Outreach
Thorough, effective outreach brings the numbers necessary to get your group going without a small circle of people getting burned out quickly, and creates diversity from the start. Becoming part of the Food Not Bombs movement changes lives; for people already involved in activism, FNB is often the first experience with service work among the poor; for those involved in service work, FNB is often an initiation into the social justice aspect. For people new to either, O what an awakening!
Consider these avenues for getting people involved:
* Outreach to existing activist organizations or service
providers by putting flyers in activist spaces.
* Call/email organizations to let them know that a Food Not Bombs is starting
up in the area.
* Table at rallies and other political events.
* Flyer at existing free meals and at progressive churches. Some places
have no political activity or social services. Here organizing is more
difficult but often more rewarding.
* Reach out to the counterculture. Flyer and table at punk shows, raves,
hip-hop shows, and Rainbow Family events. Basically, try to be at any
concert with impressionable young people, especially if no concert is
happening.
Note, however, that while reaching out to the already politically aware is effective, it is also easy and less risky. The real hard work in organizing is reaching out to people who aren't like you. Do your best to not alienate people who aren't exactly like you and who don't necessarily think the same way. Encourage creativity, openness and communication amongst the group, not a uniform ideology.
* Organize a benefit! Raising funds is always an issue
for any FNB group and a benefit (or other event) has the potential to
inspire people to get involved with your group and activism in general.
Bringing people together and having a good time! Visualize your event
- Find a venue - get performers, musicians, speakers, food, literature;
maybe films and other stuff - Get the word out; put flyers out early and
call everyone on the telephone.
* Cover college campuses, even if you don't live in a "college town"
there is probably a community college near you. Besides flyering and tabling,
make presentations to relevant classes and organize speaking events. High
schools are also good. If at least one high school student is already
involved, you have an "in" to make presentations.
* Classified ads are often effective. If your area has an "arts and
entertainment" weekly, they may let you place free ads.
* Use the internet; radical lists may turn up helpful people near you.
(see Resources section at back)
As more volunteers come in, maintain a contact list that gets circulated within the group.
Start small, but don't let the energy of new folks who may be unfamiliar with FNB go unused and unapplied. Encourage people to make Food Not Bombs their own, find commonalities in styles and visions, and don't get too frustrated if it doesn't happen instantly.
Remember to talk to everybody; We've found that people we've known for a while, that we thought would never do anything leap at the chance to do something so clearly positive and effective!
