TWM Education Fund is part of an organizing tradition that goes back to the south side of Chicago in the late 1930’s. A young criminologist by the name of Saul Alinksy, who had been influenced by John L. Lewis and the American labor movement, built a very powerful democratic citizen organization in south Chicago called the Back of the Yards Community Council.
The success of that effort led to the creation of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) a network of organizers and organizations that now has over 60 affiliates across the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany and Australia. Together West Michigan is the local affiliate in West Michigan. TWM Education Fund is a training and education partner organization to TWM and other non-profits in Michigan. The links below will take you to foundational articles, book chapters and think pieces that illustrate some aspect of our organizing tradition or teach one of our “universals of social change.”
Reading and Resources:
Brueggemann, Walter – Blessed are the History Makers
Edward T. Chambers – Roots for Radicals, Relational Meetings
Cortes, Ernesto Jr. – Reclaiming our Birthright
Cortes, Ernesto Jr. – Toward a Democratic Culture
Loomer, Bernard – The Two Conceptions of Power
Nyberg, David – Power over Power
Pyane, Charles- I’ve Got the Light of Freedom
Notes on Relational Meetings (PDF)
Videos:
Ernesto Cortés, Jr. on Relational Meetings
Ernie Cortes Honored as 1 of 7 Texans who have helped change the state for the better
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