CBCO

Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO)

Brian Fink — Sat, 19 May 2007 03:51:09 -0400

Today, increasing numbers of synagogues are engaging in interfaith campaigns on vital issues of local concern, from expanding health coverage for low income workers to building affordable housing.

Since 2006, The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation has been partnering with the Jewish Funds for Justice (JFSJ) helping to develop a network and resources for Reconstructionist communities in Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO) work. As well, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College began offering training in the model of CBCO activism in the winter of 2007.

More information on community organizing can be found in the summer 2007 edition of Reconstructionism Today and in the January 2007 issue of Shma, and from the Jewish Funds for Justice.

In 2002, JFSJ launched a national initiative to encourage and support synagogues as they deepen their social justice efforts through CBCO. Their goal was to address the lack of sustained engagement in activities beyond direct service programs and to challenge congregations to address systemic issues relating to domestic poverty and social injustice. The CBCO model of activism unites a diverse range of people, primarily through religious congregations, in the shared goal of building a civic power base capable of making change to promote the public good.

What is congregation-based community organizing?

Three core components of the synagogue organizing model are essential to the process:

congregants engage in one-to-one conversations within their synagogue, and often with other congregations, about their social justice passions.
leaders engage in extensive clergy and lay leadership training and development.
synagogue leaders work side-by-side with dozens of faith institutions and progressive organizations in their community, across lines of race, class, and faith.
What is the impact?

Each of these components strengthens lay leaders, is a vehicle for congregational development, and builds strong bridges between Jews and other community leaders and institutions. Eventually, as this model grows deeper roots in synagogues across the United States, we hope it will create a strong synagogue-based voice for creating healthier communities. Examples of this work could include calling for universal health care, a higher minimum wage, or more affordable housing.

In preparation for a workshop delivered at the November, '06 JRF Convention in Philadelphia, we collected Jewish texts relevant to these efforts.

For more information please contact Rabbi Shawn Zevit at JRF, 215-885-5601, ex.24.

CBCO as a Reconstructionist Approach to Living a Godly Life

Brian Fink — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:21:29 -0400

Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Director of Outreach, External Affiliations and Tikkun Olam of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, was featured in the Winter 2007 Prophetic Voices Newsletter, published by the Jewish Funds for Justice.

Read Rabbi Shawn's article:The Power that Makes for Righteousness: Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO) as a Reconstructionist Approach to Living a Godly Life. There are also other excellent articles about Jewish approaches to CBCO in the newsletter.

A Step-by-Step Guide to CBCO

Brian Fink — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:19:53 -0500

Your congregation is interested in community organizing ... now what?

In congregation-based community organizing (CBCO), existing institutions, mostly religious congregations, are recruited to join a citywide or regional organization. CBCO affiliates organize existing groups, as opposed to individuals, since existing groups already have leaders, interpersonal relationships, resources, a shared culture that facilitates group action, and community connections and commitments.

The local affiliate and the national networks train leaders in creating winnable campaigns on local issues that affect the day-to-day lives of their members. In focusing on the "winnable," CBCO blends idealistic values with pragmatic self-interest.

While CBCO avoids direct participation in electoral politics, organizations position themselves to become power players by thoroughly researching issues, building alliances, developing strong relationships with leaders in the public and private sectors, and staging large, dramatic public meetings to demonstrate grassroots support to targeted decision-makers.

Step #1 - Investigate what's happening locally

There are four international CBCO networks:

DART - Direct Action Research and Training
The Gamaliel Foundation
IAF - Industrial Areas Foundation
PICO - People Improving Communities through Organizing

On each network's website, there is a listing of local affiliates, organized geographically. There, you can investigate whether there already is one in your area ...

For DART, click here.
For Gamaliel, click here, then browse through the regional directories on the left-hand side of the page.
For IAF, click here, and then browse through the regional directories on the left-hand side of the page.
For PICO, click here, and use the pull-down menu on the right side of the page.

Step #2 - Make contact

After you've determined that there is a community-organizing group in your area, you can use the online directory to contact the community organizer associated with the local affiliate. The organizer will probably want to schedule an initial "one-on-one" conversation with you, or with someone else from your synagogue.

During this in-person conversation, lasting from 30 minutes to an hour, the initial focus will be on each person learning something about the other. A more "nuts and bolts" discussion about the CBCO affiliate and the potential process for becoming involved, will likely only occur towards the end of the meeting, or at a subsequent follow-up.

Organizers spend a good part of their time meeting with clergy and key leaders of prospective congregations in order to discover their perceived self-interest and determine how that might fit with the self-interest of the other member organizations and the affiliate.

The organizer may subsequently invite you to have a similar conversation with members or clergy of other congregations that belong to the affiliate, and/or invite you to observe a local event or "action" occurring in the near-future. Both of these would be excellent strategies for learning more about the organization, and for making personal connections with others who are already involved.

If there is not a local CBCO affiliate in your area, the first step towards establishing one, would be the creation of a sponsoring committee made up of interested clergy, lay leaders, and other members of the community. This would typically happen in coordination with an organizer from one of the four CBCO networks.

Step #3 - Laying the groundwork

Formally joining an CBCO affiliate involves an substantial annual financial commitment, dependent on the size of your institution. Since this model of organizing teaches that the power to make change comes from organized people and organized money, paying dues represents a congregation's seriousness of commitment. Affiliates are expected to raise at least two-thirds of their money from member dues and fundraising events, and only one-third from foundations and other large donors. Some affiliates offer a reduced-cost "initial" or "provisional" membership.

Especially due to the degree of financial and human resource commitment, the entire board of the congregation, not only the tikkun olam committee, should be involved with this ongoing process at this stage, if not earlier.

Many congregations engage in an internal "one-on-one" or house-meeting campaign within their congregation before formally joining an affiliate. Regardless of the ultimate decision whether or not to join a CBCO affiliate, one-on-ones and house meetings can be extremely valuable tools. One-on-ones connect disparate segments of the congregational community, re-integrate alienated and unengaged community members back into the life of the community, and help leaders learn how best to meet the varying needs of the community.

For these reasons, the membership and programming committees of the congregation should also be involved in this process by this stage.

Step #4 - Moving into action

Once you've joined an affiliate, things do not necessarily begin with issues or ideologies -- but with the idea that if organizers train leaders not just in political skills but also in how to build relationships of mutual understanding and trust with each other, they will find ways to identify and act on common problems effectively. The CBCO networks have developed a very deliberate and skilled process for doing so. This occurs locally or at regional trainings sponsored by the network.

Through this process, often in conjunction with community "house meetings," issues emerge that can be acted upon publicly within the CBCO context.

Successful examples include congregation Doreshei Tzedek's involvement with the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. For more information, see:

The Reconstructionist

online

Step #5 - How JRF can help

In partnership with your congregation, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation can help with your community organizing efforts through providing:

A listing of the CBCO affiliates located in your geographic area
Jewish texts for study and reflection
Facilitated networking with other Jewish organizations already involved with CBCO
Trainings and other learning opportunities

For all of these areas and more, please contact Rabbi Shawn Zevit at JRF, 215-782-8500, ex.24.

Omer Week One - Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO)

Brian Fink — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:46:31 -0400

During our first week of Omer teaching, we are highlighting the efforts and energy within our congregations engaged in congregation-based community organizing (CBCO). As you read through it feel free to add comments on this page about your own experiences in community organizing or use the listserve or web page to ask questions.

Below as an attachment, you will find a PDF resource packet and the recording from our Community Organizing and Congregational Advocacy - PEARL tele-conference call, featuring:

Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam for JRF
Shuli Passow, CBCO consultant for the Jewish Funds for Justice
Rabbi Steve Carr Reuben, Kehillat Israel, CA
Kathy Kaufman and Irene Zipper, Chapel Hill Kehillah, NC
John Goldstein and David Weingrod, Shir Hadash, WI

For more information, please contact Rabbi Shawn Zevit at JRF, 215-885-5601 x 24.

Today, increasing numbers of synagogues are engaging in interfaith campaigns on vital issues of local concern, from expanding health coverage for low income workers to building affordable housing.

Since 2006, The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation has been partnering with the Jewish Funds for Justice, helping to develop a network and resources for Reconstructionist communities in Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO) work.

As well, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College began offering training in the model of CBCO activism in the winter of 2007.

Information on community organizing can be found:

What is congregation-based community organizing?

Three core components of the synagogue organizing model are essential to the process:

congregants engage in one-to-one conversations within their synagogue, and often with other congregations, about their social justice passions.
leaders engage in extensive clergy and lay leadership training and development.
Synagogue leaders work side-by-side with dozens of faith institutions and progressive organizations in their community, across lines of race, class, and faith.

NEWS UPDATE: JRF member community "Chapel Hill Kehillah" of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has helped launch a chapter of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) to do the work of Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO). Their first event, Sunday, April 27th was a successful, powerful and inspiring event.

http://www.chapelhillnews.com/front/story/14211.html

"We had hoped for founding member commitments from 14 organizations and churches and 170 attendees. By the end of the evening we had 250+ people and 29 organizations making founding member commitments and over $19,000 . As the article states, it was a truly historic event here in Orange County. Thanks to JRF for all the encouragement."

L’shalom,
Rabbi Jen Feldman
Chapel Hill Kehillah

Congregational Based Community Organizing and Congregational Advocacy - PEARL tele-conference call

Brian Fink — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:16:47 -0400

Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time

Click here to register for this and other PEARL: Providing Education And Resources for Leadership tele-conference sessions.

For the last two years JRF has partnered with the Jewish Funds for Justice and some of JRF's own leading rabbis and lay leaders in the field of congregation-based community organizing to help promote and develop spiritually activist communities. Two conference call were held last February in conjunction with a national CBCO training conference sponsored by JFSJ in Santa Clara, CA. This call will be for anyone who is interested or has embarked on this powerful method of social justice organizing in faith communities.

This call will feature:

Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam for JRF
Shuli Passow, CBCO consultant for the Jewish Funds for Justice
Rabbi Steve Carr Reuben, Kehillat Israel, CA
Kathy Kaufman and Irene Zipper, Chapel Hill Kehillah, NC
John Goldstein and David Weingrod, Shir Hadash, WI

For more information, please contact Rabbi Shawn Zevit at JRF, 215-885-5601 x 24.

The Power that Makes for Righteousness

Brian Fink — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:02:20 -0500

CBCO as a Reconstructionist approach to living a Godly life

The Jewish Funds For Justice has published a new pamphlet that highlights the involvement of Reconstructionist communities in congregation-based community organizing (CBCO).

Click above for the full article, in order to download the PDF attachment.

Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof: Actively Pursuing Social Justice: Congregational Based Community Organizing and Congregational Advocacy

Isaac Saposnik — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:13:04 -0500

Start: Apr 15 2008 - 12:00pm

End: Apr 15 2008 - 1:00pm

Click here to register for this and other PEARL tele-conference sessions.

Tikkun Olam Issue Resources

Brian Fink — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:39:16 -0500

Below is a growing list of programmatic resources to aid congregations in their pursuit of Tikkun Olam, organized by issue, and type of resource.

The initial issues included are:

These represent the most common issues being addressed by Congregation Based Community Organizing (CBCO) groups throughout the country.

For a more expansive selection, please see the list of Tikkun Olam resources located within the JRF Resources Library, as well as specific resources on advocacy within congregations.

Excitement Generated During Community Organizing Conference Call

Brian Fink — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:11:54 -0400

A Scene from the CBCO National Gathering in FebruaryOn May 17, 2007, representatives from eight JRF congregations, national and regional JRF staff, and representatives from the Jewish Funds for Justice gathered via conference call to discuss their ongoing community organizing efforts.

Read my synthesized notes from the discussion.

To learn more about community organizing and ways in which JRF can assist your congregation's tikkun olam activities, please contact Rabbi Shawn Zevit at JRF, 215-782-8500, ex.24, and see our Step-by-Step Guide to community organizing.

In attendance:

Jeannie Appleman – Jewish Funds for Justice, NY
Benjamin Ross- Jewish Funds for Justice, NY
Rabbi Steve Booth-Nadav, Bnai Havurah, Denver, CO
Joel Boymel – Bnai Havurah – Denver, CO
Cherie Kirschbaum – Bnai Havurah, Denver, CO
Randi Brenowitz – Keddem Congregation, Palo Alto, CA
Doug Smith – Keddem Congregation, Palo Alto, CA
Shoshana Bricklin – Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia, PA
Val Kaplan- Oseh Shalom, MD/ JRF board
Rabbi Steve Segar – Kol HaLev, Cleveland, OH
Rabbi Toba Spitzer- Dorshei Tzedek, Newton, MA
Jane Susswein – Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ/ JRF Board
Rabbi Elliott Tepperman – Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ
Devorah Servi- JRF Western Regional Director
Brian Fink - JRF CBCO Intern/ Reconstructionist Rabbinical College student, PA
Rabbi Shawn Zevit- JRF Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam

Shawn – welcome:

Introduced quotations:

“Jewish civilization is a means to greater ends – the fulfillment of the individual, the responsibility of individuals to treat others as reflections of the divine image, and the responsibility of each community to seek global justice and peace among all communities.”
- Alpert, Rebecca and Staub, Jacob, Exploring Judaism A Reconstructionist Approach, Recon Press, p24

“At our best, Reconstructionists are willing to experiment and to act. If we immerse ourselves in this work we will be better Reconstructionists. Our critiques/perspectives will be a “gift” to the CBCO network. I want us to be agitational partners for each other - so that every single Reconstructionist shul will be involved in doing this work.”
- Rabbi Elliott Tepperman, Bnai Keshet, Montclair, NJ

“In community organizing, we draw ourselves back to listen. This way of carrying on a conversation mostly by listening seems very values-based and Reconstructionist to me.”
- Doug Smith, Keddem Congregation, Palo Alto, CA

“The CBCO focus of examining the contrast between ‘the world as it could be’ and ‘the world as it is.’ I find similar to the Reconstructionist contrast of living between two civilizations”
- Michael Ramberg, RRC student

“I’m thinking of the term “organic community” which was coined by Mordecai Kaplan, which defines Jewish identity and self through belonging and connections with other people. CBCO reflects a new way of harnessing this energy. It is very Reconstructionist.”
- Rabbi Brant Rosen, JRC, Evanston , IL

“Congregation-based community organizing is not counter-cultural to Reconstructionism. Kaplan said that you start where Jews actually are. You start by sitting down and asking, “Who are you?” We need to learn how to use power in good ways, thereby adding to our language as Reconstructionists for dealing with power.”
- Rabbi Toba Spitzer, Dorshei Tzedek, Boston, MA

“I did a number of one-on-ones with SAJ members and found them to be very rewarding. But before that, I was interviewed by Maddy Lee of our congregation who made me feel very comfortable by taking a keen interest in everything I had to say my Jewish background and my commitment to social action. I was then able to approach other people in the same manner, and I learned a lot about who they were, what really mattered to them, why they were members of our synagogue, and what their aspirations were.

The interviews also made me feel a special rapport with them that I didn't feel with those I knew only casually, and a couple of lasting friendships developed out of this. I think the one-on-ones are a wonderful way to bind people together and make them feel like they're a community and important to one another, which merely labeling the membership “a community” cannot do. This is important nowadays and in a big city, where it is easy to feel disconnected. Also, a number of suggestions for making our synagogue more responsive to members' needs were forthcoming and very useful. I would recommend that all synagogues do it.”
- Karen Greenberg-Perkus, the SAJ, New York, NY

Rabbi Toba Spitzer:

One of the things that I’ve learned in this work – is that using an “external/internal frame” is a bad division to keep reifying.

The point is to strengthen our communities in service of greater transformation. We’re not honoring the internal coherence of this work if we don't talk about social justice/relationship within the community.

CBCO is about power - relational power. It helps us develop leaders; we then work together to take action.

From the house meetings that we completed almost a year ago, we have begun to develop a new elder care initiative. Now, a year later, we’ve defined a need to do a Torah of Chesed process – to figure out how we better support/care about each other. It is more internal but contiguous with this process, similar to our previous Torah of Money process, that has transformed our dues structure

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman:

The two things work well together.

Community organizing can become a shallow process if we don't find a way to take action after someone shares something in their life.

E.g, now that we've had people share info about their lack of healthcare, how can we position ourselves to address some of the real needs of our members. This helps us ... break down the dichotomy between community building and social justice...

Joel Boymel – Bnai Havurah:

I’m involved with affordable housing. We’re just starting to get things moving.

Jane Susswein – Bnai Keshet:

I have participated in 2-3 house-meetings.

The issue that has struck me, has been the issue of how we can find meaning after retirement. In the house-meetings that I attended, I remember hearing some heartbreaking testimonies – people are really searching for a meaningful life after they’ve stopped working. They are trying to figure out how we can create intentional communities as we retire - how can we be taken care of without being warehoused.

Shoshana Bricklin – Mishkan Shalom:

Mishkan Shalom has had a sample house meeting – with people involved with tikkun olam – led by Brian/Michael.

Right now, they have put things on hold because of their rabbinic search process. Things haven’t progressed further, though rabbinic candidates are committed to this work.

Mishkan had been involved in CBCO in the past, but had withdrawn from a network.

Benjamin Ross- Jewish Funds for Justice:

Recognized Toba and Elliott’s work.

Tips:

1. Connect to other leaders who are doing this work. Connect with local clergy and members of local congregations who are already engaged in this work – discuss what it what it has meant to them and to their congregants.

2. Connect with a local organizing group. You may have do do some research – mostly through relational 1on1 work - to find out their history – find out if they’re an organization with whom you want to develop a relationship. Start scoping them out; attend meetings/actions/events. Get to know their organizer.

It’s very difficult for a synagogue to build power and do change-work on their own – it’s important to be part of a larger interfaith organization.

3. If this work is something that you’re interested in – you should think beyond the tikkun olam committee and the typical people who tend to do social justice work.

This approach is about tapping into and expanding a relational culture. Through the community organizing process, you need to bring in new people, developing new leaders. Often creating structures that are parallel to previous and other ongoing social justice work within your communities.

You need to build a strong core team, who understands the arc of organizing work, and what’s ahead...

4. You need to work with skilled trainers. This is one of the benefits of being connected with a local organizing group, and their national affiliate. The goal of CBCO organizations is to transform congregations and communities, investing them with leadership development and training.

If you have a good trainer, it’s a blessing to work with them. Attending a bad training can be more harmful than not being trained at all.

5. Taking things slow is often fruitful. Don't rush ahead. Take a second to check-in, making sure that you have the right group of people with you. Build a base. Have a solid core group. Don't bring an initiative or a proposal to a board of directors and larger congregation before you’re ready. Otherwise, it could be detrimental to your long-term goals.

6. If community organizing is only an exercise in building community - it can be very frustrating. Make sure that there’s an understanding that there’s an action component at the end of the work. The tachlis justice/change work needs to be there.

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman:

I agree that there ultimately has to be an action component as well. You’ve been talking to each other, listening to each other, because you care deeply about the challenges that each other faces. If you then don't take action on the issues that affect the members of your community with whom you have a relationship, that can be very insulting.

Rabbi Toba Spitzer:

The action can be internal or external. In both cases, it’s not just leaving the issues as the problem that we’re all just kvetching about.

It is not necessarily just one linear process. You can work on many different levels, with a few different issues, at the same time. Some people like a long-term process, other people want to take action right away. It depends on their temperament.

At Dorshei Tzedek, people were taking actions on issues, visiting the local CBCO organization, going to pickets, meetings, etc, at the same time that we were getting the core commitments in place internally. This initial activity took place even before we began our internal house meeting process.

In this way, people are able to get a taste of what it feels like. It can be hard for people to understand community organizing until they experience it first-hand.

When 500 people show up, gathering to take action on health care, and the governor of the state comes to you – it’s a very different experience than writing letters to your local congressmen.

To be successful, you need organized people, and organized money, creating organized power.

Benjamin Ross:

The process will look different depending on the city/synagogue/leaders, etc.

It’s important for congregations to keep in mind the concept/idea of power. While a synagogue may not have the luxury not to run a local homeless shelter or other kind of service project because there are dire individual needs, they also need to do something larger, in order to have the ability to move people off the street. It can be very difficult, to almost impossible, for one individual synagogue to move a 2 billion affordable housing project – but a coalition of 40 congregations may be able to.

Cherie Kirshbaum:

There is a housing/justice-nonprofit in Denver. While, one rabbi is a part of it, but no one else in the community. How can we get more of the mainstream Jewish community involved in these efforts?

Rabbi Toba Spitzer:

It starts from a simple place – people take action based on their self-interests.

This approach is relational based, not issue-based. We move from relationships, from people’s self interests, and then the issues later come out of that. You find out, that affordable housing and health care is actually really in everyone’s self interests.

This process is not about getting rabbis to show up, but is about mobilizing the Jewish community. In order to make change –you need to be in these relationships

Benjamin Ross:

You can look at the example of Columbus, Ohio – a small city with only about 20,000 Jews – 4 synagogues are involved, including a mainstream conversative synagogue. Being part of a smaller Jewish community doesn’t make it any easier or more difficult– it’s not any better or worse. It’s key, though, to have a good local organizer, like they do in Columbus. [Ben offered to connect Sheri with MOP (local Denver CBCO group)].

Jeannie Appleman:

I’ve been teaching a course for credit at RRC, on community organizing. Teaching the methodologies/approaches of community organizing from/in a Jewish perspective. How to act powerfully in a public arena – in an interfaith process; in the context of a synagogue’s developmental process.

The challenge is adapting how this methodology has been taught from a more intensive week-long/3-day course into a longer 2-hour, once a week course. Context in which to practice what students have learned is very important – there is a need to internships and other fieldwork.

In terms of the students taking the class now:

- One is doing 1on1s with key people in order to create a map of the reconstructionist movement
- Elliot / Toba – both have interns – these students are learning how this works in a synagogue
- Other students that have more traditional pulpit internships have been doing 1ons with members/lay leaders - meeting with people – getting a sense of their communities

One of our goals is to create a market/pool of rabbinical students interested in this model; that can use this approach more readily when they are ordained rabbis

Devorah Servi:

How can regional directors be of support?

Several congregations are involved with synaplex. How can synaplex events help CBCO planning?

Benjamin Ross:

Rabbi Lori Geller – in LA – synnaplex was successful at her synagogue, but she found that there were some people who hadn’t been engaged through this process.

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman:

Bnai Keshet is a synaplex synagogue = the goal of synaplex is to make Shabbat into prime time for members of congregations. Then, the next question is, what do we want to happen on Shabbat?

Can we use Shabbat and the structure of synaplex for house meetings? Broader congregational conversations, on issues that resulted from house meetings and 1on1s? Synaplex is merely the vehicle – creating a structure for having events on Shabbat.

Also much of community organizing doesn't just happen on Shabbat. Community organizing is about creating a relational culture; it is less about creating specific programming Both – CBCO and synaplex – are ways of making synagogues meaningful in people’s lives...

Rabbi Toba Spitzer:

regional staff –

- there’s no short cuts. You can’t do this work/this organizing over conference call/email
- very intensive 1on1s
- visiting congregations
- helping to make the match
-focusing on 1-3 congregations/areas – intensive 1on1 work

- Boston Nov 2008 – next JRF convention

New Resources from the K'hilot K'doshot Gathering

Brian Fink — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:40:57 -0400

Videos and text handouts from the Jewish Funds for Justice K'hilot K'doshot community organizing gathering have been posted to the web. Enjoy!