A-Infos (en) Aotearoa (New Zealand), Auckland, A Space Inside #1 - Using the OCAP example: Making our work relevant By Chris Z

For me, one of the larger problems for the anarchist movement is the disconnect 
between activists and other working class people. From actions I have been to 
(as a recent migrant to Aotearoa), it doesn't take very long to get to know the 
various core groups that are involved. These groups are mostly student/youth 
based in the central city. This in itself isn't a problem, it is just reflective 
of a particular group of people being represented in the movement more than 
others. I grew up in Toronto and had the opportunity to be involved in the 
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) as I became more politically involved. 
coalition was created in the late 80's to promote concern and action about 
poverty, homelessness, and gentrification in downtown Toronto. It has developed 
into a federated, direct action movement by social workers, the poor and activists.

What makes OCAP unique is the practical assistance it provides to the
poor while maintaining a direct action approach to social change. OCAP puts
much of its energy into legal work, offering free legal help with a wide range
of issues. OCAP has the capacity to quickly assemble to fight deportation, 
housing eviction and other actions.

There is also much collaboration with Indigenous struggles that are
virtually ignored in Canada.
 There are other Anarcho groups that have a similar structure. Food not
Bombs is another with a positive message while providing free and healthy
food. Again, from my experience it was mostly run for the poor rather than
with them and was primarily student based.
In comparison OCAP provides a practical service while mobilizing
people for social change. Rather than organizing your traditional
snore-fest protest, OCAP participates in truly class
consciousness raising events. If someone is being evicted, show up
with a few hundred people and prevent it from happening. If
someone's welfare benefits are being cut, raise funds, provide legal
help and picket the welfare office.

I feel that we really do need something like this. Unions are generally
integrated into this system, and left groups are fractured and
pretty isolated. An anti-poverty organization can be an umbrella to many
different groups and people and do far more to raise class consciousness
than our bi-monthly pilgrimage to the U.S consulate. Read More about

OCAP: http://ocap.ca
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