Transforming Power

A 13-Week Program for Democratic Change in Your Community

By Don Barr

In order to create a democratic environment in a community or institution, we must understand power. Research shows that when those working in human services do not have that understanding, they cannot effectively help a family or community group effect changes that will benefit them.

Through the 13 sessions in Transforming Power: A 13-Week Program for Democratic Change in Your Community, those who work with families, children, and communities can not only learn about the workings of power, but help to change the power balance between family support program staff and family; human services agency and community; government and citizen; and beyond—toward specific goals that families identify.

Transforming Power is a curriculum that enables facilitated groups of human services providers, families, educators, policymakers, business people, law enforcement, and other community members to initiate and sustain a community empowerment process. Through this process, a community can challenge inappropriate or unjust policies, start a new initiative or revamp an existing one, or address problems that the community has identified. Empowerment is not something done for people, but with people.

Real-Life Example

In one eastern New York community, residents were concerned because teens were hanging out on the streets, dropping out of school, and using drugs. A leadership workshop was organized for the teens, using Transforming Power as the curriculum.

The outcome went beyond the community’s expectations. Parents, who were involved in the latter sessions, were surprised at what the teens said they had learned and what they were going to do to make the community better. One parent remarked, “I had trouble believing that was my son. Before, he never wanted to take anything seriously.”

Benefits in the Community and Beyond

Transforming Power helps communities respect and take seriously the ideas of disenfranchised groups such as these teens—and it helps those groups respect their own ideas and take ownership of what it takes to create change. It helps everyone realize their part in changing power into a constructive, shared force in the community.

As growing numbers of constituencies learn community empowerment skills, they become equipped to constructively engage with decision makers to work together for change. Transforming Power is for those who have power and want to use it for good; it is for the disenfranchised who want to engage in chan≥ it for all of us together to change the very nature of power in our relationships.

Contents

Section One: Setting The Stage

Introduction Power: It’s Everywhere and Nowhere

Chapter One Study Circles: Community Learning and Empowerment

Chapter Two  Beginning the Journey Into the Swamp

Section Two:  Power Over

Chapter Three Case Study: The Impact of Power Over

Chapter Four Hierarchy, Control, Domination, and Inequality

Chapter Five The Instruments and Sources of Power Over

Chapter Six Key Unanswered Questions about Power Over

Section Three:  Power With

Chapter Seven Seeking a New Lens: An Alternative View of Power

Chapter Eight Enhancing the Power of Others

Chapter Nine Alternative Voices: What are they Saying?

Section Four: Organizing for Transformation

Chapter Ten Framework for Analyzing How Power is Being Used

Chapter Eleven Marginality as a Position of Strength

Chapter Twelve Transformation: Beyond Niceties

Chapter Thirteen Contradictions of American Democracy

Chapter Fourteen Transforming Power Through the Empowerment Process

Chapter Fifteen Call to Action: Community Empowerment

Bibliography

Appendix A: Active Listening

Appendix B: Feedback in the Empowerment Process

Appendix C: Learning Circle Evaluation Form

Appendix D: Small Group Diagnostic Form

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