Campaign Strategy

Topics & Concepts: Root Cause Tree Analysis, Campaign Strategy, Issue, Demands, Base, Allies, Opponents, Targets, Escalating Tactics, 13 Tactics of Social Change, Direct Service, Propaganda, Education, Spiritual Work, Public art & performance, Legal & Political organizing, Community Organizing, Economic pressure, Strikes, Building Alternative Institutions, Marches & rallies, Civil Disobedience & Direct Action, Militant Rebellion, 1968 L.A. Student Walkouts

Guiding Questions:

• What makes a campaign successful?

• In what ways was the strategy implemented in the Chicano student walkouts of 1968 effective?

• What tactics can be used to solve an current issue like homelessness?

• What strategic course action would you propose to address an issue facing your community today?

Unit Sequence:

• This unit starts with an introduction to Root Cause Tree analysis and Campaign Strategy. First, students create a Root Cause Tree of high school drop-outs and two issues of their choice. Then, they apply the Campaign Strategy framework to the Raining Rock Parable.

• During the second half of Week 1, students watch the 2006 HBO film "Walkout" about the 1968 L.A. student walkouts, analyzing the root causes and campaign strategy of the movement. After watching "Walkout" students discuss whether their campaign was a success using the Campaign Criteria Checklist - Empower participants, Educate community, Teach participants how to organize, Impact target, Tone, Media, Logistics, Safety, Collaboration.

• In Week 2, students explore tactics in greater depth. On the first day, students are introduced to the concept of escalating tactics and create a map of the escalating tactics in the film "Walkout." Then, they are introduced to the 13 Tactics of Social Change framework and use it to analyze images of resistance to homelessness. The rest of the week is devoted to additional campaign case studies of the teacher's choice.

• In Week 3, students work in groups to apply their understanding of root cause analysis, campaign strategy and escalating tactics to create a campaign strategy proposal for an issue in their community. On Days 1, 2 and 3, groups research their issue, develop their analysis and write a campaign proposal. On Day 4, students create a poster, logo and chant for their campaign. On Days 5 and 6, groups present their proposals to the class. Following each presentation, the class discusses whether the strategy presented could be effective approach to address the issue at hand.

Notes on Materials Included:

• This folder includes slides for the first two weeks of instruction and student materials for all three weeks.

• "Walkout" can be streamed from HBO GO, Amazon Prime or Putlocker.

• No unit plan is included however the first 40 slides outline the sequence of instruction for the first two weeks of lessons. These slides use the Black Panther Party as the second case study based on the 2016 exhibit at the Oakland Museum.

• Additional slides (41-66) and case study materials are included for these alternative case studies:

  • • The film "Selma" - available for checkout through the Ethnic Studies Lending Library.

    • The film "Viva la Causa" - an MP4 is included in the folder.

    • Videos of contemporary organizing tactics - linked to in the unit slides.

• The "Strategy poster final project packet" file contains all student handouts for Week 3, as well as stamp sheets for keeping students on task, learning targets and do nows for each day.