Community Coalition to Save Hostos Organizing Workshop
Item
WORKSHOP ORGANIZING
UNITED BRONX PARENTS
DAY CARE CENTER
888 Westchester Avenue
Bronx, N.Y. 10459
Sponsored by: Community Coalition to Save Hostos
SATURDAY, APRIL, 24th, 1976
10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
PROGRAM
%.%300 - 10:30 A.M. REGISTRATION
10:30 - 12:00 P.M. INTRODUCTION OF GUEST SPEAKERS
RAMON JIMENEZ
"The Need For Organizing Students"
LEOPOLDO RIVERA
"Organizing The Student Struggle"
JUAN OTERO
"The Community and The Student -
South Bronx As A Case Study"
12:00 - 12:30 P.M. QUESTION/ANSWER
£2330 - 1:30 P.M. LUNCH
1:30 - 4:30 P.M. ORGINIZING WORKSHOP
"General Principles Of Organizing Skills
Developing Strategy And Tactics For A Struggle"
4:30 - 4:45 P.M. COFFEE BREAK
4:45 - 6:00 P.M. CONCLUSION AND PROPAGANDA BRIEF
WORKSHOP TOPICS
The following is an outline of topics to be discussed at the
organizing workshops. We hope to integrate this discussion
of general organizational principles with concrete examples
shown from the experiences of workshop participants. Dialogue
will be encouraged.
I. Problems we face as organizers
A. Personally
1, Idealism
2. Impatience
3. Insensibility
4. Inability to communicate
With organizees
1. Passivity
2. Faith in system
Fear
Individualism (inability to work collectively)
Distrust
Sexism
7. Liberalism (role of ~riticism)
II, What type of analysis we do before we organize?
A. Main issues affecting the people
B. History of past struggles - in what particular spot
C. Who to focus your organizing on among your friends-focusing on key
individuals who have a following, etc.
Who are your friends, who are your enemy
1. Understand the divisions among the enemy
Methods of comunication
A, One to one
B, Flyers
C. Information sheets
noe
D. Theoretical papers - to certain people
E, Speeches
IV. Qualities of an organizer
A, Non-egotistical
B. Avoids rhetoric
C. 100% reliable
D. Good record keeper
E, Patient
F Sensitive
G. Good listener
H, Creative and flexible
V. Forms of organization
A, Mass organization
B. Coalition
1. Maintenance of identity by component organization
Problems of organization
A, Bureaucratic tendencies
B. Dealing with differences - factionalism
C. Rights of members
D, Liberalism
VIL, Tactinrs
A. Tactics of the crisis
B,. What are tactics, how do they develop, how do we select them?
ROLE PLAYING/QUESTIONS
UNITED BRONX PARENTS
DAY CARE CENTER
888 Westchester Avenue
Bronx, N.Y. 10459
Sponsored by: Community Coalition to Save Hostos
SATURDAY, APRIL, 24th, 1976
10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
PROGRAM
%.%300 - 10:30 A.M. REGISTRATION
10:30 - 12:00 P.M. INTRODUCTION OF GUEST SPEAKERS
RAMON JIMENEZ
"The Need For Organizing Students"
LEOPOLDO RIVERA
"Organizing The Student Struggle"
JUAN OTERO
"The Community and The Student -
South Bronx As A Case Study"
12:00 - 12:30 P.M. QUESTION/ANSWER
£2330 - 1:30 P.M. LUNCH
1:30 - 4:30 P.M. ORGINIZING WORKSHOP
"General Principles Of Organizing Skills
Developing Strategy And Tactics For A Struggle"
4:30 - 4:45 P.M. COFFEE BREAK
4:45 - 6:00 P.M. CONCLUSION AND PROPAGANDA BRIEF
WORKSHOP TOPICS
The following is an outline of topics to be discussed at the
organizing workshops. We hope to integrate this discussion
of general organizational principles with concrete examples
shown from the experiences of workshop participants. Dialogue
will be encouraged.
I. Problems we face as organizers
A. Personally
1, Idealism
2. Impatience
3. Insensibility
4. Inability to communicate
With organizees
1. Passivity
2. Faith in system
Fear
Individualism (inability to work collectively)
Distrust
Sexism
7. Liberalism (role of ~riticism)
II, What type of analysis we do before we organize?
A. Main issues affecting the people
B. History of past struggles - in what particular spot
C. Who to focus your organizing on among your friends-focusing on key
individuals who have a following, etc.
Who are your friends, who are your enemy
1. Understand the divisions among the enemy
Methods of comunication
A, One to one
B, Flyers
C. Information sheets
noe
D. Theoretical papers - to certain people
E, Speeches
IV. Qualities of an organizer
A, Non-egotistical
B. Avoids rhetoric
C. 100% reliable
D. Good record keeper
E, Patient
F Sensitive
G. Good listener
H, Creative and flexible
V. Forms of organization
A, Mass organization
B. Coalition
1. Maintenance of identity by component organization
Problems of organization
A, Bureaucratic tendencies
B. Dealing with differences - factionalism
C. Rights of members
D, Liberalism
VIL, Tactinrs
A. Tactics of the crisis
B,. What are tactics, how do they develop, how do we select them?
ROLE PLAYING/QUESTIONS
Title
Community Coalition to Save Hostos Organizing Workshop
Description
The Community Coalition to Save Hostos hosted an all-day workshop to train members of the South Bronx community in organizing skills, strategies, and challenges in April of 1976. This program outlines the events of the day. The Community Coalition to Save Hostos was a collaboration between student and faculty groups and community organizations dedicated to preventing the closure of Hostos Community College.
In 1975, in response to the New York City fiscal crisis, the City University of New York proposed massive cuts and closures across the campuses in order to dramatically cut spending. Of all the campuses in the system, the administration targeted campuses primarily serving minority communities for their most extreme measures. Hostos Community College was slated to merge with Bronx Community College in order to dramatically cut spending. It was this threat that led to the second iteration of organizing to save Hostos. Determined to preserve Hostos for the South Bronx as a place for students to pursue a bilingual higher education, students, faculty, staff, and community groups joined forces to keep Hostos open for the community.
In 1975, in response to the New York City fiscal crisis, the City University of New York proposed massive cuts and closures across the campuses in order to dramatically cut spending. Of all the campuses in the system, the administration targeted campuses primarily serving minority communities for their most extreme measures. Hostos Community College was slated to merge with Bronx Community College in order to dramatically cut spending. It was this threat that led to the second iteration of organizing to save Hostos. Determined to preserve Hostos for the South Bronx as a place for students to pursue a bilingual higher education, students, faculty, staff, and community groups joined forces to keep Hostos open for the community.
Contributor
Meyer, Gerald
Creator
Community Coalition to Save Hostos
Date
April 24, 1976
Language
English
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
Hostos Community College Archives
Original Format
Pamphlet / Petition
Community Coalition to Save Hostos. Letter. “Community Coalition to Save Hostos Organizing Workshop.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/665