11 Chapter 11 – HOW DO I SEEK OUT EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES?
This chapter supports Module 11 in which you will:
- Learn about how candidates and elected officials can engage with their constituents to make sure they are addressing important issues in a way that reflects constituent lived experience and
- Learn about money and other resources needed to run a campaign — and how social work skills and perspectives are helpful here.
*******************************************************
In this chapter, we emphasize the importance of elected officials maintaining and or creating/sustaining connections with marginalized communities. As social workers we are taught to understand that lived experience is invaluable — and as O’Leary and Tsui suggest, we are fools — and possibly unethical — to not seek it out. It is easy to accept the narrative that elected officials are just out for themselves and that “all politics is rotten.” But, look! The International City/County Management Association published a whole guide on how to be a good local official and they dedicate a chapter (and some content sprinkled throughout the book) to being connected with community. They offer good ideas for elected officials and some that we can borrow for our current roles.
We also explore budget and fundraising in this installment of the Nebraska League of Women Voters’ workshop. In today’s environment campaign costs are spiraling. But, this doesn’t have to be the case in every race — especially very local races. Represent! helps us look at fundraising in a different way — as a method to get out message, build team, and engage with the electorate. And — to encourage voters to invest in us, while we show we are invested in them and their issues. That means that candidates have to be careful of what funds they accept — a significant challenge when it comes to high profile races, for sure.
********************************************************************
Read:
- International City/County Management Association (ICMA) (2017). Learning your community: A guide for elected leaders. https://icma.org/documents/leading-your-community-guide-local-elected-leaders Skim but pay special attention to chapters 4 and 6.
- O’Leary, P., & Tsui, M. (2022). Lived experience: A constant companion for the social work relationship. International Social Work, 65(6), 1075-1077. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221138677
- Candidate Boot Camp budget template
Watch
- Represent! Running for Political Office in Nebraska Virtual Campaign Training Program pt. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwrJDOdF_6g&t=3443s– 0:00-0:40 (fundraising and messaging)
