A deep dive conversation with Marshall Ganz, veteran organizer, trainer and strategist, on what he's learned from past experience down this road and what he's telling the Mamdani team now.
Micah, as you know, I was beyond frustrated by my experience in Connecticut with Obama for America once it turned into an issues-based organization after the election - where, because they were in league with the DNC, I was not allowed to push back on Joe Lieberman's stance on the public option. (All I wanted to do was bring wheelbarrows full of pledges to his office!) And we had SO many trained volunteers in CT who were fired up and ready to go. What I'd hope Mamdani would do is encourage his volunteers to act locally, work locally to do such as ensuring their city council rep is promoting policies in line with their interests or that of their neighborhood. Mamdani could even encourage them to support one measure or another. (I'm thinking back to my days on a PTO when the principal would ask us to go to a city council meeting becuase she needed funding for another janitor position!)
I wonder whether one of the reasons so many groups are over-invested in their own distinctiveness is because the funders require they be unique and the next new thing in order to get grants. Because the foundations on our side (which aren’t, with a few exceptions, really on our side, are they, not like the right wing foundations are on their side) are so invested in their own uniqueness. Unlike right wing philanthropy, which took the long view and funded the same stuff for decades, which obviously worked out pretty well for them.
Every new nonprofit makes a basic choice at the outset: whether to be tax-deductible and non-political (501c3) or non-deductible and political (501c4). OurTime chose the latter for obvious reasons. I doubt they will get many undisclosed contributions from billionaires.
1. Yes, city-level can be exciting: Human scale = potential for people to have impact, see impact, meet each other, feel & be effective (vs. giant country-level scale)
2. The dream of sparking a truly engaged wide citizenry -- across the city, or whatever -- can't be a partisan/party organization, *especially* not the DSA (the DSA might be wonderful & successful but is trapped as a rebel/fringe org with that word 'socialism' - even if most Americans believe in Universal Healthcare). Check out the spirit of Jane McAlevey union organizing: Must engage the majority to win. As you suggest, Micah: Vast majority of Mamdani volunteers were not DSA members. Mamdani won -- and won-over former Trump voters -- because he spoke to people's needs, transcending the labels/politics (even as he proudly embraced his labels/politics). Most importantly: The opportunity to bring-to-life a turned-on city full of engaged citizens is about DOING STUFF, not doing more politics.
Micah, as you know, I was beyond frustrated by my experience in Connecticut with Obama for America once it turned into an issues-based organization after the election - where, because they were in league with the DNC, I was not allowed to push back on Joe Lieberman's stance on the public option. (All I wanted to do was bring wheelbarrows full of pledges to his office!) And we had SO many trained volunteers in CT who were fired up and ready to go. What I'd hope Mamdani would do is encourage his volunteers to act locally, work locally to do such as ensuring their city council rep is promoting policies in line with their interests or that of their neighborhood. Mamdani could even encourage them to support one measure or another. (I'm thinking back to my days on a PTO when the principal would ask us to go to a city council meeting becuase she needed funding for another janitor position!)
Yes, I do remember talking with you about your experience!
I wonder whether one of the reasons so many groups are over-invested in their own distinctiveness is because the funders require they be unique and the next new thing in order to get grants. Because the foundations on our side (which aren’t, with a few exceptions, really on our side, are they, not like the right wing foundations are on their side) are so invested in their own uniqueness. Unlike right wing philanthropy, which took the long view and funded the same stuff for decades, which obviously worked out pretty well for them.
Every new nonprofit makes a basic choice at the outset: whether to be tax-deductible and non-political (501c3) or non-deductible and political (501c4). OurTime chose the latter for obvious reasons. I doubt they will get many undisclosed contributions from billionaires.
Transparency and governance matter whether or not they get any money from wealthy people.
Oh, wait, maybe this is the URL (?) https://theconnector.substack.com/p/will-mamdanis-movement-avoid-the
Very insightful. Wish it had a URL so that I could post it on social media...
A good read!
Thanks for being on top of this, Micah. 2 notes:
1. Yes, city-level can be exciting: Human scale = potential for people to have impact, see impact, meet each other, feel & be effective (vs. giant country-level scale)
2. The dream of sparking a truly engaged wide citizenry -- across the city, or whatever -- can't be a partisan/party organization, *especially* not the DSA (the DSA might be wonderful & successful but is trapped as a rebel/fringe org with that word 'socialism' - even if most Americans believe in Universal Healthcare). Check out the spirit of Jane McAlevey union organizing: Must engage the majority to win. As you suggest, Micah: Vast majority of Mamdani volunteers were not DSA members. Mamdani won -- and won-over former Trump voters -- because he spoke to people's needs, transcending the labels/politics (even as he proudly embraced his labels/politics). Most importantly: The opportunity to bring-to-life a turned-on city full of engaged citizens is about DOING STUFF, not doing more politics.