Next time you run into some co-workers--at the union office or any of the places in school where PSRPs get together--ask them what other groups in the community they've been involved with. Virtually everyone is active in something--whether it's their place of worship, the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, neighborhood organization or countless others. PSRPs, as we know, are committed members of their local communities, often in the same neighborhoods where they work.

If you take that involvement, reaching every corner of the community, and add the local union's own efforts to work with the entire range of labor and other groups, you have the basis of strong and solid community coalitions that not only can help PSRPs in times of crisis but also can make life better for workers and their families throughout the community. That's what coalitions are all about. And that was the main focus of the 26th annual PSRP conference held in April in Detroit. The theme, "Get Active: Mobilizing Members, Building Support," was addressed in workshops throughout the conference (see related story), but most directly in a plenary session featuring a panel of labor leaders.

One essential idea that can get lost in efforts to build coalitions is that they are two-way (or multiway, really) streets. As panelist Lorretta Johnson, head of the AFT's PSRP division, put it, "We can't go to the community only when we want something. When things get good for us, we can't just go home and sit." There has to be constant education and interaction with coalition partners; when a big challenge like a tough contract comes up, the partners will know why it's important to the PSRPs.

Being a good coalition partner also means supporting other groups when they're in need. "These are the same people you're going to have to count on" when you need help with your issues, said Clarence Brogdon, director of Jobs with Justice in Detroit.

Part of being an effective community leader is really knowing your community, and that includes your own union, your employer (whether a school system or some other entity) and the other groups that are an important part of the community, explained Ruby Newbold, president of the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees. Newbold herself is a great example of an AFT leader who practices what she preaches. She not only heads a coalition made up of the 14 different unions that represent employees in the Detroit Public Schools, but she also serves on numerous labor and other boards and is a regular presence at meetings of the school board, community organizations, civil rights groups and her own neighborhood.

"They learn who we are, and we show them we're not just people collecting a paycheck," she said. Then in times of crisis, "they'll beat your drums for you.

"In the end, all that groundwork to build solid coalitions should lead to a valuable commodity: power. "If you have power, you get it. If you don't have power, you don't get it," said David Hecker, president of the Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel. You can recruit all the members in the world, he added, but unless they are educated, organized and mobilized, it won't make any difference.

During a question and answer session, one audience member encouraged people to make solid connections with their school business partners, as well. We think of businesses as a source of financial support and donations, but PSRPs should also educate business leaders about the school and its programs and all the good things it does for students.

While it's essential to reach out to major groups in the community, we sometimes forget the importance of talking to our own families about the issues that affect our jobs and our students. Especially when it's time to vote, you can really multiply your impact by educating your own family, Johnson said. On a personal level, Hecker added, it's important for family members to know why someone who is active in the community is away from home so often for evening meetings and other events. "Our kids need to understand what we do and why we're not home," he said. As they get older, it makes sense to involve them in our activities because it's good for them and for family life.

The panel discussion was moderated by Larry Young, a Baltimore talk-radio host and former state senator. He had some advice for the PSRPs on dealing with talk radio, which is often dominated by conservative voices. Only a tiny number of listeners ever call in, Young said, so there's a big opportunity for union leaders and members to pick up the telephone and get their views on the air. It takes courage to call in, but when listeners start hearing regularly from more progressive voices, that's another way to spread our message.