Data

Location
Chihuahua
Chihuahua
Mexico
Sector
Non-Profit or Non Governmental
General Issues
Human Rights & Civil Rights
Governance & Political Institutions
Education
Specific Topics
Human Rights
Regional & Global Governance
Links
Web Page
Instagram page

ORGANIZATION

Eskuela Radical (ESE ERRE)

May 23, 2023 Eskuela Radical
Location
Chihuahua
Chihuahua
Mexico
Sector
Non-Profit or Non Governmental
General Issues
Human Rights & Civil Rights
Governance & Political Institutions
Education
Specific Topics
Human Rights
Regional & Global Governance
Links
Web Page
Instagram page

We are an organization based in Chihuahua, Mexico, that advocates for the democratization of political power and actively promote citizen participation. It aims to challenge traditional power structures and create a more inclusive and participatory political environment.

Mission and Vision

MISSION: To build a more just and democratic society through the promotion and defense of human rights in the Chihuahua region. The organization seeks to empower communities to actively participate in the defense of their rights and works to create spaces for dialogue and action that foster a culture of respect for human rights and human dignity.

VISION: To build a democratic, just, and equitable society where human rights are respected and protected, and where individuals and communities are free and autonomous to make decisions that affect their lives and surroundings.

Origins and Development

A segment of civil society in Chihuahua, known as the "Red Ciudadana," had been advocating for a Citizen Participation Law since 2001. However, it wasn't until 2017, with a change in state government, that the proposal was finally presented to the Congress. During that time, a voluntary collective called Wikipolítica Chihuahua, in which we were involved, had been organizing for a year and participated in protests against the Peña Nieto government's "Gasolinazo." We promoted our proposal #SinVotoNoHayDinero, which aimed to link party financing to electoral votes obtained. Unfortunately, this proposal was rejected in Congress, leading us to realize that we couldn't rely on the so-called "representatives." We understood that real change could only be achieved through direct participation.

Paquita Jiménez, a prominent advocate for Citizen Participation in Chihuahua and director of the Red Ciudadana, invited us to those initial protests and later called on us to defend the Citizen Participation Law proposal in the State Congress. After over a decade of struggle, we finally had the opportunity to turn this proposal into reality. However, a problem emerged: a Citizen Participation Law couldn't exist without people's participation. Therefore, we needed to raise awareness about the potential that this law could bring and capture people's attention to demand our right to participate.

We needed to believe in the possibility of a new story that depended on us pressuring the lawmakers not to turn the law into an empty measure, leaving behind any pretense and ensuring that participation mechanisms were accessible to everyone. We took to the streets and used social media with the slogan #DependeDeNosotras, emphasizing that our demands should become a reality. After a year of participating in technical discussion tables, using social media to inform decision-makers, and engaging with the public through an intense campaign, we successfully defended each participation mechanism, fighting for feasible figures to encourage more people to get involved. We used every possible method, including social media, newspapers, marches, and interviews. Finally, in May 2018, the Citizen Participation Law was approved, fulfilling a social demand that created new counterbalances to prevent abuses of power and enable us to participate beyond merely voting in elections. This law also established citizen participation as a Human Right in the State Constitution. It became evident that our voices could make a significant impact.

Less than a year after the approval of the Citizen Participation Law, on February 18, 2019, we found ourselves in the need to put it into practice. In collaboration with the "Salvemos los Cerros" movement, we participated in the first municipal Public Hearing in the State of Chihuahua, demanding a halt to the construction of a gas station in the Cerro Grande "Arewákawi." Following this joint effort, we engaged in months of technical discussions, where we had to fight for every paragraph of the State and Municipal Participation Regulations through exhausting debates with the current administration's council members. That same year, we actively participated in the first Open City Council in the city's history, highlighting the importance of participation and being heard to achieve true democracy.

In 2019, on April 26, the City Council approved a project that aimed to concession and privatize the municipality's public lighting for 15 years, amounting to 6.2 billion pesos. Faced with this situation, a group of individuals came together to form the collective "Chihuahua Decide." We decided to activate the first binding Plebiscite in Chihuahua's history, consulting people on whether they were in favor or against the project. To achieve this, we collected over 3,424 signatures within a 90-day period. We participated as the organizing group, and Carlos served as the common representative of the plebiscite's driving group, as well as the spokesperson and communication director of the campaign opposing the project. With just one month and an exceptional volunteer team, we led the collective creation of the citizen campaign #NoQuierenLuzQuierenDinero (They Don't Want Light, They Want Money), with minimal resources that included developing a media plan, negative news coverage, an online campaign, as well as online and physical activations, and a debate with the municipality. In the end, we succeeded in having 62,032 people vote, with an overwhelming victory against the mega-project. This municipal plebiscite surpassed by 40,000 votes the Chapultepec Corridor Consultation in Mexico City and the Marcelino García Barragán Cycle Path consultation in Guadalajara, Jalisco. That was when we realized that "the more people decide, the more we can achieve."

Organizational Structure, Membership, and Funding

Eskuela Radical operates as a cooperative within the framework of a non-profit civil association. The organization is structured to ensure collaborative decision-making and democratic participation among its members. As a cooperative, Eskuela Radical values shared responsibilities and the equitable distribution of power.

Membership in Eskuela Radical is open to individuals who share the organization's values and mission. Members actively participate in the activities, campaigns, and decision-making processes of the organization. They contribute their diverse skills, expertise, and perspectives to advance the goals of promoting citizen participation and defending human rights.

Funding for Eskuela Radical primarily comes from grants, donations, and fundraising efforts. As a non-profit organization, it seeks financial support from various sources, including philanthropic organizations, government grants, and individual contributions. The organization maintains transparency in its financial operations and ensures that funds are allocated responsibly to support its initiatives, campaigns, and operational needs.


Specializations, Methods and Tools

Eskuela Radical is highly specialized in the creation of media-driven social campaigns for civil society organizations. With extensive expertise in this field, the organization has a proven track record of designing impactful campaigns that raise awareness, mobilize communities, and advocate for social change. By leveraging various media channels, including traditional and digital platforms, Eskuela Radical effectively communicates messages and engages the public in important social issues.

Furthermore, Eskuela Radical is recognized as a pioneer in the design and implementation of citizen participation mechanisms at both the state and municipal levels. The organization has developed innovative approaches to foster meaningful engagement and empower individuals and communities to actively participate in decision-making processes. These mechanisms include initiatives such as participatory budgeting, public consultations, plebiscites, and other participatory tools that enable citizens to have a direct say in matters affecting their lives.

In addition to its expertise in citizen participation, Eskuela Radical possesses strong legislative skills and is highly proficient in lobbying for social issues. The organization effectively bridges the gap between everyday people and decision-makers, translating the concerns and needs of the community into impactful pressure campaigns. Through strategic advocacy efforts, Eskuela Radical influences policy discussions, promotes legislative reforms, and ensures that the voices of marginalized groups and ordinary citizens are heard and considered.

To carry out its work, Eskuela Radical utilizes a range of tools and methods, including strategic communications, grassroots mobilization, community organizing, media engagement, and policy analysis. The organization leverages technology and digital platforms to amplify its campaigns and reach a broader audience, while also engaging in offline activities such as public events, workshops, and direct engagement with community members.

Overall, Eskuela Radical's expertise lies in the strategic creation of media-driven campaigns, the design and implementation of citizen participation mechanisms, legislative advocacy, and effective lobbying strategies aimed at promoting social change and empowering communities.

Major Projects and Events

Eskuela Radical has been involved in several significant projects and events that have had a profound impact on citizen participation and social change in Chihuahua. One of the most notable endeavors was the advocacy and successful implementation of the Law of Citizen Participation in 2018. The organization actively participated in technical discussions, utilized social media platforms to inform decision-makers, and engaged with the public through an intensive campaign, using various methods such as social media, newspapers, marches, and interviews. This collective effort led to the approval of the Law, which created new checks and balances to prevent abuses of power and expanded citizen participation beyond mere voting in elections. The law also established citizen participation as a human right in the State Constitution, highlighting the organization's influence in shaping policy and empowering the community.

Less than a year after the approval of the Law of Citizen Participation, Eskuela Radical found itself in a position to put it into practice. In collaboration with the "Salvemos los Cerros" movement, the organization participated in the first municipal Public Hearing in the State of Chihuahua on February 18, 2019. The goal was to halt the construction of a gas station on the Cerro Grande "Arewákawi." This initiative required months of engagement in technical discussions, where Eskuela Radical fought for every paragraph of the State and Municipal Participation Regulations through exhausting debates with the city administration officials. Additionally, the organization actively participated in the first-ever Open Council meeting in the city, emphasizing the importance of participation and being heard to achieve true democracy.

In 2019, when the City Council approved a project to concession and privatize the municipal public lighting for 15 years, amounting to 6.2 billion pesos, Eskuela Radical joined forces with other individuals to form the collective "Chihuahua Decide." They embarked on an extraordinary endeavor by activating the first binding Plebiscite in the history of Chihuahua. The purpose was to consult the public's opinion on the project. Over a period of 90 days, they collected more than 3,424 signatures. Eskuela Radical played a pivotal role as a coordinating group, with Carlos serving as the common representative of the plebiscite's promoting group, as well as the spokesperson and communication director of the campaign opposing the project. Despite limited resources, Eskuela Radical led the collective creation of the citizen campaign "#NoQuierenLuzQuierenDinero" within just one month, utilizing minimal resources, including the development of a media plan, negative news reports, online campaigns, as well as online and offline activations, culminating in a debate with the municipal government. In the end, an overwhelming 62,032 people voted, resulting in a resounding victory against the megaproject. This municipal plebiscite surpassed the Corredor Chapultepec Consultation in Mexico City and the Ciclovía Marcelino García Barragán Consultation in Guadalajara, Jalisco, by 40,000 votes. This achievement reinforced the organization's belief that the more people participate, the more they can accomplish.

Through these major projects and events, Eskuela Radical has demonstrated its commitment to citizen engagement, social justice, and democratic processes, leaving a lasting impact on the community of Chihuahua.

Analysis and Lessons Learned

Publications


See Also

References

External Links

https://eseerre.org

https://www.instagram.com/eskuelaradical/

https://www.tiktok.com/@eskuelaradical

Notes