If not now, when? If not here, where? How can we defeat the reversal of over 100 years of democratic rights and standard of living as proposed by Trump?

1. Independent Political Organizations are not the only formation. Any where you find yourself among affected people — unions, special interest groups, women’s rights, minority nationality movements you have to coalesce with a growing group of sincere people who share our values and who have good connections with a wider group.
2. IPOs are growing in importance because our survival depends on building bastions of support for new popular people centered platforms — to the point that our largely urban and minority power bases can cause our examples in terms of institutions actual programs to be emulated among areas that made up Trump’s base.
3. IPOs are by nature political and electoral. We sharpen our precinct skills by consciously putting together ward based teams that act as a force in the vote.
4. When we are not in an election cycle, we do education around issues preferably in connection with active advocacy protesting and lobbying.
5. The recent history in our 12th ward in Chicago has created a milieu of activists that came forward in various progressive campaigns. We are a Latino super majority ward. The sons and daughters of immigrant working class residents is the fertile soil we are blessed with. They — not the work we have done to unite them — are the primary reason for our success.
6. Not every ward has this history and constituency. Our lessons are still applicable. The key to progress is always to do specific analysis of strengths and weaknesses. Some areas have more diversity and more Trump supporters. We went 88 percent against Trump.
7. Our continuing programs will tap into the leadership role we gained by campaigning under the slogan Dump Trump in the presidential election. It was not an easy decision since we too were discouraged by the defeat of Bernie Sanders. Our advantage was that we try to be immersed in the feelings of our populace. Fear of deportations is rampant and we could not — as did most other political groups in the city — just let this election pass because of fingers crossed that Nate Silver’s polls were right. We had to stand up to the threat and gained the respect we will need as we go forward.
8. In the one year since we united on some organizational rules and hallmarks, we have quadrupled in size and plan to at least double in 2017.
9. The approach is common sense: extend an open hand of unity with people who have proved their willingness to work. The types are many — old timers from campaigns going back to the 70’s, the youth who are coming into political motion because of the dire future they face, people who have made careers in serving community in schools, churches, clinics, and counseling, Individuals who may be new and with a need to belong to something with a spirit.
10, As with any group, a dedicated leadership is needed to keep things organized and on track. We have maximized communications with members and recruits with social media.
11. It took a while to realize a key fact about the specifics of a Latino community. That is: despite their shadow existence, non citizens are the single most important vehicle to spreading the word. Yes our group plays a key role in setting the agenda, but single most useful constituency (counter-intuitively) are the clutches of immigrant women who group together more any other single layer. They have deep community connections and to use a sterile political science electoral strategy of studiously skipping door bells of non voters is to miss something big.
12. This brings up the key point we make to younger activists who are full of zeal. Just as many old timers did in the ’70s, people need to make a long term commitment to being part of a constituency where they can exercise their interest in organizing.
13. Many political observers don’t get the concept of “vibe” — the unity that spreads more magically than our own necessarily limited individual efforts. Granted at the high point of mobilization, tactically proficient efforts are needed, but the awareness of a growing progressive mentality is something we build over they entire election cycle. IPOs can do that.
14. The six words that I use are: build social, cultural, and political hegemony for our vision.
15. In developing new members it is important to make sure that everyone understands the stages of gaining a lasting relationship with our precincts. In the presidential, we said “everyone work their own precincts and build a team of your own people”. Some were out there 12 hours without much help. We have to keep from setting expectations from being too high, from allowing discouragement. The district wide activities of the IPO and precinct specific tasks help with this. Participation in Local School Councils and other community based groups as well.
16. Another key concept is united front. Our current challenge is so massive that we do not have the luxury of dismissing any who are not fully on board or who have shunned us in the past. This includes progressive, even nationally specific, democratic formations and office holders. It also includes those whose main identity is more to the left than the unifying line of the IPO.
17. The relationship of a seemingly contradictory set of tasks is not so confusing. How do you go deep and go broad at the same time. Going deep means having political, social, and cultural activities designed for the very roots of the community — say a precinct committee or a local school council. Going broad means having a wide front of partners – organizations that we work closely with but don’t always agree with. Both deep and broad can be accomplished at the same time, if primary emphasis is placed on the grass roots aspect. With an army in the field, people approach us and are willing to join for their own interests. We have seen this happen in our two most recent electoral mobilizations — the primary and the general.
18. Final key concept — relating somewhat to united front — in that of circles. Our immigration mobilization to — for the first time — go outside our normal kinds of activities required us to fill a bus with at least 40 people. We did it. Most of the people on the bus were people from one circle or another that we have been in contact with. We had a strong contingent from the 25th Ward IPO. We have members of the Civilian Police Accountability Movement. And other informal circles — home town club from Oaxaca, a crew that is trying to build an IPO in the 14th ward. In this effort our own members were also a “circle” to be relied on.
19. Pass this on. We are trying to be influential among others who are searching to understand the properties and methods. The South West Side has many of the same characteristics of our ward and we want to be cooperative and up to the task before us.