[Dialogue] Alinsky & Freire and ICA's approach

[Martin Gilbraith (ICA:UK)]

many thanks all, this has been very insightful.  I attach a compilation 
of your responses in Word, with bold added by me to highlight some key 
themes.  I'd welcome any further thoughts, recollections or references.

In the meantime I hope contributors are happy for me to share this with 
ICA:UK colleagues here.  best wishes,
Martin



On 11/01/2011 15:46, Martin Gilbraith (ICA:UK) wrote:
> Hi everyone, I am hoping that colleagues with longer memories might be 
> able to help me with some history please...
>
> The 'big idea' of the UK's new coalition government is Big Society - 
> variously, applauded as empowering the people, and/or derided as a 
> cynical cover for devastating public spending cuts - see 
> http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/policy-campaigns-research/big-society/big-society
>
> A major initiative within this agenda is a forthcoming 
> Government-funded programme to train and support a cadre of 5,000 
> Community Organisers, explicitly based on the principles of Saul 
> Alinsky and Paulo Friere - see 
> http://www.urbanforum.org.uk/briefings/community-organisers-briefing
>
> I beleive that Friere was an influence on the early development of 
> EI/ICA's methods and approach, and I understand that Alinsky was 
> developing Community Organising in Chicago around the same time as 
> EI/ICA was in Fifth City.
>
> What I would really like to learn more about is *to what extent and 
> how did Friere and/or Alinsky influence the develpment of EI/ICA and 
> our methods and approach; and **to what extent and how might our 
> methods and approach have influenced the development of Community 
> Organising?
> *
> My partner Derek put this same question, more or less, to George 
> Packard several years ago when he was here in the UK just after Derek 
> had taken a course in Faith-based Community Organising through his 
> local Unitarian church - but I don't much remember what he said, and 
> I'd love to have any more specific recollections and (better still) 
> any documents that might be relevant.
>
> I am hoping this might inform how we seek to position ICA:UK in 
> relation to this emerging new agenda, and that I might draft an 
> article (for ICA:UK Network News if not also elsewhere) based on what 
> I receive.
>
> many thanks for any recollections or insights you can offer, best wishes,
> Martin
>
>
> -- 
>
> *Martin Gilbraith*<martin at ica-uk.org.uk <mailto:martin at ica-uk.org.uk>>
>
> connectwith me at _http://uk.linkedin.com/in/martingilbraith _
>
> *Chief Executive, ICA:UK*
> registered charity #1090745 & company limited by guarantee #3970365
> registered in England & Wales, at 41 Old Birley Street, Manchester M15 5RF
> tel/fax: 0845 450 0305 or 0161 232 8444 - _www.ica-uk.org.uk 
> <http://www.ica-uk.org.uk/>_
>
> The Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) - a global network of 
> autonomous not-for-profit organisations in 30 countries
> /"concerned with  the  human  factor  in  world development"/
>
> *IAF Certified Professional Facilitator*& Chair
> The International Association of Facilitators -- _www.iaf-world.org_
>
>
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-- 

*Martin Gilbraith*<martin at ica-uk.org.uk <mailto:martin at ica-uk.org.uk>>

connectwith me at _http://uk.linkedin.com/in/martingilbraith _

mobile: +44 (0)7876 722712

*Chief Executive, ICA:UK*
registered charity #1090745 & company limited by guarantee #3970365
registered in England & Wales, at 41 Old Birley Street, Manchester M15 5RF
tel/fax: +44 (0)845 450 0305 or +44 (0)161 232 8444 - _www.ica-uk.org.uk 
<http://www.ica-uk.org.uk/>_

The Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) - a global network of autonomous 
not-for-profit organisations in 30 countries
/"concerned with  the  human  factor  in  world development"/

*IAF Certified Professional Facilitator*& Chair
The International Association of Facilitators -- _www.iaf-world.org_

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