Northside DFA: the steering committee is important

In a previous post I extolled Northside DFA as an effective model for building political power at the local level (with local money).

I explained the external stuff that people see, but this post is going to get into what makes NDFA work. NDFA has bylaws, but it's really the steering committee that makes it happen.

So, this blog entry will deal with the details of the steering committee. The final paragraph will explain how this connects to the 2020 Dem primary campaigns.

theory of building political power

In 1994, I returned to the United States, after 4 1/2 years of military duty in Asia (one ship homeported in Sasebo, Japan, one ship homeported in Yokosuka, Japan (greater Tokyo area) and the UN peacekeeping mission in Cambodia).

My final tour in the Navy was Navy Recruiting District Chicago (1994-96). Even during that time I was already engaging in activism and political activity. Since getting out of the Navy, I have interfaced with lots of parts of the nonprofit world, media, political organizations and political campaigns.

The best political organization for empowering people where they are at and letting the members set the direction is Northside DFA in Chicago.

While the organizing model used by Northside DFA is excellent at what NDFA does, it needs to be complemented by organizations motivated by the same valued that do other things.

Four organizations necessary to build political power:

• electoral campaigns
• issue advocacy
• fundraising, foundation-ing
• media

I'll explain below the fold.