TakeAction teams go to 💥Strategy Camp!💥
On November 16, members of Duluth Tenants, Twin Cities United Performers, MN United Parents, Youth Organizers, and people who have acted for Not Another Bomb came together to get grounded in the wake of the election, dig into campaign strategy, and plan for the year ahead. We heard from brilliant organizers who have campaigned for big wins for working-class people, including 

Bozeman Mayor Joey Morrison, who co-founded Bozeman Tenants and ran a successful campaign against Airbnbs pushing renters out of the city. 

Abbas Alawieh, former Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Cori Bush and co-founder of the Uncommitted Movement, who organized hundreds of thousands of voters to take a stand for peace in Gaza. 

Asha Ransby-Sporn, co-founder of the Black Youth Project 100 and an abolitionist campaigner on many projects in Chicago including the historic election of progressive mayor Brandon Johnson. 

Our main 💥Strategy Camp💥 takeaways: 

1. Strategy is for everyone.
2. Strategy is not a luxury.
3. Strategy is an anchor. 

In a second Trump presidency, there will be a lot competing for our attention. Strategy can move us from scrolling alone to collective action that can move us forward and keep us safe in moments of crisis. Plug into a TakeAction team or become a sustaining member to get involved. 

What team are you part of, and what are you trying to win? I am a part of Twin Cities United Performers (TCUP). We're organizing to make Minnesota the best place in the world to be a musician! We're taking a huge step towards that goal with our venue & artist outreach campaign which launches publicly on December 14th.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself since you started organizing? I thrive in the social and interpersonal elements of organizing. After spending years organizing on-and-off, I've seen how that tendency can lead to really strong relationships, but it can also impede action if I prioritize harmony in those relationships over our collective goals. It's not always easy to know when to push forward vs when to pause and hold space, and I am grateful for the wisdom & perspective of my comrades in those uncertain moments.

How can folks build power and act with your team right now? Tell the artists & performers in your life about TCUP, and encourage them to fill out the TCUP post-show survey after each gig for our Venue Report Card project. Also, go out and see live music, comedy, and burlesque in the Twin Cities - especially at the venues who publicly pledge to treat their artists equitably through our upcoming campaign. We want to show that audiences support venues who treat performers with respect.

Afraid, alone, exhausted, disoriented – that's exactly how Trump wants us to feel so he can make his agenda real. These 10 tips from organizer and strategist Daniel Hunter focus on how we can make room for these feelings, care for ourselves, and see clearly to act together. The three that I (Laura P.) keep repeating to myself: grieve, find your path, and “use the political space and voice you have.” At TakeAction, we’re finding clarity and resolve in Hunter’s advice. 

And that’s a wrap!  

How are you doing as November comes to a close? What are you grateful for? Reply and let us know.  

More soon, 

Laura Kiernan (she/her) 
Member Organizer 

Laura Proescholdt (she/her) 
Digital Strategist

Disclaimer: This is an independent expenditure paid for by TakeAction Minnesota, 705 Raymond Ave #100, St. Paul, MN 55114. It is not coordinated with or approved by any candidate nor is any candidate responsible for it.