Field Guide for CATS and Task-Forces:
1- Take the Leap! Start a Group!
- “No one can do everything but everyone can do something.”
- Find 1 person like you and start a group. Something is better than nothing. We dig through a mountain by persistently chipping away at the rock.
- Choose a Name and mission statement.
- Pick a routine and meet regularly in person if possible, to encourage, share, problem solve and motivate. Having a routine meeting also can help facilitate welcoming new participants.
- Reach out and build your crew.
2- Main Issue to Rally behind
- Choose a hot topic focus issue that people can rally behind.
- Identify like-minded parents and community members.
- This is your “Task-Force”. Start with one and move on from there.
3- Establish an organizational structure.
- Leadership – meeting facilitator;
- Membership – outreach, membership engagement; Communications – website, social media, public relations, op-ed and letter writing;
- Research – FOIAs and data analysis;
- Take meeting notes and share to group members
- Communication. Internal and external. You will want a routine general public newsletter. You will want a separate smaller group of members only data list for sharing meeting notes or sensitive information.
4- Strategies for effective Task Forces
- Messaging, Some find value in setting up a social media account for messaging purposes. Think strategically. What is your purpose? What platform best enables your purpose and then stick with the 1 or 2 that works best for your group.
- Prep – come up with talking points and messaging strategies before interacting in a public arena or with the media. Help each other find the pitfalls to stay away from and how to most effectively communicate your topic.
- Identify influencers. Can you identify key policymakers and which ones are your allies?
5- Investigate/Research is Key:
- Choose a Current Issue of concern and dig in!
- File FOIA requests.
- Identify whether there are external actors that are promoting divisive topics.
- Share your findings with likeminded groups!
6 – Educate
- Educate the community through Posts, Letters to the Editor, press releases, or take out an ad. Make use of the Community boards in your area.
- Create a one-page fact sheet explaining your issue. Use plain language, and make it simple to understand.
- Set up accounts with free content platforms, such as Medium, Substack, and Patch, with your organizational name, so you can publish content regularly. Record your public activities here; events, op-eds, info sheets, etc.
- In-person or On-line Info-sesions with key speakers invite the community and your members to be informed and equipped on an issue.
- Set up a Town hall. Invite key players on both sides to discuss the issue at hand.
- Meet with community groups. Raise the issue at events held by other organizations where there might be overlap, such as a PTA or Community meeting.
- Get involved in your community. Be seen as a positive group that gives back.
- Promote the idea that “a Healthy Society encourages Questions and Civil Debate of Ideas”
- Create Videos and graphics to help message your key points.
Resources: (many of our current CAT teams and Task forces have education as a prime focus so some of the below are geared more toward that topic)
7 Tips for building a group – ciah_7_tips_for_building_a_
Parent Engagement Field Guide – Parent Engagement Field Guide – Parents Defending Education
Emergency Orders – Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Empowers Parents, States, and Communities to Improve Education Outcomes – ]
Report and Incident to the Office of Civil Rights – Department of Education Form
Resource groups:
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