I went into the ministry thinking that the church was a vehicle for social change. In 1964 I went down south and as a Methodist minister was arrested for attempting to go to worship at a Methodist Church in Jackson MS, because I was with a black person. After a week in jail, when I got back home my District Superintendent said to me, "Shel if you keep doing these things you will never get a suburban church." Having never equated the Gospel or success with "getting a suburban church", I left the ministry.
Tom Gaudette
The Civil Rights Movement.
1. Winning of busing of 500 black kids from class rooms with 70 kids per room to the all white Northwest side of Chicago classrooms of 27 kids per room, in 1968. That was the first time a Black Community in the city of Chicago had ever beat the Chicago Board of Education.
2.Wining 3000 jobs for Hispanics from Illinois Bell, in 1971.
3. Starting the National Training and Information Center and National People's Action in 1972.
4. Training at least 14 directors of community organizations, that I can remember, and many, many organizers.
5. Being of assistance in the forming of ADAPT, a disabled organization out of Denver Colorado.
1. Fear, on the part of organizers and leaders. People don't want to take risks. They are afraid of failing, afraid of being laughed at, afraid of not being liked. You do not overcome fear by telling someone to "not be afraid". You can only build the arena in which others can participate and thus find their dignity, courage and willingness to take risks. I was scared most of my organizing career but damned if I was going to let anyone see it, and after all there are a billion Chinese who could care less if you succeed or fail.
2.The concentration of power in the private sector and polical sector and removal of the source of that power from local access. My brain and experience are too locked into the 1900's to be able to address a knowledgeable answer to overcome that barrier.
No. Retired when I realized that I had lost half a step. The people deserve the best not a broken down still "trying to be".
I worked in the ministry before organizing.
Now I spend time walking the dog.
Who has mentored, coached, or consulted with you in your organizing career?
Shel Trapp's Peers
Which of your peers influenced your development as an organizer?
Shel Trapp's Trainees
Whom have you developed or trained as an organizer? (Please list people who have stayed in the field or a related field for at least three years.)
Person
Organization
Battle, Paul
NTIC
Benedict, Vern
NTIC
Boucher, Jim
MACO/HART
Capraro, Jim
NTIC
Elmer, Don
NCO
Fowler, Aaron
NTIC
Fox, Tom
NTIC
Frey, Bill
NCO
Fues, Tom
NCO Northwest Community Organization
Gail, Kevin
NTIC
Garcia, Ignacio
NTIC- National Training and Information Center/National People's Action
Gardiner, Joe
OBA
Gaudette, John
Northwest Neighborhood Federation (Chicago)
Glozier, Jim
NTIC
Goede, Wolfgang
Metropolitan Area Housing Alliance MAHA
Goehl, George
NTIC- National Training and Information Center
Gonzalez, Gabe
NTIC
Gottschall, Bruce
NCO
Harper, Rudy
NTIC
Hayes, Roger
NCO
Kanitz, Bud
NCO
Letzing, Gearhardt
NCO
Lopez, Oscar
NCO
Mariano, Joseph
NTIC
Moss, Steven
Metro Organization for People
Mumm, James
NTIC- National Training and Information Center
murray, caroline
NTIC National Training and Information Center
Murray, Caroline
NTIC- National Training and Information Center
Murray, Helen
NCO
Nielson, Karen
NTIC
Noden, Kirk
Albany Park Neighborhood Council
Reed, Scott
OBA
Rossen, Julie
NCO
Scott, Camelle
NTIC/NPA
Shurna, Ed
OBA
Shurna, Ed
OBA
Sims Maini, Susan
NCO
Velto, Al
OBA
Wysocki, Ted
NTIC
Shel Trapp's Coachees
Who did you mentor, coach, or consult with you in your organizing career? (Please list people who have stayed in the field or a related field for at least 3 years.)
