how do we choose campaigns?

There are different ways in which SWOP decides which campaigns to pursue. Sometimes people come to us with a problem and request assistance. Sometimes, after analysis, the organization decides certain issues are crucial and need to be addressed. Many of our campaigns are a result of surveys done in neighborhoods that ask people what they feel are the most pressing issues in their communities. We try to apply criteria to the work we take on.

The following criteria were developed at SWOP's Retreat in Watrous, New mexico in 1992. SWOP campaigns should:

• build SWOP as an organization,
  
• build SWOP's membership,
  
• promote the economic self-defense of SWOP,
  
• have concrete impacts on poor communities of color,
  
• relate to the larger People's Movement,
  
• incorporate children and youth,
  
• address gender equality,
  
• build leadership skills of the SWOP membership,
  
• set precedent for future work,
  
• change power relations,
  
• be proactive and not reactive (whenever possible),
  
• have a clear time frame,
  
• be flexible,
  
• be realistic in scope,
  
• be structured so we can expand our limits,
  
• be winnable based on clearly definedgoals and what we define as victories,
  
• lay groundwork for future efforts,
  
• deal at teh local,regional, and national levels, and
  
• promote/ensure accountability of elected officials, institutions and agencies.

What has SWOP done? Click here for a selected list of past activities.