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To an ever-increasing degree, computers and sophisticated information technologies are opening up new avenues for political organizing and grassroots mobilization. Advanced technology has the potential to invigorate democracy, but only if we overcome the growing gap between communities that have access to it and those who do not. While the far right quickly put new technology to work in their outreach and fundraising, many social justice movements have lagged behind in acknowledging its enormous potential. In recognition of technology's critical importance, Northeast Action inaugurated its ePower Project in the year 2000. The Project's goals are to provide our state affiliates with advanced technical tools for organizing and building power, including tools to map membership, plan issue and organizing campaigns and facilitate strategic decisions on where to focus attention and resources. The project also seeks to ensure the effective use of these tools by providing our affiliated organizations with initial and on-going technical training and other assistance. The training and technical assistance component has been an ePower priority from the beginning; a lesson we learned from the experience of the environmental movement. Environmental organizations were the first to realize the potential of new computer technology to transform the way progressives organize our members and conduct outreach and constituency engagement. To date, these organizations have spent considerable sums of money on software, voter files and list enhancement. Some environmental groups, like WEAVE in the Northwest, have been extremely effective in their use of this technology. Because these successful groups focus equal or greater resources on training, in developing ePower we recognized that training and expertise in the use and applications of technology was the most important factor in realizing its full potential. Acquiring advanced technology should never be a goal in and of itself; it is only a means to do our work more accurately and effectively. |
• Mapping Progressive
Power: Effective use of
lists enhanced with voting district and other information enables our affiliates
to map where current and potential members live, work and vote. Northeast
Action is helping our affiliates with technical expertise, and do some
initial mapping for them.
• Putting Enhanced
Lists and Maps to Use: We
help affiliates develop strategic plans and activities employing enhanced
lists and maps. Such activities include membership mobilization,
issue campaigns, non-partisan registration efforts, new member drives,
fundraising, etc.
• Training
Staff: We conduct specific
training sessions on the use of enhanced lists in constituency and civic
engagement and provide other on-going training. We also work with each
affiliate to identify staff who will act as circuit riders and resources
for other progressive organizations in their states.
• Introducing
Additional Technical Tools: We
will advise state coalitions and citizen action groups about a wide array
of other technical tools (web sites, list serves, electronic calendars,
etc.) to help them contact constituencies, maximize membership mobilization,
and increase operational efficiency.
• Promoting
Strategic Technology Planning: Northeast
Action works intensively with each affiliate, and with the network as a
whole, to integrate technology and technology planning into our existing
state and regional strategic planning processes.
• Finding and
Providing Hardware and Software: Providing
(and identifying cost-effective ways of obtaining) equipment and training
will make it possible for organizations and key individuals with limited
resources to keep up as the information age moves forward.
To achieve these goals the ePower Project provides our affiliates:
For ePower publications and resources, click here.