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Presenters: Cressey, Rogers, Weber

Michael Weber
Program Director, Farm Animal Rights Movement

• Two purposes of grassroots activism: to achieve a local result or to be the local branch of a national effort
• In my experience, grassroots activism is exponentially more effective when supported by national effort.
• Kath and Charlotte can discuss regional and local efforts when they are done solely in the area AND when part of a larger effort; I will discuss relationships between nationals and locals.
• Why national orgs need grassroots activists: volunteer organizers are the lifeblood of an effective national outreach organization
• Grassroots activists enable an org like FARM, with events in all 50 states and 30 countries, to operate primarily from a single 8-person office.
• If a national group’s volunteers fall through, their campaigns fall through.
• Why grassroots need nationals:  
• Grassroots public education is exponentially more effective when supported by national effort.
• National campaigns provide grassroots with materials, media connections, messaging, etc.
• Larger groups allow locals to share mistakes and successes with the public and to spread great ideas (i.e. PPV)
• Working together
• Example: APRL and FARM on Prop 2 follow-through