Effective Grassroots Activism with Sam Daley-Harris

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Political will is not imposed from top down by politicians, but comes from the bottom up, from concerned citizens. Sam Daley-Harris challenges civic despair and offers a powerful and effective model of citizen empowerment and leadership. His organization, RESULTS, is committed to healing the break between people and government, and to helping people take back their democracy. He encourages us to change the way we view our role in establishing government priorities. This model is more than mouse clicks advocacy. It provides a structure of training and support that leads to effective action. There are monthly conference calls, meetings with small groups, and sessions to practice presenting two minute presentations face-to-face with members of congress. He says, “Each of the great social achievements of recent decades has come about not because of government proclamations but because people organized, made demands, and made it good politics for governments to respond. It’s the political will of the people that makes and sustains the political will of governments, so if the political will of the people is a bit asleep at the wheel, then the political will of the government is likely to be asleep at the wheel.” (hosted by Justine Willis Toms)

Bio

Sam Daley-Harris is the founder of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund. RESULTS is an international grassroots citizens lobby committed to healing the break between people and government, and creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty. He is the director of the RESULTS Educational Fund’s largest project, The Microcredit Summit, a campaign to reach 100 million of the world’s poorest families, especially the women of those families, with credit for self-employment and other financial and business services.

Sam Daley-Harris is the author of:

• Reclaiming Our Democracy: Healing the Break Between People and Government, 20th Anniversary Edition (Camino Books Inc. 2013)

To learn more about Sam Daley-Harris’ work and other organizations he mentions go to:

• http://civiccourage.org/
• http://www.reclaimingourdemocracy.com
• www.results.org
• http://citizensclimatelobby.org
• www.peacealliance.org
• www.pachamama.org

Topics Explored in This Dialogue

• How he was inspired to start RESULTS
• Why RESULTS is so successful in the area of social and political change
• Why petitions and mouse clicks activism are only partially effective
• How we can get together and learn to make “elevator” presentations to our Congress persons
• Why letters to the editor are an important tool for social change
• How a progressive group established a relationship with Eric Cantor, House Majority Leader and Tea Party favorite
• Why face-to-face meetings with Congress people are important
• Who is Muhammad Yunus and how did he start microfinance

Host: Justine Willis Toms   Interview Date: 9/19/2013   Program Number: 3480

Music Playlist

From Album: Planet Passion
Artist: Ancient Future
2001 Ancient Future #AF - 2010

Opening Essay: Track 1 Simsimay Panima
Music Break 1: Track 4 I met Her In the Medowe.b
Music Break 2: Track 5 Ocean of Love
Music Break 3: Track 5 Ocean of Love (Reprise)