Many Idahoans have taken part in marches and protests this year for everything from women’s rights to health care to immigration reform. Now, a national organizer is coming to Boise to talk about her journey and talk tactics when it comes to shaping social change.
Heather Booth started organizing in the 1960s in Chicago for women’s and civil rights. She protested the Vietnam War and became a labor organizer. She started training activists in 1973 and is still involved today on issues from health care to immigration.
She’s coming to the Gem State for the Idaho premiere of a film about her life and to talk about how liberal Idahoans can work for social change in a very conservative state.
“To win in some difficult terrain, like Idaho, it also means not just resistance but organizing,” says Booth.
She says resistance includes short empowering acts that take a day or a week, like a march or writing a letter. But she says organizing in Idaho also includes engaging communities, like going door-to-door to listen.
“There’s a deep canvassing model, not where you’re knocking on a door and saying, 'I’m here to tell you why this issue really matters,' but asking people what’s of concern to them and then offering some ways we can work on it together to make life better,” Booth says.
United Vision for Idaho, a left-leaning statewide coalition that works for social, economic and environmental change, is sponsoring Booth’s visit and a showing of the film “Heather Booth: Changing the World,” Thursday at the Flicks.
https://vimeo.com/209413742">Heather Booth: Changing the World - Trailer from https://vimeo.com/user8410467">Toronto Jewish Film Festival on Vimeo.
Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio
Copyright 2017 Boise State Public Radio
