How’d We Do? (Step 6 of 6)

[SARN Memo for November 4, 2009]

[In this six-step series, we’re looking at the spiral model of community organizing. It’s a great tool to help groups make change by working together. It works well for small groups. This week: Step Six.]

Step Six is the last step in the process. It is when you reflect on what happened.

You took your action (Step Five). Perhaps it was a big success. Or maybe it flopped a little bit. Either way, now that it’s over, you’re not quite done.

Take time to look back and decide how it went. That way, when you do another action, you can learn from your past successes and failures.

1. Step Six of the Spiral Model of Community Organizing: Reflect
2. More about the Spiral Model of Community Organizing
3. Group Activity: Evaluate Your Meeting
4. Resource

• Respond to this memo!

---

1. Step Six of the Spiral Model of Community Organizing: Reflect

Every action deserves reflection. In this step, the group assesses what happened and asks, “Was it effective?” You analyze both the positives and the negatives. This evaluation gives the group powerful information—and skills—which they can use next time.

(Now that you’ve completed your action and evaluation, you can start over at Step One. Talk some more and see what else you have in common that you might work on together. Keep going.)

---

2. More about the Spiral Model of Community Organizing

The spiral model of community organizing is a six-step process that leads to lasting change. It’s a method for groups to identify areas of common concern and then address these issues by working together. Like all community organizing, using this model will strengthen your self-advocacy group. It will build leadership skills in all members. (The method was developed by the Doris Marshall Institute of Toronto.)

---

3. Group Activity: Evaluate Your Meeting

Evaluation is a good way to improve any group effort. For instance, evaluation can improve your weekly self-advocacy meetings.

Next time your group meets, take five minutes at the end of the meeting to evaluate how the meeting itself went (too long, great treats, need better chairs, good participation by everyone, etc.). What are some things that went well? What are some things we want to remember to do next time? What are some things that we could do better next time? Write down people’s ideas on big paper, sorted into two columns (+/-).

---

4. Resource

Step By Step: Understanding the Spiral Model of Community Organizing
In this self-led workshop, you can learn together about the Spiral Model of Community Organizing using a variety of interactive exercises.

---

---