IIRON

About

IIRON is a network of multi-issue grassroots power organizations. We are devoted to people power, not for a few people over the rest, but for broad, inclusive, democratic collective power and self-governance. IIRON is a made up of congregations, organizations and individuals who seek a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. IIRON is dedicated to education and training, leadership development and the building and exercising collective power so that everyone has an opportunity to have their voice heard  and our democracy is most fully realized.

IIRON uses a methodology in the tradition of Saul Alinsky to create a network on deep and ongoing relationships and a common language and discipline that allows people to exercise their power in collective action both democratically and efficiently, and without undue time or focus on process and procedure.

IIRON has an analysis and point of view. We believe that political democracy is threatened and undermined by the lack of economic democracy. We reject the notions of trickle down/supply side economics, unregulated markets, unrestrained money in the political process, and the notion that private profit justifies the exploitation of workers, consumers and the environment at home and abroad. We reject the notion that every social good should be delivered as a commodity for profit.

IIRON is devoted to the proposition that popular organizing in this time must simultaneously be grassroots with ordinary people in local communities taking direct action, while sophisticated in its understanding of how power at the national and global levels impact our local communities. Organizing must be devoted to both broad mobilization and intensive leadership development.  It must practice the art of the real, to win the victories that are possible, while simultaneously devoting itself to changing the “politically possible” as it currently exists. IIRON is convinced that this is a “movement moment” and great crisis requiring major systems change and not a time for mere incremental reform.