Why BLUE Pencil?
For years, designers, artists, and printers have used a special shade of “non-photo” blue to make markings that won’t be captured by scanners or the specialized cameras used to make printing plates. An artist, for example, might sketch using one of these blue pencils, then ink or color over the lines, knowing they will simply disappear when the final artwork is produced. That’s how I like to think of the research, training, and strategic planning that goes on behind the scenes of a great campaign. It’s essential to the process, and makes the final product better, but often it’s never seen.
My Experience
I have spent 20 years working for progressive organizations, starting with a non-profit in Chicago that worked with neighborhood organizations to win long-overdue public investments in essential infrastructure such as schools, libraries, sewers, and sidewalks. I also worked extensively to hold the city accountable for tax subsidies that were often used to accelerate gentrification.
From there, I have spent 17 years in the labor movement, working first with service workers such as janitors and security officers, and later with manufacturing workers (many of whom, in sectors such as auto parts, make surprisingly low wages and must rely on public assistance to make ends meet). I’ve worked all over the Midwest and South, plus Texas and California.
During my time in the labor movement, I have worked as a strategic researcher and as an organizer, and done pretty much every other job you can do on an organizing campaign, too, from lobbying to coalition building to communications. I see this breadth of experience as something unique I bring to the table; it gives me an ability to see the whole picture of a campaign, and how the pieces fit together. It also means I’ve seen plenty of consultants over the years come in and blunder around like a bull in a china shop, trying to run the show rather than listen to the people in the room that have the experience and the context. That’s no fun, and it doesn’t work. I believe in listening first, and being a good member of the team from the outset.
Download my resume here, or visit my LinkedIn profile for more details on my experience.
Concerned about outsourcing?
In general, so am I. In fact, I’ve spent most of my career trying to help workers who were outsourced to cleaning and security companies, food service firms, auto parts suppliers, and temporary agencies. Blue Pencil will never take a job if it results in a direct employee being let go. But there are times that organizations committed to living their values might consider a partner. Some organizations, for example, don’t have the resources or need for a full-time strategic researcher or trainer. Others need to add capacity for a short stretch on a major campaign. Sometimes, a defensive fight takes resources away from other important campaigns, and even the largest organization might need a little extra capacity to get through crunch time. Finally, maybe it’s just time for a fresh perspective on a difficult struggle. My commitment is to help your organization to build capacity, including the capacity to do this work in-house going forward, if that’s your goal.
Chris Schwartz
Principal, Blue Pencil Strategies LLC