As we wrote in the original Indivisible Guide, Members of Congress (MoC) care enormously about maintaining a good image in their hometown media. They want to appear in-touch, well-liked and competent. They want to highlight their work on certain policy issues whenever possible—and they’d never talk about some policy issues at all, if they had their way! Splashy cable TV shows are nice, but local media really is where a MoC’s career lives and dies, and where their legacy matters most.
Across the country, many Indivisible groups have grown very big, very quickly. We love seeing all the photos pouring in of groups with hundreds of people showing up to stand Indivisible.
This surge in growth for local groups is really exciting—the more people can we can recruit, the more power we’ll have. But organizing large groups presents some unique challenges, ranging from logistical hurdles (like how to make sure everyone can fit in a single meeting room) to organizing problems (like how to communicate amongst yourselves).
Here are a few tips to help manage some of these challenges and get the most out of a large, enthusiastic group.
Several Members of Congress (MoCs) have adopted tactics aimed at suppressing your involvement in their public events and town halls. Here are some tips for dealing with Sham Town Halls in your district.
If your MoC has been “missing,” whether that means refusing to meet with your group or refusing to hold a public event, here’s how to track them down and hold them accountable.
We strongly urge you to marry the strategy in this guide with a broader commitment to creating a more just society, building local power, and addressing systemic injustice and racism
There may be times when you and other members of your group are asked to speak to a journalist. Leadership team members may be asked to answer questions about the story of your group or correct misinformation that is out there. Individuals impacted by a certain policy may have opportunities to share their stories.
You have the most leverage when you’re talking to MOCs about an issue that’s currently moving across their desks. Congressional staff regularly take meetings with folks who want to talk about stuff that’s happening in a month or next year. But a typical staffer isn’t thinking far beyond today.
