Action Guide > Action > Community Organizing
Community organizing is a systematic approach to addressing the root causes of social problems. It is a strategy to pursue justice for the less-powerful by developing a strong, democratic organization whose power comes from the numbers and mutual commitment of its members. Organizing is based on the belief that injustice persists because average citizens are not effectively mobilized to advance their interests.
People involved in community organizing learn how to take greater responsibility
for the future of their communities, increase mutual respect and achieve
growth as individuals.
The central ingredient of all effective community organizing is building power. Community organizing builds power and works for change most often to achieve social justice with and for those who are disadvantaged in society.
Community organizing differs from other strategies of civic action in that in
this mode activists invest all of their resources and energy into building up
the power of people directly impacted by the issues being addressed (e.g.,
neighborhood residents, laborers in a specific field or company, minority
communities).
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Some noteworthy people in the field of community organizing:
Martin Luther King, Jr.
The most prominent figure of the American civil rights movement, Dr. King was
a Baptist minister who promoted non-violent resistance as a means to advance
equal rights and opportunity for all.
César Chávez
An American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist, César Chávez
co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (it later became the United
Farm Workers). His work led to numerous improvements for migrant workers.
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader has founded over forty non-profit organizations promoting
issues like consumer rights, feminism, humanitarianism, environmentalism,
and democratic government. His activism has played a large part in the creation
of many governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), Public Citizen, and Public Interest Research Groups
(PIRGs).
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Web Resources
ACORN (The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now)
www.acorn.org
ACORN is the nation’s largest community organization of low- and moderateincome families, working together for social justice and stronger communities.
Industrial Areas Foundation
www.industrialareasfoundation.org
A Chicago-based community organization founded by Saul Alinsky. It does not
explicitly promote any ideological agenda, but rather seeks to build a network
of affiliates focused on specific social and political goals. It describes its chief
purpose as power and its chief product as social change.
Jewish Funds for Justice – Congregation-Based Community Organizing
www.jewishjustice.org
An initiative of the Jewish Funds for Justice that provides synagogues with
leadership development, training, grants, local and national gatherings, and
educational programming. It seeks to encourage and support synagogues as
they deepen their social justice efforts through congregation-based community
organizing.
The Jewish Organizing Initiative (JOI)
www.jewishorganizing.org
A one-year program offering young adults a chance to work for justice and
create a meaningful Jewish community that can support and sustain them in
working for justice.
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Books
Kimberly Bobo, Steve Max, and Jackie Kendall, Organizing for Social
Change: Midwest Academy : Manual for Activists (Seven Locks Press,
2001)
Rinku Sen, Stir It Up: Lessons in Community Organizing and Advocacy
(Jossey-Bass, 2003)
Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals (Vintage, 1971)
Jewish Organizing Initiative’s Big Book of Readings
www.jewishorganizing.org/resources.htm
A 500 page book that includes readings about Judaism and community organnizing, with an annotated introduction to texts. Chapters include: Organizing and Organizers, The Jewish Community Today, Choosing Issues and Developing Campaigns, Working as a Jewish Organizer in the Secular World, Getting People to Join Your Organization, Leadership, Fundraising, and Meetings.
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