The rituals of the organization are as important as good systems and management. They signal what is most valued and create a stickiness that binds people to the organization.
I was at a collaborative action with our local immigrants rights group & they brought an effigy pinata of the target of the protest. Pinata's themselves have their own set of songs and rituals, but the fact that at the end of it someone hits the target and candy falls out felt particularly powerful.
A couple years in a row, we schlepped toilets down to DC from Syracuse for props for actions. We had started to use them at our actions at home after hearing about how the Muskegon, Mi. NPA group used to wheel toilets into their city hall etc. We had a good working relationship with an affordable housing provider down the street--they liked our mission so they would offer us spare toilets when they were replaced. Rich had several in his garage ready to use! My favorite NPA toilet was of course the "Andrew Cuomo, ain't done shit" toilet at HUD HQ
I was at a collaborative action with our local immigrants rights group & they brought an effigy pinata of the target of the protest. Pinata's themselves have their own set of songs and rituals, but the fact that at the end of it someone hits the target and candy falls out felt particularly powerful.
A couple years in a row, we schlepped toilets down to DC from Syracuse for props for actions. We had started to use them at our actions at home after hearing about how the Muskegon, Mi. NPA group used to wheel toilets into their city hall etc. We had a good working relationship with an affordable housing provider down the street--they liked our mission so they would offer us spare toilets when they were replaced. Rich had several in his garage ready to use! My favorite NPA toilet was of course the "Andrew Cuomo, ain't done shit" toilet at HUD HQ