Town Halls and Coffee Klatches
Coffee klatches and town hall meetings are essential to the growth of The One Million. They allow potential members an opportunity to learn more about the movement and provides a platform for political education and engagement. Town hall meetings and coffee klatches are a way to pursue a standardized process for identifying our One Million and can be adjusted to suit different states’ and localities unique traits and attributes.
This is how you host one.
Coffee Klatches
Historically, coffee klatches are small social gathering for conversation where coffee is usually served and have been used very successfully in partisan electoral campaigns. They serve as a venue to inform citizens about candidates and his/her platform, build grass-roots support for the candidacy and expands the candidates name recognition. They also facilitate informal conversations about public and social issues.
Organizing a Coffee Klatch
Coffee klatches are small and intimate and usually hosted in an individual’s home. Hosting a coffee klatch requires an individual or couple willing to invite 6-12 of their friends, family or co-workers.
The host should perform introductions and give an overview of the OMCCBCV. If a candidate is in attendance, he/she should introduce themselves and their platform. After the presentation the floor should be opened up to the attendees. Handouts should be provided that include the name and contact information of the presenter.
Attendees should be encouraged to visit the website and sign up if interested and asked to consider hosting a klatch in their home. Promotional materials should be displayed for sale to help finance the movement.
Town Hall Meetings
Town halls meetings are public forums that provide community members an opportunity to discuss important topics of interests. They play an important role in politics and allow constituents an opportunity to ask questions or learn more about legislation.
Organizing a Town Hall
Town hall meetings can occur in any large venue that has the capacity to hold at least 100 attendees. Schools, libraries, civic halls, and churches are examples of great places to host a town hall. If possible, the event should be video recorded and records should be kept of attendees. Refreshments should be served and promotional materials should be available for purchase.
After the town hall meeting, organizers should debrief and develop an action plan.
Town Hall Meeting Checklist
- Form planning committee
- Identify objectives of the town hall
- Choose format of the town hall
- Choose date
- Secure venue
- Prepare agenda
- Invite speakers/panelists
- Create press kit
Invite black owned media outlets
- Invite members of the HBCU community
- Order promotional materials