Introduction to Bottoms Up: A Guide to Grassroots Activism

(Note: Bottoms Up is all new for 2008, and will continue to evolve online throughout the year)


Published online in 2001, Bottoms Up: A Guide to Grassroots Activism is compiled and updated by the staff of November Coalition. Drawing from experiences of hundreds of community volunteers, Bottoms Up is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to creating the social change you want.

Chances are that you're reading this because you want to change unfair drug laws, be part of that "reform movement" you've heard about, but are unsure how to begin. Many readers have a loved one incarcerated and want to channel anger or frustration into positive action to change bad laws. You are joining an active network of family, friends, and concerned citizens advocating for prisoners of the war on drugs.

You don't need experience in organizing to take action now. If you're motivated to make changes, and to work with others who feel the way you do, this guide offers "tools" to help you become an effective leader in the fight against drug war injustice.

Events can be a public forum, a neighborhood planning meeting, vigil, march, meeting with officials, a media interview, church presentation, informal discussion group, or a potluck, to name some specific examples. Show a provocative documentary and have a discussion -- we have films available.

Your group might be new, your organizing skills limited, but you want to end drug war injustice and bring needed reform to prisons and the criminal justice system. To make the job easier, we have included suggestions, checklists and supplies for each type of event. No matter whether you're a beginner or seasoned activist, organizers are coached to be creative. When more involved, you'll be eager to share your ideas with others. We hope to see your upcoming meetings or events in Local Scenes soon.

We welcome any comments or constructive criticism.

New in 2008!

November Coalition members all over the country want an election year to matter. During election years, especially presidential election years, people may believe it's too politically noisy to accomplish much on issues not rising to presidential attention. If we find that our issue of drug war excess and injustice isn't on a candidate's platform-list, (typical since the drug war began), we quietly huddle and wait out the election.

But election years allow us to meet people who only 'get active' every four years, but when they do, they 'are active'! Politics is organized, and we want our volunteers to learn about citizen mobilization in years like this. Aside from being the person to ask the hard questions at candidate forums, friendships and working relationships can endure past election cycles.

We also plan local and regional activities of our own merit -- tied tightly to our issue. These are activities that community leaders, or a small group of volunteers, can do where they live and throughout the year. We share them with you, hoping you'll work on one or more of these projects yourself.

Before April ends, another national Earth Day will have been organized, and November Coalition provides displays for people who will table. See November Coalitions' Family Album -- The Drug War: It's Prisons Poisons and Environmental Racism.

Be sure to check the online calendar for November Coalition's and allied group events. A few highlights this year include: In mid-July, some of November members met in The Bronx (NY) for the Isidro Aviles' Annual Memorial Picnic. In October Critical Resistance in Oakland (CA) celebrates ten years of organizing. Both of these important gatherings on opposite coasts will be spent meeting others with an eye to developing long term strategies -- not in isolation, but in collaboration with other groups.

Perhaps we'll meet you this year -- we hope so.

Two issues of the Razor Wire will be mailed to members this year, along with any urgent, highly important federal law or legislative alerts. Current and past issues of November Coalition's publication are available online, the current issue available for bulk distribution. Contact us to receive extra copies to use at your public events and planning meetings.

For ideas about community action, visit Local Scenes, a website section where regional volunteer leaders share reports of their local activities.

Without published material like the Razor Wire, it's almost impossible for people imprisoned to be informed. If you aren't already a member, your annual dues are foundation to our programs for 2008 and beyond. We make supporting our organization easy -- Join Today!

If you have suggestions for Bottom's Up or any volunteer activities presented here, we'd enjoy hearing from you.

—November Coalition staff 2008

• Introduction
• Get Started
• Organizing
• Public Activities
• Be the Media
• Public Spaces
• Posters, Flyers
• Displays
• Get Publicity
• Fundraising
• Tool Kit
• Contact Us
• November Videos
• Reading Room