Topic #24: Being New to a Group

Most accomplished adults aren’t very good at being totally new to something. This was true for me when I found myself in the brand new context of learning about community organizing. It ended up taking me quite some time to unlearn things I thought I knew, and I often wish someone had given me a guidebook to make the process less painful. Now I understand why no one has written that guidebook: Because anyone with experience knows they are still learning and they are never done. As someone who was once new (and who recognizes that everyone was once new!) I have a visceral empathy for people who are about to learn how hard it can be. If you are new to an organizing group I'd like to humbly offer the following tips that might help to make you feel more welcome, successful, and effective.

When you first join an existing group do not assume you have the answers (yet) and accept that your suggestions may not be welcome (yet).

Imagine a college classroom where a new class member enters at mid-semester, and on the first day starts raising his or her hand to offer suggestions to the teacher and the class. Few adults would do this, but this is a common tendency for new people. Particularly if you are a member of one or more dominant social identity groups (like male and/or white, and/or owning class, etc.) it’s likely that you have been trained to contribute, share your opinion, and offer suggestions in group settings. In fact, this may be a skill that has led to your success thus far in life. However, if you are new to a group, it's best to lead with the assumption that those who have been in this group for a long time have already thought of and probably tried most of the suggestions and advice you have. Dedicate a few months to processing, getting up to speed, and listening to others who have much to share. Here are some common missteps that stem from our tendency to want to jump right in and problem-solve, using the example of racial justice organizing.

Lack of preparedness will generate low trust.

You wouldn’t enter into an interview without having looked at the job description, and you will likely not be trusted if you enter into an organizing group expecting to help without having done a little research. New people come and go all the time, and they often consume large amounts of energy from the group before disappearing never to be seen again. Because of this, consistent group members will be skeptical if you express commitment but don’t show it by being prepared. If you are sincere about being involved (as opposed to just checking it out) don’t expect others hard at work to spend valuable time explaining things you can easily find on your own, like the background and mission of the group. For example, here are Showing Up for Racial Justice’s background, mission and values, easily found in an internet search.

Show a commitment to self-education if you expect to have a voice.

Using the classroom analogy shared earlier, you wouldn’t enter into a class and ask a dedicated student to explain the assigned reading to you because you didn’t have time to do it. There is an abundance of resources that others have taken the time to write, compile, and advertise for you. Now it’s your turn to do your own work and read them. Folks who have been working for a particular cause have read the seminal texts that inform our work, and those who want to participate are expected to read them, too. You don’t need to read all of these before you begin participating, but we should always be reading something alongside our activism. If you want to get involved in racial justice, for example, here is a running list of anti-racism resources to dive into.

We need everyone involved in order to make social change. If you are feeling unwelcome or ineffective, don’t give up! Bailing out when things get uncomfortable is a common tendency of people in dominant or privileged groups because we have the luxury of saying, “this isn’t for me.” Resist the temptation to give up and if you feel stuck, remember...