The Movement Action Plan:
A Model for How Successful Movements Work
with JoAnn McAllister
Even through grassroots activists and their social movements have been powerful and often successful throughout history, most activists believe they are powerless and feel their movement is ineffective and failing. These beliefs can become self-fulfilling prophesies that create a chain reaction of hopelessness, low energy, burnout, dropout, declining numbers, and disastrous strategies and tactics. Without a guiding framework that explains the step-by-step process of social movement success, activists are unable to set appropriate long- and short-term goals, develop appropriate strategies, tactics and campaigns; and avoid common pitfalls. The Movement Action Plan Model provides tools of analysis and action, and offers great hope to those working to change society.
JoAnn McAllister is the Director of the Human Science Degree Program at Saybrook University in San Francisco. JoAnn develops programs for community-based organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies, and participated in numerous social movements over the last 30 years. She is the co-author of Doing Democracy: The MAP Model of Social Movements, developed by non-violent activist and trainer Bill Moyer who began working for social change with the American Friends Service Committee in the 1960s and then as staff with Dr. Martin Luther King, and participated in or trained activists in almost every major social change initiative over the succeeding forty years.
Participants will be invited to begin analyzing the stages of the Occupy movement and the roles that citizens – activists, rebels, change agents, and reformers – are playing in bringing about systemic change.
Time will be allotted for Q&A, discussion and announcements. Donations to Occupy Forum to cover costs are encouraged; no one turned away!