name; address; phone; e-mail, whenever possible. If you have many donations (from an event or mailing for example), feel free to provide this information in a spreadsheet. If just a couple of donations come in, an e-mail can be sent with this information. Thank You letters must be sent by your chapter, and copies (electronic preferred) of each letter must be sent to the JVP National office.
Statement of Understanding
The chapter will not raise funding for or otherwise work for or endorse any candidate for public office. Chapters must track any local funding that is used to lobby any local, state, or federal official on legislation. As required by law, the chapter will not give funding or other material support to terrorist organizations as defined by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control. By signing below, I affirm that my chapter agrees to the above conditions, and that I will be responsible for submitting reporting on a regular basis.
Signature:
Printed Name:
Date: Please note that we recognize that this is a lot of information! All additional questions can be directed to Natasha Perlis at [email protected]. Thank you!
Launching Your Chapter Page 9 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Membership & Chapters
Chapter Membership vs. National Membership
National membership is separate from membership in JVP chapters. Chapters are free to set their own rules regarding chapter dues and membership, and local chapter members are strongly encouraged to become JVP national members. Chapter leaders should set up a system and process for regularly encour- aging members to join national, as well as for determining and tracking whatever separate system they maintain for chapter membership.
We hope that all chapter members will also take advantage of all that national membership has to offer. As a national member, you can:
1. Join hundreds of other JVP members at the National Membership Meeting;
2. Vote in the National Board elections;
3. Get access to members only resources, news, updates, and analysis;
4. Take advantage of guidance from rabbis, artists, and academics on our JVP national councils;
5. Participate in leadership development trainings;
6. Get support from JVP staff to plug into national campaigns;
7. Build deep and lasting connections in person and online with other members - a diverse and growing community of people committed to peace.
National Membership - The Details:
Anyone who donates $18 or more, or who signs up for a monthly donation of $5 or more per month, is eligible for one year of JVP national membership. Any qualifying donation made within your member- ship year will further extend your expiration date by 365 days from your most recent donation. You will be notified one week before your JVP membership expires.
To become a national member, click here.
Any donation made to your chapter can count towards the donor’s national membership, but only if the donation is made via the JVP website (if your chapter has set up a donation page within our website, donations made there can count towards national membership). This is because we track membership through our website. We don’t currently have an administrative process that allows for cash or check donations to chapters to be applied to national membership dues.
Launching Your Chapter Page 10 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Organizing 101 What is organizing
Grassroots organizing makes change by identifying, recruiting, and developing leaders, cultivating community around and among those leaders, and then building and strategically deploying the power of that community.
Role of the organizer
1. Identify, Recruit, and Develop Leaders.
2. Build relationships and create structures which encourage broader relationship and community building.
3. Ensure that leaders and the communities around them have the resolve, knowledge, and skills to seize organizing opportu- nities, develop strategic campaigns, and win specific outcomes.
4. Create further organizing opportunities, leaders, and a wider base out of successful campaigns and wins.
JVP’s Organizing Values
•• leadership-rich organizations are more •• relationships identify existing and generate powerful and effective more social, financial, energetic, and political capital •• group-centered leadership valued over leader- centered groups •• relationships are key to moving people to action – replacing apathy, fear, confusion, •• leadership development takes time, strategy, isolation with motivation, confidence, goals, programming, and long-term clarity, and support. relationships •• supportive communities make activism •• sharing leadership means giving up some sustainable for the long haul control •• building alternative jewish communal space •• maintaining and developing relationships demonstrates possible futures provides the glue for our work, and is itself ongoing work •• Power building at the local level translates to national power and national growth must be •• organizing relationships are transformational translated back into local power rather than transactional
Organizing 101 Page 12 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Bringing people together: Events & Meetings
Events
Exciting, dynamic and change-making events are a big part of the life of our chapters. Event types vary widely, and each chapter will find its own groove for what they like to pull off.
Some examples of event formats include:
•• Political education through Jewish Ritual •• Vigils •• Social events/house parties/shabbat gatherings •• Lectures •• Campaign teach-ins •• Films •• Creative actions/demonstrations •• Book groups
CHECKLIST FOR A JVP CHAPTER EVENT
Goals What do I hope to accomplish with this gathering? What would feel like success?
Format What kind of event is this? What tone will it strike? How will we frame the event for publicity?
Outreach Who should be in the room? How will I get them there? •• Reach out to the JVP National list, personal networks (professional associations, friends, family, congregation, other student groups, etc), emails, Facebook, posters, etc.
Venue Where am I going to have it?What is free/very low cost? Is it accessible? Is it somewhat centrally located?
Timing What date/time works for the schedules of the planning committee? What date/time will reach our intend- ed audience? What else is going on in our community? What holidays or national events are happening?
Organizing 101 Page 13 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org MEETINGS & FACILITATION
Regular organizing meetings for the core organizers in your chapter are essential to keep the momentum of your chapter activities and campaigns going.
As you pull together your first meetings, think about the most enjoyable and effective meetings you’ve attended/facilitated/organized in recent years – meetings that made you feel energized, motivated, accom- plished, effective. Think about what made it successful? What was great about it?
With these reflections at hand, what are some of the elements that set a great meeting apart? How can you bring these elements into your chapter meetings?
Good meetings require good facilitation
What does a Facilitator Bring?
skills Knowledge self
What does a facilitator do?
•• Make sure everyone is working on •• Keep the top respectful and productive the same problem with a shared un- •• Make sure the goals of the meeting are met derstanding of approaches •• Synthesize and pull together ideas, people, energy •• Make sure everyone contributes •• Making sure that nobody feels oppressed
what are the essentials of good facilitation?
•• Prep •• Honor the group and affirm its wisdom •• Agenda and Objectives •• Handle disruptive behaviors •• Use exercises and simple techniques to •• Read and respond to underlying dynamics, increase participation and creativity including power and oppression
•• Direct traffic when necessary •• Record group memory •• Separate evaluative thinking from idea generation
Organizing 101 Page 14 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Chapter Decision-Making and Structure
At the beginning of your process, spend time asking yourself as a chapter: “What do we want our structure to help us accomplish?”
Pro-Tips for Developing a Great Chapter Structure
1. A clear and accountable structure will help you achieve your shared vision for your chapter
2. The process of developing your structure can be a vehicle for recruitment and leadership development
3. Flexibility and teamwork are key!
4. Your process should reflect the values you want your chapter to embody
5. Meetings aren’t the only place where work can get done
Ways some of our chapters have answered this question
•• People feel happy to come to meetings and have •• Members understand how and where more energy leaving than when they got there decisions are made and have buy-in to the decision making process •• Group conversation is respectful and thought- ful – everyone is working to move it forward •• Clear roles and accountability in next steps and getting things done •• Everyone shares interest in sustainability of the group/work/people within the work •• Empowered leaders •• Members have a “what can I do?” attitude •• A constantly growing base of new members vs. “what you should do” attitude •• Well-planned and well-executed cam- •• Members feel their time/work is valued paigns, events, and actions •• People have patience with each other •• Community! and assumption of good intentions •• A group that is able to grow/learn/critique itself
Organizing 101 Page 15 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Building blocks of a strong chapter structure 1 Meetings •• Regular full-group open chapter meetings to keep momentum up, reportback to group, plan campaigns/events/actions and welcome new members. •• Method or structure to facilitate detailed planning: working groups, action teams, full group meetings w breakouts, etc. •• Dynamic, energizing facilitation •• Clear, pre-planned agendas for meetings •• Check in with key members about agenda items before- hand that could use their input or support •• Flexibility around types of meetings based on the needs of various layers of membership and leadership
2 Decision-Making and Accountability •• Agreed upon process for making both small (should we sponsor that event) and large (shall we launch this campaign) decisions. •• Transparency about who gets to make decisions
•• Clear accountability structures for ensuring work gets done
3 Base-building and Leadership Development •• Leadership or core team that plans regular meetings and leads ongoing organizing. •• Outreach/recruitment, orientation, and leader- ship development processes for members •• Transparency and clarity on roles and responsibilities, including how to move between roles and take on more leadership •• Regular follow up
•• Welcoming/orientation process for new members
4 funds to support the work •• Plan for raising funds to support the activism. •• A bank account, set up in concert with national.
Organizing 101 Page 16 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Roles for Organizers in a Functioning Group
Social media Initiators/conveners coordinators Encouragers/ mediators/emotional supporters Logistical planners Ritual/spiritual coordinators Public speakers Media coordinators Protest planners Artists/cultural workers Facilitators Graphic Designers Infrastructure-builders Coalition-builders Outreach and recruitment captains Coordinators of Strategists working groups Statement drafters
Organizing 101 Page 17 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org One-to-Ones
1. Why do One-to-Ones?
1. Build public relationships
2. Identify motivations/goals/ambition/struggles- organizing issues
3. Self reflection/clarification
4. Obtain information
2. What is a 1 to 1 and what isn’t?
Is Is not
A natural but uncommon conversation with An interview or a sales pitch someone to get to know someone’s values, Chit-chat vision, interests, struggles, motivations The beginning of a best friendship Building a public relationship More than 1 hr and less than 25 minutes A little scary sometimes Something we usually do in our culture
Nuts and bolts
Approximately 40 minutes No agenda but directed How and why questions
Scheduled in advance, A 2 way conversation Move from public to private set aside time 30/70 rule Deep not broad
3. How to set up a one-to-one
“I’m a member of Jewish Voice for Peace and we are currently reaching out to our members to learn more about what brings them to JVP and how to best move our work forward. I would love to find a time for us to talk.” Propose specific dates and times.
Organizing 101 Page 18 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org 4. The Meeting
A) Opening & Credentials
Introduce yourself if you don’t already know each other. Briefly share something about yourself – how you got involved with JVP, where you live, etc.
B) Break the Ice
Start with easier questions that get the conversation going:
Where am I finding you?
Where do you work or go to school?
What’s that like?
How long have you been a JVP member?
C) Learn their self-interest
Goals of this section:
Discover how this person feels and sees themselves and their communty; what motivates them; what their skills and interests are (asking about people’s Jewish or political (or both) identities is often a good place to start).
Discover any skills or interest that could be relevant to JVP work
Confirm alignment with JVP mission and guidelines
Areas to explore:
What significant experiences brought them to where they are today?
What keeps them up at night?
What kind of role do they like to play in activism?
Organizing 101 Page 19 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org D) Explore the person’s ideas about BDS
Goals of this section:
•• Give people an opportunity to begin thinking out the BDS policy questions •• Add to the BDS committee’s list of member’s BDS questions and concerns, which will wind up as input to the NMM discussions •• What process or series of events do you think will lead to a just and peaceful resolution of the conflict for Palestinians and Israeli Jews? •• What do you think is JVP’s contribution to ending the conflict? •• What audience matters most when you think about JVP’s policies, including on BDS? •• How important a consideration is solidarity with the Palestinians in their BDS call? Is it important on principle, or for strategic reasons?
E) Closing
Re-state skills they have that you think would be of use to JVP/particular interests of note and that you will share this with JVP staff and local leaders (if they are not themselves leaders).
5. Evaluation
Take a few minutes to fill out the One-to-One evaluation google form, and also think about how the meeting went, and if there is anything you want to do differently next time.
Areas to consider: Did I uncover motivations, values, ambitions, struggles? Did I take any risks? What areas could I have explored more? What did I learn about myself? Do I want to work with this person? Why or why not? What follow up needs to be done?
Organizing 101 Page 20 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Onion of Basebuilding
As you build your chapter, it’s important to think about your base the people who make up the leadership and membership (and potential membership) of your chapter. Base-building is the process by which you outreach to, engage with, and develop the leadership of your base.
POTENTIAL ALLIES
Politically aligned but unfamiliar with the group.
SUPPORTERS
Attend occasional events, like to stay in the loop, show up for big/crisis moments.
MEMBERS Show up at some meetings and many events, look to organization as home for activism, strong warm feelings and sense of identification.
CORE MEMBERS/ORGANIZERS
Keep the organization moving forward, meet regularly, set and carry out strategy.
Put simply, the power you will build as organizers is in the people around you, and you can think about those folks in layers, like an onion. All the layers are very important to the functioning of the whole, so it’s valuable to think about how you’re doing at each level of the onion, and whether or not people are moving along into deeper lead- ership at all times. In other words, your goal as a chapter is not to have every single person who ever comes to an action end up in the core leadership of the organization. But neither do you want one core organizer and a bunch of supporters who don’t want to do work. The key is to build an ever-wider base by bringing more people in at each level and providing leadership opportuni- ties so folks who are in the onion have lots of chances to move to the next layer.
Organizing 101 Page 21 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Mapping Your Networks
SOCIAL ACTIVISM
MY CIRCLES OF SCHOOL FAITH NETWORKS INFLUENCE COMMUNITY
FAMILY WORK
FAITH COMMUNITY • Childhood Education Networks FAMILY SOCIAL • Study Groups • Jewish Com. Networks of Family • Friends and Friends of Friends • Events • Work Networks of Family • Aquaintances • Synagogues • Social Networks of Family • Community Groups • Independent chavurah • School Networks of Family • Torah study groups
ACTIVISM WORK SCHOOL NETWORKS • Existing Coalitions • Unions • Conferences/Events • Activists on Other Issues • Colleagues • Activist Groups • Palestine Solidarity Groups • Conferences/Events • Unions • Professional Associations • Faculty/Staff (Associations, Listservs, etc.)
Organizing 101 Page 22 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Communications & Messaging
Start from the perspective of the Audience. Who are they? What do they care about? What values motivate them? What do you want them to know? What do you want them to do?
qq Frame the Problem. qq Appeal to people’s Values. qq Describe your vision for Change. qq Name the immediate Action that is needed.
Things to keep in mind in your messaging (HARPI mnemonic device):
H – Does it have heart and values?
A – Does it have a call to action?
R – Does it address the root of the issue?
P – Does it humanize/give voice to Palestinians?
I – Does it humanize/give voice to Israelis (without implying that the power is equal)?
Media
Media isn’t just about communications, it is also an important organizing tool. Media helps us to: spread our messages, create opportunities for base-building, mobilize allies and build coalition relationships, put pressure on campaign targets to choose a side, bring new members up the ladder of engagement, commu- nicate a campaign win, and amplify the impact of our work.
The three most important things to keep in mind for successful media coverage are:
Timing story-telling relationships
Organizing 101 Page 23 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Timing
The 24-hr news cycle moves quickly. Editors, producers, and reporters need your message to be relevant to the current conversation and for you to be responsive and easy to get ahold of quickly.
Think about what makes things newsworthy E.g. unique, timely, connected to a current event or holiday, conflicts, celebrities, local tie-ins to national/ international events, visual appeal.
Stay up to date on the news Sign up for daily summaries of news of interest to JVPers here.
Plan ahead Early weekday mornings are the best times to pitch stories, articles or press releases. If you’re planning an event that you want media to show up at, reach out early (a few days in advance), remind people the day of and follow up.
story-telling
Stories that have conflict, characters and community are the most compelling. Here are some tips to think about the stories you are telling in talking points, in press releases, in op-eds etc:
Narrative Arc Your message should frame the problem, describe a choice (ie. standing on the side of freedom or the side of oppression) and posit a visionary solution.
Identify compelling characters that the audience can relate to Your message should frame who “we” are and what “we” are FOR, and who “they” are and what “they” are AGAINST. (*not* just what we are against).
Answer the questions Who, What, Where, When, and Why.
Tell the story of Self, Us and Now Start from personal transformation (what values motivate you to do this work? what experiences shaped your political analysis?), tell a collective story of what we are working to build together (what are we for? what is the change we wish to see?), and then describe the action that is needed now with a sense of urgency. (For more on the Story of Self framework, see this guide from Marshall Ganz)
Organizing 101 Page 24 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org relationships
Building relationships with media makers is key to getting better media coverage. Here are some tips for starting and building those relationships:
Reach out over email When you read an article with good analysis or balanced coverage, write to the reporter to thank them. Tell them you liked their piece, compliment them on being fair and balanced, and offer to meet with them or be a resource for them for related stories.
Tweet at them Reporters are really accessible on twitter. Reach out to engage with them both with compliments (eg: thanks @X for your informative piece) or with gentle criticism (eg: .@X your piece left out Y).
Have a 1:1 with a reporter/media maker Present yourself as a resource, introduce JVP and our work, and come with a handful of story ideas to pitch. Research them in advance so you can tie it to their interests and their past coverage. Get feedback from them on how they want you to stay in touch and follow up with them regularly.
Organizing 101 Page 25 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Steps for Getting Media Coverage
1. Clarify goals and messaging
2. Plan with the media in mind (location, timing, visual elements)
3. Prepare materials (press list, talking points, press releases, media advisories etc)*
4. Prepare a social media and self-documentation strategy (choose a hashtag, create an image to share, find a photographer and/or videographer)
5. Outreach to Media (call the most important people, send reminders and follow up)*
6. Identify roles (prep spokespeople, assign a live tweeter, etc)
7. Give interviews
8. Follow up
Here is a checklist for you to use to make sure you’re planning ahead. Note: when sending press releases or media advisories, send to a BCC’d list and always include the information in the body of the email, never as an attachment.
Tips for Talking to Press
BEFORE the interview: Prepare!
•• Write down the 3 key messages you want to get across •• Practice: ask a friend to ask you tough questions or practice speaking in front of a mirror •• Read a reporter’s recent articles, or articles on related subjects to get a sense of what they are interested in or what their angle might be •• Do the research: pull up a couple facts to have in front of you, polls, statistics, data
DURING the interview: Stay calm
•• Project confidence: Maybe you don’t know every fact, but you are more knowledgeable than the average person on this subject and are doing this work from the heart. Make that come through in your tone and attitude. •• Don’t speculate: Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know the answer to a question. In a newspaper interview, it’s just fine to say you don’t know, offer to find out, and then follow up. In a live on air interview, you can say “That’s a good question, I’m not positive about X but what I do know is Y” and pivot to your message.
Organizing 101 Page 26 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org •• Speak in soundbites: Your words will be put into a context you can’t control, so keep your message short and simple. Less is more, particularly when talking to unfriendly press. Avoid rambling: get straight to the point, and let the journalist ask follow up questions for you to expand on. •• Repeat your key messages: Know what your core messages are and stick to them. Speak to the audience you want to move, not to your opposition. •• Answer the question you want to be asked: Don’t just answer the questions you were asked, say the key points you want to make. Redirect to your message with phrases like: “The question we should be asking is X...What is really important to remember is Y...” •• No backtracking: Remember that anything you say in an interview could be quoted, so better to shy on the side of saying less rather than more. You can ask to speak off the record, or just as background, but only before the interview begins. •• Protect yourself from being misquoted: You can ask a journalist to run your quotes (not the full piece) by you before publication. You can also choose to answer questions over email rather than on the phone. •• Be friendly: Even if you know the reporter might not be welcoming to your po- litical perspective. If the conversation gets out of hand, end it. •• Tell a story: Tell about a personal experience, use I-statements.
•• Relax, and speak slowly!
AFTER the interview: Follow up
Write the reporter a thank you email. Post the story on twitter and tag them. This is a relationship building moment.
Letters to the Editor:
qq Make it timely and relevant. qq Respond directly to an article, editorial or op-ed. Write in response immediately (think 24 hrs) after a piece is published. Be sure to mention the name of the article and the date it was published qq Keep it short. Only try to get one message across. Usually 50-150 words. qq Make it personal. Use I-statements, speak about personal experience, tell a story. qq Make it local. Point to local involvement, local responses, or relevant local statistics. qq Mention your credentials. Sign the letter with your affiliation. qq Publications don’t print letters that are part of a manufactured campaign. Make yours unique. qq Stick to their submission guidelines, especially word count.
Organizing 101 Page 27 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Op-Eds:
Timing: It doesn’t have to be a perfect piece, but if yours is the first submission you have a much higher chance of being published. Stick to the guidelines and word limits. Research what the publication accepts and follow their rules. Generally word limits are between 500 and 750 words. The first paragraph is the most important. Make it timely, relevant, and personal.
Follow a general argument flow:
1. Identify a problem 4. Use social math, put statistics into comparisons that people can understand 2. Make it personal 5. Wrap it up with a visionary solution, policy 3. Bring in evidence to support your claims suggestion, or a call to action.
Pitch your piece to an editor with a short description of why it is important and unique.
Further Resources:
•• JVP’s Media Kit: This toolkit provides general •• Media Planning Checklist: Planning an advice about messaging and how to reach event or action? Follow this checklist to out to media, sample press release and media make sure you’ve got your bases covered. advisory templates, tips for social media, advice •• Twitter 101 and 102 Guide from for writing letters to the editor and op-eds, and JVP member Carolyn Klaasen. relationship-building with media makers. •• Taking a Great Photo Guide: Quick tips and •• Media Advocacy Toolkit: This toolkit provides tricks for taking decent photos for non-experts. a framework for analyzing media for bias, tips and suggestions for ways to influence media •• Center for Media Justice’s Resource Guide coverage, and some samples to draw from. for Anti-Occupation Activists. •• Messaging Worksheet: This work- •• Center for Story-Based Strategy sheet is designed to help think through chart and worksheet. messaging for actions or events at the •• Photo/Video Documentation Guide. beginning of the planning stages.
Email Naomi Dann ([email protected]) if you want help with writing, editing, and pitching op-eds, preparing for interviews, designing a media plan for a campaign, action or event, or researching and building a local press list.
Email Granate Sosnoff [email protected]( ) if you have questions about social media or want JVP to retweet you.
Organizing 101 Page 28 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Social Media
Content
•• The best of breaking news and unique •• Shareables: quotes, campaigns, viral analysis -from trustable news sources content from other sites, tweets •• Post images with faces to humanize •• Amplify Palestinian voices and the work our allies people. Faces of JVP members, faces of •• Smart deployment of imagery is key. While inspirational nonviolent resistance. the most graphic images are compelling •• Promote fellow JVP chapter actions and deserve to be witnessed, it is not always and national JVP campaigns the most engaging/strategic •• When re-posting, only use trusted sources, and read the story to make sure text is accurate
Tips
qq Post during peak social media times: eg. lunch time and late afternoon on weekdays qq Less text and more images and video qq When tweeting at a user, put a period and space before their handle, or only users who follow you both will be able to see it. Example: “. @rabbibrant Thanks for the retweet. See more here: bit.ly/xyz” qq Use hashtags (#) to promote your tweets to people following a particular issue or event. qq Live-tweeting is a powerful tool to generate buzz about a real-time event, be it an action, lecture, confer- ence, or developing situation. Before launching into a live-tweet period on your account, write a clarifying tweet: “Tweeting from @RightofReturnConference all weekend. Next up: Remi Kanazi speaking.”
Connect with other chapters, allies and the national account:
•• Everyone should know JVP’s social media •• Share powerful content that performs well. If accounts and handles and follow on Twitter and you have some image or video that is doing well Facebook for content and narrative (Jewish Voice – share it with the national account in a direct for Peace on Facebook, @JVPLIVE on Twitter message or email and we’ll get it up and tag you and new Instagram @JewishVoiceForPeace) •• Grow your followers at gatherings and •• If you want the national account to help meetings. Ask people to take out their Smart amplify an action be sure to tag @JVPLIVE Phones if they have them and to follow in the tweet. (You can also tag a photo (right then) both the local and national if you’re running out of characters) accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
Organizing 101 Page 29 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Facebook tips
•• Stay human •• Fail fast if you’re putting up original content and it’s not perform- ing - you’ll find out soon. Try not to worry about it, move on with another post. See what’s resonating with other JVP and ally lists •• Don’t worry about having a small list. Facebook is monetizing which means not everyone sees your post. Slower growth is how it goes •• Don’t interact with haters and trolls. Delete comments and ban those who are offensive •• On the other side, like good comments and interact with supporters •• If it’s an important post schedule it a few times •• Post on a regular basis, even if it’s just once a day
Twitter tips
•• All links are treated the same in Twitter: 22 characters (even if link is longer) •• Photos are counted as 22 characters as well •• Key words are searched on in Twitter •• Video snippets are also allowed on Twitter - 15-20 second teasers
phone Photography and Video
•• For both hold your phone as still as possible •• Horizontal video (hold your phone sideways) works best (though that’s changing) but try to do that when possible. Make sure the sound is on •• Tap screen for focusing, use a flash if needed. Share your best quality and newsworthy photos quickly •• If a solo or small group shot try to get as close-up as possible. People connect with faces
Organizing 101 Page 30 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org How to write an email blast
Before you start writing your email, figure out the following things:
Sender
Who is the email coming from? This could be a super-volunteer, or your chapter chair, or someone else who’s agreed to. It’s always a good idea to send as a real person, not just as the organization. If you send frequently, develop a rotating cast of characters so your members hear from different people.
Ask
Put simply, what are you asking readers to do? Attend an event? Call their Representative? Give you $20? Write their Senator? Sign a Petition? Make it really clear, and explain what impact you hope their action will have.
Once you’ve written your email, figure out the subject line. A subject line can make or break an email. You need to come up with a subject line that’s exciting and informative - it should make people want to open the email and read it, but it should also give some idea of what the email is about. Don’t be so literal that it’s boring, but don’t be so obtuse that people lose interest. Write your subject line after you’ve written the email - and don’t be afraid to be creative!
Email isn’t dead. In fact, it’s alive and well - and it should be the backbone of your online organizing program. You can use email to fundraise, inform your supporters about what you’re doing, and most importantly to organize campaigns.
The key to a great email is a great theory of change. Your theory of change explains who or what will be affected by the action you’re asking your recipients to take, whether that’s coming to an event, giving a donation, or signing a petition. A strong theory of change is compelling and plausible, and makes your readers feel empowered.
Organizing 101 Page 31 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Structuring an Effective E-Blast
You don’t have to stick to this religiously, but it’s a pretty good starting point.
1st Paragraph: Grab your readers’ attention. Don’t make your first paragraph more than a couple of sentences long, and don’t be afraid to be creative. Rhetorical questions work well.
2nd and 3rd Paragraphs: Explain why you’re sending the email. Don’t get too specific here, since you can do that later, but explain the issue you’re writing about, why it’s important, and what you want the recipient to do.
4th Paragraph: Make your ask. You can do it earlier than the 4th paragraph if you want, but don’t do it later. Be specific, and personal, and explain the impact of the ask. If the Representative recipients will be contacting is a key swing vote, say so!
Links shouldn’t be included in other paragraphs - they should stand alone. You can use typed-out hyperlinks (www.jvp.org) or linked text.
After the first ask, use your subsequent paragraphs to add details. You can add background about the issue at hand, or about the specific bill being debated, or anything else you see fit. Explain why it’s so important that people take action, and what impact their action will have.
Include at least one more ask before the end of the email. Include at least one ask for every three paragraphs.
Top Tips to Remember
•• Keep it short. No-one likes overly long emails. •• Timing is everything - sometimes fast is better than best, especially with action alerts. •• Make it conversational and personal, but not too informal. Your email should read like it •• Have someone else read your emails was written and sent by a real human being. before you send them. •• ALWAYS have an action, but only ONE action. •• Include personalization, but not too much personalization. Don’t use the recipient’s •• When in doubt, keep your formatting simple. name more than twice in an email.
Organizing 101 Page 32 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Tips for an Advocacy Email
Spell out the theory of change explicitly. “By signing this petition, you’ll send a strong message to Con- gress at a critical moment.”
Make it clear how the message will be delivered. “We’ll be staging a protest at the JNF meeting, and de- livering your petition signatures personally.”
Include a realistic goal of signatures, either in the email or on the petition page. Social pressure makes people more likely to sign
Tips for a Fundraising Email
It’s best to ask for money for a specific goal or campaign, rather than just funds in general. It doesn’t matter whether the money raised goes to the specific thing you mention in the email, but the thing you’re fundraising for (travel fund, staff costs, campaigning resources) should be something you actually intend to purchase.
Emphasise the impact of the donation, and the importance of grassroots fundraising to JVP. You could try language like “We’re up against well-funded opponents, but with your support, we’ll be able to take them on.”
Set clear goals, both in terms of amounts and number of donors: “We need to raise $1,000 from 50 donors this week in order to run our summer BDS campaign. Can you chip in $20 now?”
Specific Tips for an Event Email
•• Be sure to spell out the date, time, and location of •• Include a link to an event page, whether on the event in the email itself. Include transit and Salsa, Facebook, Eventbrite, or elsewhere. parking information in the body of the email. •• As a general rule, you’ll get a better response That way, even if people don’t click on the links, if you include fewer asks in your email, so if they’ll still have all the information they need. you’re strongly pushing one particular event, •• Make it clear whether the event requires don’t mention lots of other events too. tickets, how much the tickets cost, and if •• If you’re comfortable doing so, include an email discounts and financial assistance is available. address that people can contact with questions. •• Include a link to Google Maps.
Organizing 101 Page 33 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Sample Advocacy Email Blast
Dear FirstName,
Here’s the hook: Anti-Semitism is real - that’s not up for debate. Wherever anti-Semitism exists, we need to stamp it out. But criticizing Israel isn’t anti-Semitic.
The 2nd paragraph explains the issue: Unfortunately, the State Department doesn’t see it that way. Their definition of anti-Semitism includes “demonizing,” “delegitimizing,” or creating a “double-standard” for Israel. These definitions are intentionally vague, and are already being used by colleges and others to silence those of us – Jews and non-Jews – who speak out against Israel’s human rights abuses.
The 3rd paragraph explains the action: Hundreds of academics from across the U.S. have written an open letter to the State Department because they are deeply worried about the effect of this definition on aca- demic freedom.
The Ask: Add your name. Tell the Secretary of State John Kerry to change the State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism.
4th Paragraph adds further background: Here’s the thing, Michael. Labeling legitimate criticism of Israeli aggression as anti-Semitism does not just stifle debate. It trivializes the real struggles of those who are being persecuted because of who they are. This isn’t an abstract issue. This State Department definition is having real ramifications, across the U.S. and around the world.
The Ask repeated: Speaking out against the occupation of Palestine is not anti-Semitic. Tell the State Department to revise their definition of anti-Semitism.
Some extra details: All too often, JVP chapters and members are slandered for organizing boycotts of com- panies profiting from injustice in Israel. All too often, Palestinian students on campus are punished for sharing their stories of oppression and occupation.
A strong conclusion: We need to end all forms of hate and prejudice, wherever they exist. But we won’t do that by muzzling activists.
The ask, one last time: Join me in demanding the State Department revise their definition of an- ti-Semitism.
Onward, Rabbi Alissa Wise
Organizing 101 Page 34 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Sample Event Email Blast
[[First_Name]],
Here’s the hook: The tension and violence in Palestine are escalating. Collective punishment of Pales- tinians is at an all-time high. Racist mobs march through the streets of Jerusalem chanting “Death to Arabs.”
The 2nd paragraph explains the issue: During this very time, the Jewish National Fund will be holding its annual conference in downtown Chicago this weekend. The JNF would love you to believe that they’re a friendly, neutral charity that plants trees and does good work. But the JNF has a decades-long track record of displacing Palestinians from their homes and villages, building housing developments on Pales- tinian land, and supporting the brutal occupation of Palestinian land - all of which Palestinian youth are responding to in this moment. Let me put it another way: the JNF is responsible for ethnic cleansing.
The 3rd paragraph explains the action: We will be there this weekend to tell them enough is enough – displacement and ethnic cleansing cannot continue, and in fact is the root cause of the uprising we are seeing today. JVP Chicago and JVP members from around the Midwest are coming out to Chicago to protest outside their events.
The Ask: Come out to Chicago and join us to protest the JNF! Details below.
Saturday – Just Desserts: Vigil at the JNF Donor Reception 10/24 at 8:00pm, 205 E Randolph St.
Some extra details: We’ll be holding a vigil and inclusive Havdalah service outside the JVP’s Major Donor reception. We’ll hear from former JNF Board member (and JVP member) Seth Morrison, a Palestinian activist, and several others, as well as showing the Chicago public that we oppose the JNF’s policies. RSVP here.
Another Ask:
Sunday – Stop Uprooting People to Plant Trees: Protest the JNF’s Dispossession of Palestinians! 10/25 at 12:00pm, Meet at the Southeast Corner of Michigan and Randolph
Organizing 101 Page 35 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Some extra details: JVP is partnering with the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine to stage a mass protest and rally, featuring speakers from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, JVP, and other organizations. We will be bringing our message directly to the JNF conference and its attendees: no more support for occupation. No more business as usual. Bring your friends and family to this protest! RSVP here.
The ask, one last time: Will you come out to Chicago to join us in this critical moment?
A strong and personal conclusion: Many people are traveling from around the area to come out and join us – from as far afield as Minnesota and Michigan. But we need you, [[First_Name]]. We need as many people there as possible so our message cannot be ignored.
Information about assistance: Travel and housing support is available to everyone who comes out! To let us know you’re coming and request travel support, email me at [email protected]
I really hope to see you in Chicago for this powerful and important moment.
Ilana Rossoff JVP Midwest Regional Organizer
Organizing 101 Page 36 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org how to submit a blog post
One crucial strategy for both shifting discourse and base building is creating and promoting our own media.
The new JVP website has an excellent blog feature to elegantly present and easily share the amazing work done by JVP Chapters. To submit a blog post, e-mail [email protected] with content including any images or videos.
Some examples of posts
•• descriptions of what happened •• analysis of current events and how it at a recent event or action relates to your local organizing •• reflections on organizing •• reviews of a film from chapter screening
•• report backs from a conference •• your own creative idea, etc…
Tips for blog posts
Post Length of 200-750 Words Shorter posts are more likely to be read. For a blog post about an event, a great post can be as simple as 3-4 paragraphs that describe what happened at the event, including some description of how the event felt, a quote from someone who attended, and including what’s next for your chapter, + a picture or a video. include Photos/Video Visually based posts of photos and videos are much more likely to be viewed and shared. Whenever pos- sible, show – using photos/videos, rather than tell – using words.
Highlight Key Ideas Use bold and/or italics to highlight a few of the post’s key ideas.
Tell Stories Key elements of stories are: a narrative arc including a beginning, middle, and end; setting (a time and place), characters, drama and resolution. Sending an email blast to people in the national database in your area is a quick and easy way to reach hundreds, sometimes thousands of people in your community who have expressed some interest in Jewish Voice for Peace.
Organizing 101 Page 37 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Sending Local Email Blasts
The JVP National Email database is a growing list, currently over 200,000 emails. The list contains dues paying members, people who have participated in online actions, people who have donated, but aren’t members, and people who have signed up just to receive email updates.
It’s also entirely possible that some people on the list are spies from the opposi- tion who are keeping tabs on what we are up to. There is no vetting to join this list, anyone who inputs their name, e-mail, and zip code on the sign up page of the JVP website is added to the list. The vast majority of people on the list are people who have only signed up for email updates.
We are able to segment our national list to send email blasts to all the people on our list within a specific area. Generally we use a radius around a zip code (i.e. 5 mile radius around the zip code 94612 for all the people on our list who live in Oakland, CA). It’s also possible to split the list in other ways, i.e. by congres- sional district or statewide.
On average, 15% of email blasts sent to the list are opened, and about half that amount are clicked through. Email blasts tend to perform best when they are concise, sent by a specific person, have a story-based theory of change, and only contain one specific ask. See the “how to write e-mail”s section of the chapter manual for more.
To send an email to the people in the national database in your area, email [email protected] with the following information:
qq Subject line qq Sender/signer name qq Body content including any URL’s for any links or images qq Zip Code and radius for list segmentation.
Organizing 101 Page 38 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org coalition building
Coalition: A partnering or joint effort of groups to achieve a common and defined purpose!
Why do we build coalitions?
•• To leverage the combined power of different groups and more effectively achieve a goal: for example, creating a coalition around a BDS campaign for increased power, reach, and ability to win. •• To contribute to long-term relationships and movement-building: creating genuine partnerships helps build and grow our movement for justice! •• Building the movement for Palestinian liberation by working with other groups who directly share this goal; i.e. intra-movement collaboration •• Building the movement for Palestinian liberation as part of a network of allied and interconnected struggles against oppression and for collective liberation; i.e. cross-movement collaboration •• There are many possible specific reasons, depending on the situation and context - it’s a good idea to clarify your chapter’s reasons for embarking on coalition-building!
Steps and Guidelines for Forming a Coalition
•• Identify why your chapter wants to form a coalition and decide initial goals (i.e. what you want to accomplish together) •• Identify potential partners and coalition members - evaluate existing relation- ships (*see below for tips on building relationships with allies), and consider what groups would want to work as part of a campaign together •• Reach out to potential coalition partners by requesting 1:1’s with key contacts •• Learn about and assess potential partners’ capacity, interest, etc. and whether you have shared goals that make sense for a coalition •• Approach with humility and the spirit of long-term relationship-building, rather than starting with an ask •• Organize a meeting for groups interested in forming the coalition •• invite other groups to help envision agenda for the meeting •• decide shared goals and start campaign plan •• determine decision-making and shared leadership model with group buy-in
Organizing 101 Page 39 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org See more info below on tips for thinking about your coalition membership, and how to move your coali- tion into action successfully!
who’s in your coalition?
Coalitions are made up of organizations, and in the strongest coalitions, of organizations with different and distinct roles. In building a coalition and figuring out the best role for your organization and/or other organizations, it’s key to have a conversation, ideally a 1:1, about capacity, values and investment in the campaign goals. Individuals can play roles in coalition campaigns – showing up at actions, sharing the buzz on social media, and many more, but they key to a coalition is to bring together organizations to have more power together than they would alone.
ENDORSING ORGANIZATINOS
can reach broader audience or constituency Friend sign on to some publicly support person that public statements campaign goals makes important connections MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS show up at share campaign public actions on social media share investment in accomplishing Ally campaign goals takes distinct turnout members and have capacity to move actions to support other organizations the campaign forward campaign goals
bring LEAD ORGANIZATIONS bring in additional additional constituencies skills Individual share core values supporter shows up have capacity to at actions lead campaign
deep investment in campaign goals
Organizing 101 Page 40 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Maintaining a Coalition
Coalition building blocks
qq name! qq goals qq decision-making process qq shared leadership structure qq website or facebook page qq logo, or decision to use individual group logos qq shared messaging qq defined expectations and roles of member groups
qq written agreement laying out above
A healthy coalition
qq is made-up of groups with investment and capacity to move the work forward qq has a clear leadership and pathway for transitioning and bringing in new leadership as the coalition grows qq has regular meetings to make decisions and plans, get input on strategy from member groups and evaluate coalition actions qq has a clear campaign timeline for goals, strategy setting and evaluation
Your coalition should have agreements on
qq when a member groups act in the name of the coalition qq process and approval for writing statements qq process for rapid-response organizing qq how to add new member groups to the coalition qq who talks to press in the name of the the coalition
Resources for further reading on coalitions:
Coalition Checklist Coalition Maintenance
Organizing 101 Page 41 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Building and Maintaining Relationships with Allies for Meaningful Partnerships
How to build strong relationships with allies
qq Have a 1:1 to build a relationship with a key contact and open lines of communication qq Promote each other’s events among your bases qq Co-sponsor each other’s events qq Collaborate on planning events, bringing together your different and shared visions and communities qq Build campaigns together to achieve shared goals with shared leadership
Principles for meaningful relationships & collaboration
•• Mutual support: we don’t just ask what they We commit to developing a collective purpose can do for us but also what we can do for them. and agenda with our partners, not dominat- We prioritize building genuine relationships ing with our particular agenda or style. and make asks of people after trust is built. •• Shared values: we unite because we share a •• Humility: we show up eager to learn what desire to see human rights in Israel/Palestine and motivates them, how they approach organiz- also beyond. We work as part of broad progressive ing, what is important to their community, movements for justice, of which the struggle for how they want us to support them, and justice in Israel/Palestine is an integral part. how they are interested in supporting us. •• Shared agreements: we enter into •• Accountability: we engage in ways coalitions with clear working agreements that are responsive to what is asked of us for joint and separate actions with other by our allies, and are open to feedback organizations. We operate with clear deci- if things go in a way that has a negative sion-making structures based on equitable impact (including unintended) on others. participation of all groups involved. •• Self-awareness: we understand that •• Tenacity for the long haul: we are organizing under the banner of a Jewish, in it for the long haul, not just the immediate largely white organization brings greater cred- campaign or action. The working relationships ibility, visibility, and access to resources than we build have an impact on the success of our Palestinian and other solidarity organizing. work in the future, not just the immediate.
Resources for further reading Consultation & Relationship-Building 1:1s with Allies
Organizing 101 Page 42 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Action Planning Checklist
What do you want to accomplish with your action? What would make it a successful action? (think SMART: Strategic, Measurable, Achievable, Action Goals Realistic, Timely) Does your action promote longer-term campaign goals? If so, what?
What feeling/energy/mood do you want to provoke in your audiences? How does the tone Messaging & of your protest reinforce your messaging and goals? Tone What are the talking points you will use with the media?
Who are potential allies for this action? Audience & Who and where are the folks you want to educate? How will you communicate with them? Movement Are there other people working on justice in Palestine/Israel that could plug into this building action?
Action Whose power are you challenging? Target How does your target choice relate to the goals of your action?
Map your group, your targets, your audience by Ethnicity, Race, Class, Gender, Age and other lines of social privilege. Mapping Who can or should do this action? Do you need to form a coalition, recruit more activists? Rethink your target and action after you map.
What facts do you need to know in order to plan your action well? Make a list of questions. Research Consider a good place, time, occasion for your action & Tactics What will you do at your action? Think of the different ways in which the action may go. Prepare optional responses.
What resources and tools do you need? How many people? What skills are needed? Materials? What kind of preparation do organizers or attendees need to do? For conflict heavy or C.D: have you practiced non-violence skills? Logistics & Group Assign clear roles. Rehearse and train as necessary Organizing How will decision-making be made during the action? Take care of group members: food, water, affinity groups (if large protest), back- up. For C.D: line up legal support, agree on a plan for jail solidarity inside (not accepting different terms of release, etc)
How will you know this has been a success? Think about turn out, education, teamwork/ Assessment process, relationship, opposition response, movement building. & Looking What do you think should be the next action, and how does this one lead to it? Forward How will new people plug in during or after the action?
Organizing 101 Page 43 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Action Goals
Messaging & Tone
Audience & Movement building
Action Target
Mapping
Research & Tactics
Logistics & Group Organizing
Assessment & Looking Forward
Organizing 101 Page 44 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Winning Campaigns in 9 Steps
Set goals for your campaign 1 What are your top 3 short-term and long-term goals?
Gather your group 2 Who is or will be part of the working group organizing this campaign? Who might you invite into leadership? What other organizations might you partner with to strengthen the campaign?
Craft your message 3 What is the elevator pitch for your campaign? How can you convey the issue and the demand in one sentence? What is a message that can fit on a placard?
identify a target 4 Rank your potential targets based on winnable and actionable criteria! Add points for: Which place has best locale for demonstrations? Which target has a local and/or reachable decision maker? Are they vulnerable or sympathetic?
Research! 5 Powermap your allies, opposition, and potential connections to the target. Figure out when relevant contracts end, where your target is vulnerable, who else might be interested in joining your effort.
Approach your target 6 Give the owner/decision-maker the chance to do the right thing! Request a meeting. Give a deadline for when you expect to hear from them by. Follow up/increase the pressure through identifying someone with influence over the decision maker!
Educate 7 Teach-ins! Street theater! Petition signature gathering! Social media! Op-eds! Build pressure on your target and grow your campaign!
Escalate & Regroup, Escalate & Regroup, Escalate & Regroup... 8 Mount pressure by organizing pickets outside the store, call-in days, letter-writing, media, etc. Keep trying things, evaluate how it goes and what you gained, and try something else that builds on what you tried before! Keep returning to your target to negotiate!
9 Win and celebrate!
Organizing 101 Page 45 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Media Checklist for actions
You have an action or event coming up that you’d like media at. Here are some things to think about as you get ready:
1. What is the ONE most important (clear, simple, positive) message you want to communicate?
2. Do you have visuals that communicate your message? Signs, T-Shirts, Puppets, Costumes, Buttons, etc.
3. Do you have a press list to contact? Local reporters for mainstream newspapers, TV and radio, reporters who cover this ‘beat,’ alternative news outlets, movement bloggers for publications like Electronic Intifada and Mondoweiss, etc.
4. Who are the priority reporters? Do you have phone numbers for them?
5. Prepare a media advisory to send out a few days in advance. It should tell reporters the who, what, where, when and why of the event or action. You can follow up by resending to priority reporters on the day of the action with a personal note.
6. Prepare a press release (in the past tense) about the event or action. You can update it with details at the last minute, but have it ready to go before the event.
7. Do you have a photographer and/or videographer lined up to document the event? Have you told them what kind of photos or video you want and what to look for?
8. Do you have a social media plan? What is the hashtag? Who is going to livetweet? Do you need a Facebook event?
9. Do you know who the spokespeople will be? Who is knowledgeable, articulate and willing to speak? Who has a compelling story to tell? Whose voices are usually heard and whose should have a chance to be heard? Is this a leadership development opportunity for someone?
10. Prepare and practice talking points with the spokespeople before the event.
Organizing 101 Page 46 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Ongoing Chapter Development CHAPTER LEVELS
Level 1
qq 3-5 interested leaders qq commitment to organization These chapter levels are a tool to help you assess where your qq engaged in building political analysis and organizing skills chapter is in terms of capacity qq have signed Chapter Charter and possibilities for growth.
Level 2
3-5 committed core leaders plus at least 3 of the following:
qq solid infrastructure in place qq selection of at least one strategic focus for local organizing qq strong leadership development process internally qq good alliance/coalition building with other local groups qq political analysis and messaging solidly in line w/JVP qq can pull off events and actions
Level 3
5-10 committed core leaders, clear strategic focus/es, at least 4 level 2 traits, plus:
qq can run, sustain, and win long-term campaigns AND/OR: qq has the agility to respond quickly to urgent events
Level 4
qq 10+ committed core leaders, clear strategic focus/es, all of the level 2 traits plus qq can run, sustain, and win long-term campaigns AND
qq has the agility to respond quickly to urgent events
Organizing 101 Page 48 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org campaign guidelines
Chapters should ensure that any campaign or action:
qq Stays in close communication with the national organizing team;
qq Builds power: locally, nationally, or globally;
qq Educates audiences about Israeli policies or conditions on the ground in Israel/Pal- estine and/or helps further the public conversation about Israel/Palestine;
qq Includes only nonviolent tactics for the chapter members to engage in;
qq Clearly articulates the way the target is causing, complicit in, or supporting injustice;
qq Contains messaging that accurately locates power with the decision-makers respon- sible for unjust policy and does so without implicating all Israelis or Jews;
qq Does not imply that Israelis and Palestinians are equal victims;
qq JVP chapters will only enter coalitions that have clear working agreements for joint and separate action. Those agreements should allow the chapter to stay within the previously outlined guidelines.
Organizing 101 Page 49 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Strategic Filters
The Strategic Filters are criteria for determining how to envision campaigns or other organizing work according to the strategic impact we are trying to have. These were developed through the 2015 Strategic Plan and can be a resource for guiding decision-making for chapter organizing
primary Considerations (all things must align) “Must”
A qq Align with guiding principles and mission qq Add value without privileging Jews over others qq We have the capacity and can manage the risk qq Decouples being Jewish and support for Israeli policies that oppress Palestinians. qq Is responsive and accountable to others in the broad movement
Secondary Considerations (depending upon circumstances) “it’s best if it does” b qq Connects us with larger movements qq Is winnable and/or strategically worth it qq Multiple constituencies can be qq Mobilizes and creates pathways for engagement engaged at multiple levels qq Our involvement provides a unique contribution. qq Opens space for people to join (relationships) qq Builds a narrative that explains qq Helps build leadership/capacity our values in human terms qq Leverages our Jewish privilege to elevate qq Helps us build/broaden resources/reach the voices of our Palestinian allies
General Discernment Questions (big picture questions to keep in mind) c qq Does it open new tactics for the movement? qq Is this the leadership we want to develop? qq Does it avoid normalization? qq Does it force people to take sides as a way to build grassroots? qq Does this perpetuate dynamic we’re looking to dismantle?
qq Are we communicating in a way we can be heard?
Organizing 101 Page 50 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org JVP Rabbinical Council
What is the JVP Rabbinical Council?
JVP’s Rabbinical Council is a growing network of Reconstructionist, Renewal, Reform, Humanist, and Conservative and non-denomicantional rabbis, cantors, and rabbinic students who are invested in justice for all peoples in the Middle East. We support and mentor each other; offer spiritual support and Jewish resource to the JVP membership; and represent a moral rabbinic voice on issues related to Israel/Palestine.
How can this help my chapter’s work?
Here are a few ways we have and can collaborate with chapters:
•• create rituals and alternative Jewish liturgies •• offer curriculum for Jewish institutions for JVP actions or community events •• write statements or op-eds to •• support you in creating your own rituals support your local work or alternative Jewish liturgies •• offer study sessions on Jewish related content •• invite a member to come speak to your chapter to meaning-make and deepen the work
•• invite a member to participate on a panel •• what are your ideas?
JVP Rabbis also want to support YOU:
There are Rabbinical Council members who are ready to offer emotional and spiritual support to JVP members. To get connected one-on-one with a JVP Rabbi, email [email protected]. There are also JVP Rabbis excited to officiate your next ceremony or life cycle event.
Who can be a member of the Rabbinical Council? Any rabbi, cantor or a rabbinical or cantorial student who wants to advocate for the rights of Palestinians and feels in alignment with the mission of JVP is invited to join. You can be both a chapter member and a council member (and many are!)
How do I sign up or contact the Rabbinic Council?
You can email Ilana Lerman at [email protected].
Organizing 101 Page 51 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org legislative organizing
One of JVP’s strategic focus areas is legislative organizing. The goal is to mobilize our grassroots power to create a more just US foreign policy. A central tactic is to build rela- tionships with Members of Congress. This begins in the same way all organizing begins, with a meeting. Here is our Congressional Meeting Toolkit to get started.
For chapters engaged in legislative organizing work, we have a National Legislative Orga- nizing Committee that meets monthly to coordinate and build our collective knowledge and analysis. If your chapter is interested in legislative work and you are not yet connect- ed to the committee, we welcome and encourage your participation!
State legislatures are increasingly another place where bills related to Israel/Palestine and BDS emerge, and are an important space for us to build power. Contact your regional organizer to discuss organizing around state legislatures!
For more information about the national committee, state legislatures, and all other issues concerning legislative organizing, contact Rabbi Joseph Berman ([email protected]), our Government Affairs Liaison (that’s the DC term for Legislative Organizer).
Organizing 101 Page 52 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Interfaith organizing
The Interfaith Network for Justice in Palestine brings together people of faith who are changing the long-standing terms of interfaith work. This network has no off-limits conversations, and puts liberation at the center. We understand that before we can get to co-existence, our shared work is co-resistance. Join the network and watch a short video about it here.
Network Against Islamophobia
The Network Against Islamophobia is a member-led project aimed at educating ourselves on how Is- lamophobia and anti-Arab racism underlies Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and strategizing how to challenge Islamophobia in our communities. NAI resources are developed by a team of member leaders, who lend support to chapters and members who are organizing against Islamophobia, including through educational webinar trainings.
To get support challenging Islamophobia in your community, or to get training to more deeply under- stand Islamophobia, contact [email protected] (and CC your regional organizer to support your organizing.)
For NAI resources and readings, see: Resources on Islamophobia & Anti-Arab Racism in the United States.
Supporting Church BDS
For over ten years, JVP has supported Christian communities and individuals as they work for policy change and institutional transformation within their respective churches towards justice in Israel/Pales- tine. Groups and individuals from a range of Christian denominations have organized for, and in some cases succeeded in moving their institutions to divest funds & boycott goods from companies profiting from the occupation and oppression of Palestinians. Building solid local relationships with church part- ners in your community is a crucial component of supporting Church BDS campaigns.
If your chapter is interested in supporting Church BDS efforts and/or building interfaith relationships, please join the National JVP Interfaith Working Group by contacting [email protected]
For more resources on JVP’s approach to interfaith relationships and support for Church BDS work, see: JVP’s Interfaith Organizing Handbook
Organizing 101 Page 53 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Academic Advisory Council
What is the JVP Academic Advisory Council?
JVP’s Academic Advisory Council, or AAC, is a fast-growing, diverse network of tenured & tenure-track professors, contingent faculty, independent scholars and graduate students invested in justice for Pales- tine. We have come together to support and defend free inquiry and debate on campus, and to advocate for the first-amendment rights of students and faculty. The AAC’s Steering Committee consists of Judith Butler, Donna Nevel, James Schamus, Katherine Franke, Rebecca Vilkomerson, and Rabbi Alissa Wise. The Council’s coordinator is Tallie Ben Daniel.
What kind of work does the AAC do? How can this help my chapter’s work?
The AAC, along with a broad coalition of Palestine solidarity organizations and free speech advocates, works to change the academy in the US with regards to Israel/Palestine through media advocacy, curric- ulum development, and support for faculty. In particular, we fight for the right of students and faculty to advocate for the end of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. We also educate and organize around the academic boycott of Israeli institutions. The Council can collaborate with you on any campaign that might have an academic component. This might mean getting a letter signed by prominent academics, getting an academic to join you in a meeting with legislators, or any number of creative collaborations! If your chapter is holding a book club meeting or wants a speaker, don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Who can be a member of the AAC?
Any faculty member or academic who wants to advocate for the rights of Palestinians, and feels in alignment with the mission of JVP, is invited to join. You can be both a chapter member and a council member (and many are!)
How do I sign up? You can sign up for the Council at jvp.org/academics.
How do I contact the Academic Council? You can email Tallie Ben Daniel at [email protected].
Organizing 101 Page 54 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org jvp student network
What is the Jewish Voice for Peace National Student Network?
The JVP Student Network is a collection of undergraduate and graduate students, alumni and campus activists active on over 200 campuses as part of JVP or Students for Justice In Palestine chapters. We’re united in support for Palestinian equal rights and liberation, and we work to build Jewish spaces on campus that align with our values. The Campus Coordinator is Ben Lorber.
What kind of work does the Student Network do? How can this help my chapter’s work?
On campuses across the country, JVP student chapters work alongside SJP to build community, educate students, run divestment campaigns, and more. JVP students also work within SJPs to fight for justice in Palestine, and with groups like Open Hillel to challenge Jewish pro-Israel institutions and demand a more inclusive Jewish campus community.
Across the country, JVP students and community members work together to build bridges between campus and community. As student activists challenge their university’s complicity in Israel’s occupation, they often welcome the support of JVP community allies in signing petitions, attending events, pressur- ing university administration, and more. Students are also excited to lend support to community cam- paigns, and get involved in local JVP chapters.
To find JVP or SJP students or campus chapters near you, contact Ben Lorber, JVP’s Campus Coordina- tor, at [email protected].
Who can be a member of the Student Network?
Any current university student, recent alumni, or community member who works intimately with students is invited to join. Many Student Network members are also members of local JVP community chapters.
How do I contact the Student Network?
You can email Ben Lorber at [email protected].
Organizing 101 Page 55 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions
We are part of a legacy of non-violent action taken in solidarity with those striving for justice and basic human dignity.
The tactics of boycotts stretch from the Montgomery Bus Boycotts to the anti-Apartheid movements. Responding to the call from Palestinian civil society to use these tactics in solidarity with the Palesitinian struggle for liberation is a major part of JVP chapter work.
Check out the JVP 101 section of the manual for all the tips you need to plan, launch, and win a BDS campaign in your local community.
In the meantime, think about some of HP and G4S as targets that chapters across the country are espe- cially excited about:
Hewlett-Packard is producing biometric ID cards which help Israel enforce its tiered citizenship structure that separates Palestinian families from each other and from their ancestral homes. In addition, Hewlett-Packard profits from the blockade of Gaza by providing information technology to the Israeli navy and computer equipment to the Israeli military.
G4S profits from providing security services for military checkpoints in the West Bank, in Israeli deten- tion centers, and throughout illegal settlements on Palestinian land. Across the globe G4S contracts and investments are being dropped, reflecting a growing movement for economic non-cooperation in the company’s role in perpetuating injustice in Israel/Palestine.
Organizing 101 Page 56 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Artists & Cultural Workers Council
JVP’s Artists & Cultural Workers Council (ACWC) came together in September 2014 and is comprised of 38 members, 6 of whom sit on the Steering Committee: Wendy Somerson, Morgan Bassichis, Una Osato, Shachaf Polakow, Tamar Sharabi, and Elijah Oberman. The Council’s staff coordinator is Shalva Wise, who is based in Brooklyn.
The members are poets, dancers, rock singers, cartoonists, painters, actors, playwrights, novelists, filmmakers, pro- grammers, musicians, performance artists, cultural workers... and the focus of their work varies, including: lifting up radical Jewish histories; raising collective awareness about the Nakba and the ongoing colonization of historic Pal- estine; supporting local and national Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) campaigns, particularly cultural boycott; partnering with Palestinian artists and uplifting Palestinian cultural resistance; reclaiming Jewish ritual and stories; centering the voices and vision of all Jews of color, including Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews; challenging the mobiliza- tion of Jewish trauma to support Israeli state violence; just to name a few!
Though the Council is currently in the process of finalizing its systems for membership and internal projects, its diverse community of artists is eager to build relationships and contribute to the dynamism of chapters’ events / actions / projects / campaigns…
The form linked here allows folks to identify their chapter affiliation and project , which is then reported to the Council, and if an artist member has the skill set and capacity to plug in / support, a connection is made!
Artistic / cultural collaboration may include but isn’t limited to:
•• Graphic design •• Music (e.g. lyrics for songs; instrumentals; etc.) •• Photo / Video •• Dance / Choreography •• Visual Art (e.g. illustration, painting, mural, etc.) •• Theater •• Written / Verbal (e.g. poetry, chants; etc.) •• Other...
Please note that there will be a membership structure in place soon that guides the Council in expanding its base as well as the possibilities for collaboration. Until this system is finalized, feel free to email Shalva with any questions, ideas, or just to connect! [email protected]
Please visit the ACWC Gallery Page
The Gallery is an evolving archive of creative and cultural work relevant to JVP’s mission and goals, offering resourc- es and tools for inspiration, reflection, education, and to document some of the different strategies and experiments created by artists and cultural workers in the JVP network.
Organizing 101 Page 57 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Why JVP Supports the BDS Movement
The Only Recognizable Feature of Hope Is Action.
– Grace Paley, Jewish American author and activist
“ Jewish Voice for Peace is inspired by Jewish traditions of social justice.
Jewish Voice for Peace endorses the call from Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) as part of our work for freedom, justice and equality for all people. We believe that the time-honored, non-violent tools proposed by the BDS call provide powerful opportunities to make that vision real.
We join with communities of conscience around the world in supporting Palestinians, who call for BDS until the Israeli government:
Ends its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantles the Wall; recognizes the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and respects, protects and promotes the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.
In the long and varied history of Jewish experience, we are inspired by those who have resisted injustice and fought for freedom. We strive to live up to those values and extend that history. By endorsing the call, we make our hope real and our love visible and we claim our own liberation as bound with the liberation of all.
JVP is committed to supporting and organizing all kinds of powerful and strategic campaigns to secure a common future where Palestinians, Israeli Jews, and all the people of Israel/Palestine may live with dignity, security, and peace.
JewishVoiceforPeace.org • 1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 1020, Oakland, CA 94612 • (510) 465-1777 Organizing 101 Page 58 of the JVP Chapter Manual www.jvp.org Frequently Asked Questions at JVP
TELL ME MORE ABOUT JEWISH VOICE FOR 1. PEACE Jewish Voice for Peace was started in 1996 in the San Francisco Bay Area by three UC Berkeley undergrads as an all-volunteer Israel and Palestine peace group. In 2002, members decided to build a larger grassroots base that could one day change US policies towards the region. Funds were raised then, as now, through a grassroots campaign focused mostly on small individual donors.
Today, JVP is a national organization closely connected to a growing grassroots base. We have 200,000 supporters on our email list, 10,000 individual donors, over 60 chapters across the United States, a staff of 25; a Rabbinic Council; an Artists’ Council; an Academic Advisory Council; a youth wing; and an Advisory Board consisting of some of the best- known Jewish thinkers of our time.
JVP is a community of people dedicated to supporting and leading winnable campaigns to change US policy, shift US discourse, and even the playing field in order to create the political conditions that will allow Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a just and lasting peace.
whY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT JVP IS A JEWISH 2. GROUP? We represent a growing portion of Jewish Americans. Israel claims to be acting in the name of the Jewish people, so we are compelled to make sure the world knows that many Jews are opposed to their actions. There are often attempts to silence critics of Israel by conflating legitimate criticism with anti-Semitism. Israel is a state, not a person. Everyone has the right to criticize the unjust actions of a state.
Organizing 101JewishVoiceforPeace.org • 1611Page Telegraph 59 of the Avenue, JVP Chapter Suite 1020, Manual Oakland, CA 94612 • (510) 465-1777www.jvp.org how IS JVP DIFFERENT FROM OTHER MAJOR 3. JEWISH AMERICAN PEACE GROUPS? Unlike other groups, we support full equality for Palestinians and Jewish Israelis grounded in international law and universal principles of human rights, and we have a large grassroots base of members across the country who lead or work on campaigns. Because we believe in concrete action, and not just words, JVP was the first major Jewish peace group to demand that American military aid be withheld until Israel ends its occupation. We also are the only major Jewish group to support the Palestinian civil society call for boycotts, divestment and sanctions.
wHAT’S JVP’S POSITION: ONE-STATE OR TWO? 4. We support any solution that is consistent with the full rights of both Palestinians and Israeli Jews, whether one binational state, two states, or some other solution. It is up to Israelis and Palestinians to reach a mutually agreed upon solution. However, we also believe it is our obli- gation to offer honest analysis about the diminishing likelihood of a two-state solution given decades of Israeli settlement expansion and the current Israeli leadership’s open resolve to block the creation of a Palestinian state.
wHAT IS YOUR POSITION REGARDING 5. PALESTINIAN REFUGEES? JVP supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right of people to return to their countries. Peace will only be possible when Israel acknowledges the Palestinian refugees’ right of return and negotiates a mutually agreed, just solution based on principles established in international law including return, compensation and/or resettlement. Further, we believe that a just and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians can only happen through acknowledgement of the Nakba of 1947-9, which led to the creation of millions of Palestinian refugees (See Institute for Middle East Understanding’s fact sheet on the Nakba.) For more information, view JVP’s Nakba Education Project.
DO YOU SUPPORT BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, 6. AND SANCTIONS? JVP proudly endorses the Palestinian civil society call for boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) until Israel abides by international law. We reject the assertion that BDS is inherent- ly anti-Semitic and defend activists who employ the full range of BDS tactics when they are demonized or wrongly accused of anti-Semitism. We believe BDS is a meaningful alternative to passivity engendered by two decades of failed peace talks, and is the most effective grassroots means for applying nonviolent pressure to change Israeli policies. Read JVP’s statement BDS.
Organizing 101JewishVoiceforPeace.org • 1611Page Telegraph 60 of the Avenue, JVP Chapter Suite 1020, Manual Oakland, CA 94612 • (510) 465-1777www.jvp.org whaT IS JVP MEMBERSHIP? 7. Any donation of $18 or more, or any monthly donation of $5 or more (Chai Club), qualifies you for an annual JVP membership. JVP members endorse JVP’s mission and guiding principles. Note: donors can choose to opt out of membership. Every time you give at least $18, your membership will be extended another 365 days from that date. Chai Club (JVP’s monthly donors) members will automatically be issued renewed annual membership one week before their expiration date. All other members will be reminded to renew at least one week before their expiration date. Become a Member of JVP: jvp.org/join.
WHY BECOME A JVP MEMBER? 8. • Invitations to member-only webinars and trainings • Member-only news, updates and analysis • Support from JVP staff to plug into campaigns and projects • Exclusive access to policy briefings • Guidance and ritual materials from our Rabbinic Council • Connections to our extensive network of chapters and local leaders • Opportunities to build lasting personal connections
Becoming a JVP member sends a clear political message: we cannot and will not turn a blind eye to Israeli human rights violations, or US support for them. Questions about JVP Membership? Contact [email protected]
DO I HAVE TO BE JEWISH TO JOIN JVP? 9. No you don’t. JVP is an organization that is inspired by Jewish values and traditions to work towards peace and justice. We are committed to building an inclusive Jewish community, that, like many of our families, welcomes Jews and allies who share our values and appreciate our traditions, who advocate for an end to Israeli human rights abuses, and who oppose anti-Jewish hatred, anti-Arab racism, and Islamophobia.
Organizing 101JewishVoiceforPeace.org • 1611Page Telegraph 61 of the Avenue, JVP Chapter Suite 1020, Manual Oakland, CA 94612 • (510) 465-1777www.jvp.org DO I HAVE TO BE IN THE U.S. TO JOIN JVP? 10. Nope. Wherever you are, you are welcome to join us in our work. We focus on the United States, however, because of the crucial role that the US plays in the Middle East–including large sums of military aid that fund the Israeli occupation.
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? 11. You can start by joining Jewish Voice for Peace as a member. You can join by donating at jvp.org/join by credit or by sending a check to the address at the bottom of the page. The more you give, the more you can support the work we are doing. We can refer you to a JVP chapter in your area or you can directly contact one of our organizers on our chapters page: jvp.org/chapters. You can also join us on social media: Facebook.com/jewishvoiceforpeace Twitter.com/jvplive
WHAT IF I WANT TO DONATE TO SUPPORT JVP 12. iN A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM WAY? One of the most effective ways to support JVP is by joining the Chai Club, our monthly donor society. You can find out more about our planned giving programs at jvp.org/giving.
Jewish Voice for Peace is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 200,000 online supporters, over 60 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Academic Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading U.S. intellectuals and artists.
Organizing 101JewishVoiceforPeace.org • 1611Page Telegraph 62 of the Avenue, JVP Chapter Suite 1020, Manual Oakland, CA 94612 • (510) 465-1777www.jvp.org For more information, visit www.jvp.org.
Jewish Voice for Peace • 1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 1020, Oakland CA 94612 • 510.465.1777