[Dialogue] Alinsky & Freire and ICA's approach

[James Wiegel]

You can Only share provided you make some good contribution to communities there.  :)

Jim Wiegel
Jfwiegel at yahoo.com

On Jan 18, 2011, at 9:52, "Martin Gilbraith (ICA:UK)" <martin at ica-uk.org.uk> wrote:

> 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>
>> connect with 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
>> 
>> 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>
> connect with 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
> 
> 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
> 
> <icadialogue Freire & Alinsky.doc>
> <15 Tasks of CD.pdf>
> _______________________________________________
> Dialogue mailing list
> Dialogue at wedgeblade.net
> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/dialogue_wedgeblade.net
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