The Role of Local Task Forces

1) IDENTIFICATION OF LOCAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

The primary role of the local task force is to identify organizations and individuals that are engaged in work promoting peace and nonviolence in their city.

These organizations and individuals will describe a specific project, program, or initiative that will take place this spring as a vehicle for demonstrating alternatives to violence in handling conflict and adversity. Featuring these programs and projects during a particular Season for Peace and Nonviolence will build trust and enthusiasm within your community.

2) FORMING YOUR LOCAL TASK FORCE

WHO: Your task Force will consist roughly of the following constituents:
a.    An organization in your community demonstrating commitment and leadership in this area
b.    Task Force Coordinator - You, or someone within your organization
c.    Core group of volunteers to serve as local Steering Committee:
        SUGGESTIONS
        •    administrative, database, records, phone
        •    person who knows local media
        •    event planner
        •    meeting facilitator
        •    funding and promotion
        •    graphics and artwork; printing services

d.    2nd “ring” of volunteers from community, to assist in:
        •    mailings
        •    promotion in the community to support events
        •    general legwork
        •    offer hospitality, rides to visiting speakers

e.    Local leaders of organizations outside the core group

WHAT: Task Force Leader will coordinate activities such as:
    a.    Organize meetings
    b.    Coordinate task force volunteers and their activities
    c.    Communicate and transfer information to AGNT
    d.    Represent your city on national steering committee
    e.    Coordinate local events
    f.     Work with local media

3) PROJECTS: BLUEPRINTING “WHAT WORKS”
Local task forces will work to profile the organizations and individuals in their city who reflect the principles delineated by Gandhi and King to define “proactive nonviolence” in the context of this project. This will eventually create a “map” of “what’s working.” The search process will begin through recommendations by the core group, and reach outward into the community.

These will be of basically two types:
a.    Projects and events to be featured which take place at a specific date and time during a particular “Season”
b.    Ongoing projects and programs which will be featured in press materials and
publications

4) COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
HOW: Phone calls; faxes; e-mail between National Task Force Coordinator in the AGNT Santa Barbara, CA headquarters and core members of your local Task Force.

REPORTING IN:
•    Name of city, task force leader and his/her organization
•     Names of Task Force members (or steering committee) and their organizations
•     Names of co-sponsoring organizations who wish to endorse this project in your city
•     Organizations identified in your city which also have a national or international status
•     Names of local projects, and programs to be featured during A Season for Nonviolence
•     Information on sponsorship and funding sources: your needs and leads
•     Information on progress with creating a strategy for local media outreach

OUTCOME: At a certain point, nonviolence organizations will be identified and it will be time to exchange information. Guidelines for this will be distributed so that basic data can be tracked and kept in a useful manner. It will be used, especially, to provide background information to the news press, and for publication in contact directories.

5) LOCAL MEDIA CONTACTS
A second important role of the local task force will be to research, list and possibly serve as spokespersons to contact local media outlets. The local task force may want to create a specific sub-committee for this purpose. This means getting contact information for:
    •     City-wide and community newspapers
    •     Local television network affiliates
    •     Local cable community access television
    •     Other local print and broadcast media

6) LOCAL EVENT PLANNING

WHO AND WHAT: Steering committee members wish to emphasize that we pay attention to different kinds of prayer, meditation, workshops, ceremonies, and celebrations that can take place at the local level to maintain the foundation of this project from a spiritual, ethical, and compassionate point of view.
HOW: Examples would include:
    •    Sunday sermons; services
    •     Speaker engagements
    •    “Changing pulpits”
    •     Conferences and meetings
    •     Days of Dialogue
    •     Days of prayer, meditation
    •     Celebrating “truces”
    •     Intervention; support of local issues
    •     Local school programs and teaching curriculum
    •    Artistic and cultural events

CELEBRATORY EVENTS: HONORING LOCAL HEROES
Introduce the “Season” to your community-at-large; create a program engaging speakers and performers; honor “local heroes” in your city.

7) RESOURCES FOR LOCAL TASK FORCES

WHO: Spokespersons from the AGNT Leadership Council, the national steering committee, co-sponsoring organizations, and other popular leaders and teachers may be available to visit local task forces and make presentations about the project to their communities.

WHAT: Update packets and multi-media resources are available to TF leaders. They can be obtained by:

1.    Ordering the CD-Rom with templates for customizing on your computer
2.    Downloading from website www.agnt.org click on Seasons for Peace and Nonviolence
3.    Acting on invitations sent from AGNT office for special programs

These various resources include forms, press releases, pledges and lists for schools and families, calendars, articles, directories, graphics, endorsements, logos, stationary and other templates.

Contact: span@agnt.org and request