How to Organize a Community Speak-Out Project
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Oregon Speak Out Project Portland, Oregon The Oregon Speak Out Project is a grassroots service organization designed to educate people about the realities of gay, lesbian and bisexual people by countering stereotypes and negative images in a non-confrontational style. This article describes the basics of establishing a.speak-out project. Goals and Philosophy. The Oregon Speak Out Project works to support efforts to educate the public about the lives of gay, lesbian and bisexual people by training and supporting communitybased organizations, speakers, writers and researchers. Our philosophy is that everyone counts. We cannot afford to ignore anyone. We are not waging war, but conducting an educational dialogue. We don't want to win because we have the biggest guns, but because we will win people over to our side with the truth. We also believe that local voices matter most. Members of a community speaking to other members can accomplish what no outsider can. OSOP helps groups start speakers' bureaus, and offers concrete suggestions and suggested guidelines for organizing community speaking projects. We also serve as a continuing support service that works to keep local groups energized, empowered, and most importantly, informed. An effective community outreach program will reach business, professional and religious organizations in suburban and outlying communities of urban areas. It coordinates and develops speaking engagements. It includes monitoring local media, issuing press releases, providing support for speakers and pursuing civic support. Finding Speaking Engagements. Speaking engagements are an essential element in any educational program, allowing your group to get its message out. These engagements, however, don't just come your way. An effective way to maximize the number of speaking engagements for your group is to: Identify fraternal, civic, religious, and secular organizations in the community and develop a database. Send introductory, informative letters that request the opportunity to speak to the organization's board or membership. Follow up to arrange to speak or to provide more information. Keep a master calendar of speaking engagements and a record of the degree of receptiveness of the organization. You should compile a database of all the organizations contacted. This database will become an invaluable instrument as you schedule your speaking engagements. As items change, update the database. An inaccurate database will lose you time and likely speaking engagements. Speaking Out In Schools. Include educational outreach to high schools as part of your speaking program. Look for opportunities to provide speakers and educational materials that emphasize respect for diversity in our communities and support of equal rights for all citizens. It is important to bring the debate to students, many of whom have never given much thought to equal rights for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Most students are not of voting age, but it is important to begin the debate at this level, since continued ignorance will need to be addressed in the future. The most important element of speaking at a school is to be aware that there may be significant intellectual and cultural differences between the speaker and the audience. Never assume that students share the same value system with the speaker, or that they understand themes such as constitutional rights, civil rights, or even the Golden Rule. When speaking to students, it is important to have a certain level of personalization of issues to effectively communicate any point. Two speakers, preferably with different styles and backgrounds, are best. Always have a message when speaking to students. The students may be able to relate to a theme, and it is important to have it developed prior to your engagement. Media Outreach. No community outreach program would be complete without a significant media component. The following are the ways we have worked with the media to deliver our message. Newspaper monitoring. Monitor national, regional, and local newspapers and periodicals for articles or letters to the editor addressing gay/lesbian issues. Train volunteers to write letters and articles about the real lives and concerns of lesbian and gay people. Coordinate responses. It is equally important to make your community aware, both in advance and afterwards, of any positive public educational event. Press releases announcing the event need to be sent to the media. Speakers should be prepared to speak to local reporters or, if possible, editorial boards. Write letters and opinion pieces. Your local newspaper is a key educational forum. A coordinated lettertotheeditor program can be extremely effective in getting correct information and supportive themes to the community. Letters need to be sent rebutting any erroneous arguments. Part of your program needs to include submission of letters prior to the opposition's. By taking this approach, you will see the tenor of the debate turn to your control. Letters-to-the-editor campaigns need to be coordinated with individuals in locations around your state. Sample letters providing accurate information can be provided on computer disk. These letters can then be revised and personalized. Coordination with other individuals allows for a common theme to appear regarding your issues. An effective letter will include: Identification of the individual responding as a resident of the area Concise, not terse, prose Factual, not clinical, information and analysis At least one positive theme. Regional radio and cable television. Contact radio stations and cableaccess television to offer local speakers for talk shows, callin shows, or other forums on gay and lesbian concerns. In most areas, local subscribers must be provided cable access, something that was used effectively in the counties adjacent to Portland, Oregon. If there is cable access in your area, consider providing the cable companies with a videotape of a public educational event, speaking engagement, or other positive video for airing. Talk shows: Your outreach program can also look for opportunities to participate in radio debates and talk shows in the area. Local radio stations will often have guests for comment or to participate in live debates. Speakers should be prepared in much the same way as for speaking engagements. In a state such as Oregon, it was relatively easy for OSOP to coordinate monitoring the statewide media from a central location. This centralization allows for a coordinated effort statewide. However, the responses should be from local citizens.