We are a diverse organization of renters from Manhattan, KS who are unapologetically grounded in the radical tradition of advocating for the end of economic and social exploitation by landlords.
Theory of Change
Our theory of change revolves around the implementation of the Mass Line. This idea can be summarized as “From the Masses, To the Masses.” We don’t profess to speak for others like your typical liberal NGO, but instead believe that tenants are the masters and commanders of their own destiny. We seek to amplify those voices, distill the best ideas from those in the community, and present the people’s own thoughts back to them. This is the only true way of social change - by empowering the most marginalized, oppressed, and exploited within our community to advocate on their own behalf. We aren’t in the business of telling people to “tone it down” or “be more pragmatic” — the sky is the limit!
Our platform
We believe two things: that housing in a human right, and that landlords as a social class are parasites who stand in the way of attaining that human right. We fundamentally recognize that tenants have absolutely nothing in common with landlords. They exploit us, they take a large portion of our already-meager earnings, and threaten us with homelessness much as Tony Soprano threatened those who owed him money! We stand firm to support tenants in their struggles - not kowtow to the landlords and collaborate with them!
Research
We use a research methodology known as Social Investigation and Class Analysis to inform all of our decision. In a nutshell, this means going out and talking to tenants; listening to their concerns; eagerly taking notes; analyzing how the myriad social forces intersect with one another; and last but not least — by refusing to just accept the popular bourgeois narratives in favor of a disctinctly working-class conception of truth.