Sticky Note Conversations

Tomás Garduño - "We Built This City"


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Host Erika Washington talks with organizer and author Tomás Garduño about his book, "Fundamentals of Electoral Organizing," and why organizing is “reorganizing” power so working-class people can speak with one voice and govern in their own interests. Garduño, born and raised in Albuquerque with deep New Mexico roots and 25+ years of organizing experience, defines democracy as working-class power and argues elites divide people by identity to weaken the 90% working-class majority. He shares key lessons for organizers—humility, reassessing the time/place/conditions, and taking risks with courage—and explains why electoral organizing is urgent to protect elections and counter authoritarian tendencies. They discuss that 70% of U.S. elections go uncontested and encourage people to run for office or support campaigns in roles that match their skills, with a focus on the midterms and flipping Congress. The book is available at fundamentalsofelectoralorganizing.org  
 

  • (00:00) - SNC S3 ep7 Tomás Garduño "We Built This City"
  • (00:05) - Introduction
  • (03:40) - Who is Tomás Garduño
  • (09:51) - What is Organizing
  • (14:39) - Democracy Defined
  • (32:50) - Courage and Risk in Organizing
  • (38:45) - 70% of Elections Go Uncontested
  • (48:55) - Why Keep Organizing
  • (51:16) - The American Dream
  • (54:46) - Midterm Election Goals
  • (59:06) - Closing Thoughts
  • ...more
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    Sticky Note ConversationsBy Erika Washington