shadows-streets-book

Out of the Closets, Out of the Shadows, and Into the Streets 149undocumented youth. Later, many of the most visible DREAM activistorganizations and networks formalized this approach. In part, this happenedthrough workshops and training sessions that integrated MarshallGanz ’ s “ public narrative ” approach to organizing. Ganz famously urgedorganizers to develop a “ story of self, story of us, and story of now. ” 66DREAM activist summer training sessions, workshops, gatherings, conferencecalls, webinars, and the United We Dream National Congress allprominently feature this approach. 67As the immigrant youth movement gained steam, DREAM activist organizationsproliferated. Since 2000, DREAM activism has developed from adhoc and informal, campus- and city-level groups and collectives to multipleoverlapping multistate and national networks and coalitions. Oneinterviewee described how her work with University of California DREAMersshifted to citywide work with Dream Team L.A. Next, she talked aboutthe process of connecting to a statewide network called the CaliforniaDream Team Alliance, followed by participation in the national United WeDream network. 68 As these networks and organizations grow, the processof constructing shared movement identity involves ongoing discussionsabout messaging and framing, as well as attempts to ensure that membersare able to project the shared message and talk to reporters. DREAM activistsexplicitly create plans to circulate key messages across all platforms,both online and via traditional media (print and broadcast).One interviewee from Dream Team L.A. described a “ traditional mediastrategy ” designed to reach print media, broadcast news media, and magazines,as well as a “ social media strategy ” to stay connected to supportersand participants via Facebook and Twitter. She said, “ For us, it ’ s reallyimportant to merge the two. ” In addition, she mentioned systematic presstraining at the beginning of campaigns:Right before we engage in any campaigns, before we engage in any interviews, anylead or source, we really focus a lot on developing our messaging, and really framingour messaging, and developing our members to be able to project that message,right, and be able to really know how to talk to reporters. How not to talk to reporters,how to bring things back to our main goals and objectives. 69She talked about how DREAM activists struggle to shape the framing oftheir movement, not only against anti-immigrant forces but also againstlarger, better-resourced, immigrant rights groups. DREAMers had to startforming their own media teams in part to redirect frames by ostensible