FAQ's

Harriet Tubman Center for Organizing

1700 Waterman,  Detroit MI 48209   313-549-0421 wobrien@swsol.org (Bill O’Brien)

Frequently Asked Questions

 Recruiting?                                                                           

Our best experience thus far is through multiple contacts at University of Michigan.  We are also developing contacts at Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, UM Dearborn, Syracuse U.  Other venues are being sought in Michigan and around the US.

 Internship Sites?    

Most important is the available quality of supervision.  HTC has begun to consult and provide organizing services in a variety of neighborhood and institutional settings…with the assurance of strong supervision by a trained organizer and access to the bi-weekly Tubman Seminars.  Tubman provides interns, services, training and consulting across Michigan…in the following settings:

  • SW Solutions in SW Detroit:  we develop leadership and strategy for parents’ groups (Local School Community Organizations) and neighborhood groups.  A leadership training institute is envisioned for the fall of 2009.

 

  • 7 Public Schools in SW Detroit, building the base and leadership of parents’ groups (LSCO’s) through action strategies to impact neighborhood conditions.

 

  • Principals of SW Detroit:  building relationships and convening 20 principals to press for additional police action on violent gang and drug operators affecting their students and families.

 

  • Youth Organizing/YOUTH VOICE:  working with SW Detroit youth-serving agencies and high schools.  Youth leaders held a 250-student meeting with a mayoral candidates on May 1, then did actions leading to face-to-face meeting with newly elected Mayor Bing on June 3.

 

  • Homeless Organizing/DAC:  residents/customers at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen have formed their own power organization (Detroit Action Commonwealth), forcing improvements in local homeless shelters, effecting better service from Secretary of State, meeting with mayoral candidates on DAC issues of transportation and living conditions.  DAC is expanding citywide.

 

  • Gesu Communities United:  neighborhood/church organizing base in the McNichols/Livernois neighborhood; action meetings of 275 people and 350 people in the last 2 years.  Tubman interns work with Gesu Church and the Fitzgerald neighborhood organization.

 

  • St. Cecelia/Ponchartrain Neighborhood Council:  neighborhood and church-based organizing in Grand River/Livernois neighborhood.  Tubman interns active during the past 3 years.

 

  • Battle Creek Creating Change:  neighborhood organization, local issues, expansion to other neighborhoods.

 

  • ISAAC Kalamazoo:  intern working with HTC grad, Rachael Tanner, director of ISAAC, a congregation-centered community organization in regional Kalamazoo.

When did HTC begin?

In Mid-2006, several organizers and leaders met to create HTC as an organization to recruit and develop new community organizers.  We incorporated and opened a bank account.  We placed our first intern (UM ’06 Graduate Andres Kwon) in Syracuse with the ACTS Congregation-centered Community Organization.  Bill O’Brien, then regional director (MI-NY-OH-WV-PA) of Gamaliel Foundation, directed his work. 

Incorporation, 501c3, Accounting, Funding?                    

In May, 2008, HTC became it own independent non-profit corporation and in August, 2008 we received our 501c3 status from the IRS.  We began our independent bookkeeping, and contracted with Paychex for our payroll services.  We are preparing for our first formal audit of finances.  Funding has been received from the Mott Foundation, Kresge Foundation, UFCW Foundation and University of Michigan.  Fees for services have also been received in partial payment for interns.

Staff and Board?                                                                 

  • Bill O’Brien, on May 7, 2008, was hired (1-day a week) as director. 
  • Board Members: 
    • Chair Prof. Greg Markus, PhD (UM Political Science);
    • Vice-Chair Rev. Ronald Davis (Pastor, Jersey CME);
    • Secretary Ms. Rachael Tanner (Director, ISAAC Kalamazoo);
    • Treasurer Rev. Kevin Turman (Pastor Second Baptist, President of MOSES).
    • Member, Rev. Ted Parker (Pastor, St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Detroit)

Organizer recruitment?                                                       

HTC has placed and supervised over 50 intern candidates, and has engaged in the training of dozens more students who consider organizing as a possible career path.  Besides some national advertising, we recruit in the following ways:

  • training of dozens of UM Students in field placements through Professor Greg Markus (Political Science), Professor Barbara Israel (Public Health) and UM Semester in Detroit; 
  • significant class presentations at UM, UM Dearborn, Western Michigan University;
  • additional recruitment through staff:  MSU, WSU, Syracuse U, Fordham, Smith College.

Organizer development:                                                      

We take seriously the successful development of organizers from their initial interest through their professional placement and continued development.  Phases of the development include:

  • Pre-internship candidacy program:  students are given supervision and direction in a variety of organizing venues (schools, congregations, soup kitchens, neighborhood organizations) throughout SE Michigan.  Promising candidates are offered 3-month internships.
  • 3-month internship:  6-8 paid internships are offered with close supervision, weekly seminars, reading assignments, retreats.
  • 6-month fellowship:  successful interns are assisted in locating suitable follow-up work that will likely lead to full-time professional engagement as an organizer.
  • Solidarity events and continuing education:  twice yearly, graduates and associates of HTC are offered a retreat experience to talk about their work, develop their professional plans and find solidarity with other organizers.  Periodically HTC organizes events and dialogue for continuing education with professional organizers, foundation directors, political leaders, etc.
  • Professional Development:  HTC contributed half of the cost for 2 successful interns to travel to Guatemala for 2 months of language school in order to develop their capacity as professional organizers.  This experimental action was successful, and HTC will review continuing and expanding this kind of professional development

Successful Placement of Professional Organizers:            

In the few years of operation, we have given paid internships to 30 organizers, and provided candidacy supervision for dozens of others.  Some choose not to continue in community organizing.  However, other Tubman grads have moved ahead in a career of community organizing: 

  • Andres Kwon graduated from UM in ’06, served the 3-month internship and the 6-month fellowship and since then has been the lead organizer for ACTS of Syracuse.
  • Jaime Nelson graduated form UM in ’07, served a brief internship and has continued fellowship and development with HTC.  She is the Lead Organizer of Creating Change in Battle Creek.
  • Rachael Tanner graduated from UM in ’07 and after the 3 and 6 month programs was named Lead Organizer for ISAAC in Kalamazoo.
  • Chris Dadok graduated from UM in ’08, served internships in Battle Creek, served as Deputy Director/Education and Youth Organizer of HTC.
  • Jomil Wells graduated from Western Michigan in 2008, served her internships and is presently a professional organizer with ISAAC Kalamazoo.
  • Eric Fergen graduated from Fordham in 2004, completed a Tubman internship and is lead organizer of NOAH Niagara Falls.
  • Sarah Sweeney graduated from UM in 2007, used her Tubman internship to build Gesu Communities United and joined the staff of Catholic Alliance for the Common Good (DC).
  • Brian Peck graduated from UM in 2007, completed a Tubman internship and in 2008 joined the Michigan organizing team for Catholic Alliance for the Common Good.

Website?                                                                                 www.Tubmanorganizing.org.  Website Manager is Joe Rashid (jrashid@swsol.org).   Sarah Sweeney (HTC ‘07 Grad) serves as Alumni Advisor to the Website Manager (sarah.anne.sweeney@gmail.com). 

Further information:           

Bill O’Brien, Director of Tubman, 313-549-0421…wobrien@swsol.org