https://thenotebook.org/articles/2019/02/04/black-lives-matter-week-in-schools

IFFPS operates through a unique blend of hierarchical and democratic community organizing. As such, I will be analyzing their work through the lens of both democratic community organizing, such as that done by Ella Baker and the Black Lives Matter at School organization, and hierarchical community organizing, such as that done by Saul Alinsky. Ella Baker championed a method of organizing that stressed the importance of community engagement and organizations led by the people affected by an issue. This dissuaded the rise of a single, charismatic leader and instead encouraged smaller, more committed groups of organizers (Payne, 1989). In her work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Baker encouraged leadership of her students, even leaving some meetings so that they would have the opportunity to lead (Payne, 1989). This type of democratic leadership is oriented toward creating social change amongst smaller groups of people rather than prioritizing policy change. The Black Lives Matter at School organization also uses a democratic model of community organizing but strives to engage a larger group of people and is more oriented towards policy change in schools. The main goal of this organization is to initiate social change in schools through engaging a larger number of community members to have conversations around, and advocate for, racial justice. In this way, policy change in schools is prioritized, but the path towards achieving this change is through discussion and mutual understanding rather than lobbying school leaders. This organization remains democratic by creating workshops that highlight their most vulnerable community members and encouraging conversation to overcome conflict (How Black Lives Matter Came to Philadelphia’s Schools, n.d.). 

The Alinsky tradition, on the other hand, organizes in a way that values hierarchy and focuses on tackling “winnable” issues to create change. Instead of trying to reconcile more complex issues, such as dismantling white supremacy in schools, the Alinksey method proposes that organizations should tackle less divisive, winnable issues to keep morale high and work across race, gender and class lines. This method of organizing is less conducive to creating social change, but is more likely to recruit a larger number of less invested volunteers and prioritize legislative change (Martinson & Su, 2012).