Over-the-Rhine People's Movement: Writing for housing justice

Here's how writing in specific genres helped organize and mobilize generations of Over-the-Rhine community activists.

Over-the-Rhine is a neighborhood in Cincinnati adjacent to the downtown central business district. Below are narratives and poems representative of housing justice activism taking place in the neighborhood over the past five decades . Additionally, there's a link to Streetvibes, a street newspaper published by the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. The GCHC is part of a larger family of organizations known as the Over-the-Rhine People's Movement in Cincinnati. The Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement represents a fifty year-plus grassroots effort to organize and advocate on behalf of low-income residents, workers, and those experiencing homelessness. This movement involves a coalition of progressive groups based in organizations of social service, community education, the arts, landlord-tent relations, welfare rights, and affordable housing development. Collectively, these groups challenge the prevailing desire to “revitalize” Over-the-Rhine into a gentrified neighborhood as an extension of the downtown central business district.

"The Peoples Move" by Bonnie Neumeier. In this multi-genre text, Bonnie describes the motivation behind her community activism and the early motivations for Over-the-Rhine People's Movement for Housing Justice.

"Witches" by June Alexander. In "Witches," Ms. June makes clear the importance of family and home.

Streetvibes. Streeetvibes is the media arm of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. This street newspaper part of the International Street Newspaper Movement; the focus of the paper is building community and advocating for housing justice.

Competing Narratives of Over-The-Rhine

whose interests are served by these Narratives?

The dominant narratives of poverty and urban renaissance form a flashpoint that serves the interests of city government, the White middle-class, and Corporate Cincinnati, and against the interests of Over-the-Rhine residents and workers. The Over-the-Rhine People's Movement narrative competes with these two dominant narratives to represent the struggle for housing justice in the neighborhood over the last fifty-plus years.

How to Write an Op-Ed

An op-ed, short for opposite the editorial page, is an opinionated article submitted to a newspaper for publication. They are written by members of the community, not newspaper employees. Op-eds give the Streetvibes opinion pages the opportunity to present views we wouldn't normally be able to publish. These are often effective for entering the public conversation about an issue, and considered an "appropriate" way to present oppositional viewpoints.

Track the news and jump at opportunities. Timing is critical.
Limit the article to 750 words.
Make a single point, and do it well.
Put your main point on top.
Tell readers why they should care.
Offer specific recommendations:
Showing is better than discussing.
Embrace your personal voice.

Below is an example of an Op-Ed that appeared in Streetvibes.

Voices Community Newspaper

Voices was a community newspaper in Over-the-Rhine published and circulated in the neighborhood from 1969-1983, chronicling the work of activism over that time period. The paper was a DIY, grassroots publication using the readily available tools that existed before the common use of computers and digital publishing. Without Voices, there is no Streetvibes; when the neighborhood activists of 1969 started Voices, they met on stoops and in living rooms, talked, wrote a mission statement, planned, pooled their resources, found a printer, and began churning out regular issues. Below is the Voices mission statement; after that is a quick "how-to" when it comes to writing a mission statement.

The Voices mission Statement

Example pages from the Voices Community Newspaper.

Understand Your Purpose: Before you start writing, clearly undestand the purpose of your activism. What specifi issue or cause are you advocating for? What change or impact do you want to see in society?
Identify Your Values. Consider the core values that guide your activism. These could be principles such as justice, equality, sustainability, compassion, or human rights. Your mission statement should reflect these values.
Define your goals: What are the the specific goals and objectives of your activism? Think about the outcomes you aim ot achieve in the short-term and long-term. your mission statement should articulate these goals clearly.
Know Your Audience: consider who your mission statement is directed towards. This could be fellow activists, supporters, policymakers, or the general public. Tailor your language and tone to resonate with your target audience.
Keep It Clear and Concise: A mission statement should be concise and easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or overly complex language. Aim for clarity and simplicity so that your message is accessible to everyone.
Inject Passion and Inspiration: Your mission statement should evoke emotion and inspire others to join your cause. Use passionate language that conveys the urgency and importance of your activism.
Make It Memorable: Craft a mission statement that is memorable and impactful. Consider using rhetorical devices such as alliteration or parallel structure to make your statement more compelling.
Review and Revise: Once you've drafted your missions statement, review it carefully to ensure it accurately represents your activism. Seek feedback from fellow activists or supporters and be open to making revisions as needed.

How to Write a mission statement in 8 steps

An example of a successful demonstration

This demonstration occurred outside Cincinnati City Hall on August 2, 2023. It was organized using techniques similar to the 12 steps below.

Writing to organize a demonstration in 12 steps

Organizing a demonstration involves several steps to ensure it is effective, safe, and lawful. Here's a general guide on how to organize a demonstration:

1. Define your purpose: Clearly articulate the cause or issue you're demonstrating for. What change do you hope to achieve? Make sure your message is clear and concise. Use writing to work through this; write down your final message; use it in emails, phone calls, and social media messaging. It's okay to have a template/script!

2. Choose a location and date: Select a location that is relevant to your cause and easily accessible to participants. Consider obtaining permits if necessary. Choose a date and time that maximizes attendance and visibility.

3. Promote your demonstration: Spread the word through social media, email lists, community organizations, and word of mouth. Create a catchy hashtag to increase visibility on social media platforms.

4. Recruit volunteers: Build a team of volunteers to help with logistics, crowd control, first aid, media outreach, and other tasks. Assign specific roles and responsibilities to each volunteer.

5. Develop a safety plan: Identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. Ensure participants know what to do in case of emergencies. Coordinate with local law enforcement and emergency services if necessary.

6. Create signs and banners: Design eye-catching signs and banners that convey your message effectively. Use large fonts and bold colors for maximum visibility.

7. Coordinate speakers and performers: Invite speakers, musicians, poets, or other performers to engage and inspire participants. Make sure their messages align with the purpose of the demonstration.

8. Arrange transportation and accommodation: If participants are traveling from out of town, arrange transportation and accommodation options. Provide information on public transportation and parking for local participants.

9. Plan for media coverage: Reach out to local media outlets to inform them about your demonstration. Prepare press releases, media kits, and talking points for spokespeople.

10. Ensure legal compliance: Familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations regarding demonstrations, permits, and public gatherings. Obtain any necessary permits and follow all relevant guidelines.

11. Facilitate peaceful protest: Emphasize the importance of peaceful and respectful behavior among participants. Train volunteers in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques.

12. Follow up: After the demonstration, debrief with your team to evaluate what went well and what could be improved. Follow up with media outlets and decision-makers to keep momentum going.

Remember that organizing a demonstration requires careful planning, coordination, and communication. By following these steps, you can increase the likelihood of a successful protest.

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