Running head: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING



Running head: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

Community Organizing/Engagement

Kendra Moerlein

Western Washington University

Throughout the quarter our class has been seeing all types of community organizing, through videos and stories, but how does one go about defining what community organizing signifies? Community organizing brings people together to create collective power and strength. It enables people to speak who usually don’t feel as though they have a voice. “Community organizing is a key part of an overall strategy to make changes in a community that are widely felt, and that reflect the wishes of the people who are directly affected” (Take action, 2008). An easy way to think of community organizing is to break it down into phases. It all starts with community members’ engagement with an issue or a group that is underrepresented in their community. Next is the interaction among the community. This interaction encourages people to build relationships, develop trust, and establish shared values. This strengthening between neighborhoods fosters social capital, which comes from organizing people collectively. The next step after building social capital is building political power by pairing with other residents or community institutions to be heard and make a change (Glickman & Scally, 2008).

Community organizing is a group effort that only works if each member of the group listens to one another and is responsive to their own community. It helps these members develop the necessary skills to address their own issues and stand up for what they believe (Glickman & Scally, 2008). “Community organizing is a long-term approach where the people affected by an issue are supported in identifying problems and taking action to achieve solutions” (Take action, 2008). It’s about changing power. Community organizing changes the balance of power and creates new power bases.

Community organizing has been a primary tool for American reformers from colonial times until now. Community organizing came about in the 1960’s with the introduction to antipoverty programs and the evolution of the civil rights movement. People began forming groups to support each other on unjust issues such as, disenfranchised voters, poor housing and lack of decent jobs. In 1980’s, organizing movements declined because community development started to form. Community developers focused on building housing and attracted funding and political support. However, in the last decade community organizing has comeback (Kopsky, 2009, p.34).

Although many may not fully understand community organizing, if one were to look back in our history they would see plenty of examples. The Bill of Rights is a defining document of organizing, based on freedom of speech. “The right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances” (Kopsky, 2009, p.34). Another example of a community organizer is Harriet Tubman, who helped people escape from slavery, or Susan B. Anthony who helped women secure the right to vote and run for office, or Martin Luther King Jr. who spurred the nation to stand up for equal rights. All these historic individuals are prime examples of how one person can bring people together to make changes. Today we have all kinds community organizers working with leaders who together can improve communities across our state (Kopsky, 2009).

Groups that organize come in all shapes and sizes. Although the focus of change is the community, the opportunity is brought about by individuals, families, group or organizations. Community change efforts can range anywhere from short and focused activities to long and sustained projects. No matter what the focus is on they all have one thing in common, achieving social justice (Gutierrez et al, 1996). “The concept of social justice is central to the practice of community organizing” (Gutierrez et al, 1996, p. 502) Social justice refers to equality and fairness throughout a society. Community organizers work together and fight for social justice to win concrete improvements in their lives and hole out government accountable for its actions. No matter how local or small community organizers goals are, the overall goal is always for social justice and social equality (Gutierrez et al, 1996).

Urban communities today are organizing on issues of neighborhood violence, economic issues, and environmental issues. Here are a few examples; Robert Niles is an online journalist who believes that the function of news publishing has changed in the Internet era. He feels simply reporting the news is no longer affective. “The journalists who succeed online are the ones who understand that they are no longer simply reporters... they've become community organizers” (Niles, 2010, p.1). Niles goes on to say that when organizing a community isn’t important not to fall into the trap that equates the physical proximity within that community. Just because people live near one another, that doesn't bond those people into a community. Communities form around common needs and purposes. So start by identifying what people can offer a community and which community might need what you can offer (Niles, 2010, p. 1).

Another example of community organizing is; justice for the south Bronx. Activist Alexie Torres-Fleming grew up in a Bronx neighbor until she for Manhattan in search of a job. After working a corporate job, Alexie decided it was time to return home where she got involved in neighbor issues. She founded the Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice in 1994 and as continued working with community organizers ever since. Her newest accomplished along with her colleagues is the opening of Concrete Plant Park. Concrete Plant Park is a seven-acre greenway in the South Bronx. This greenway was once a former concrete plant along the Bronx River (Frykholm, 2009). “While I can point to the creation of beautiful places. I think the bigger transformation has been in people” (Frykholm, 2009, p. 10).

No matter where you look community organizing is everywhere. Community organizing is how Americans make our democracy work. Without people coming together and being activists for their rights, the only people with power would be the few in practice. In democracy there are two kinds of power: money and people. The big corporations and media have the money. The rest of us have power through our ideas, the principles we share, and our commitment to our prosperity, that when all intertwined can’t be overlooked. “Community organizing is how regular Americans can come together to win concrete improvements in their lives and hold our government accountable to its people” (Glickmann & Scally, 2008, p. 559). Democracy and community organizing go hand in hand. Kohn (2008) goes on to state that as organizers, our jobs is to nurture the leadership of others. Not to speak for communities but to help communties speak for themsevles. “In a way, especially for communities long locked out of the political process, community organizers are the coaches of our democracy” (Kohn, 2008, p. 2).

People need to engage themselves in their own community. More importantly people need to learn about how community organizing works and can affect change. Community organizing runs through our history. “From abolishing slavery to granting women the right to vote to ending the Vietnam War to recognizing civil rights, every significant step forward in our nation's history has come from regular people standing together to demand change” (Kohn, 2008). The greatest thing about community organizing is that anyone has the ability to make a difference

References

Glickmann, N. and Scally C. (2008). Can community and education organizing imporve inner-city schools. New Jersey: Journal of Urban Affairs. 30(5). pp. 557-577.

Gutierrez, L., Alvarez, A., Nemon, H. and Lewis, E. (1996, September). Multicultural community organizing: A strategy for change. Social Work Journal. 41(5). pp. 501-508

Frykholm, A. (2009). Justice for the South Bronx. Christian Century. 126(15). Pp.10-11

Kohn S. (September 17, 2008). Community organizing: How the U.S. makes democracy work. Center for community change. Retrieved March 4, 2010. from,

Kopsky, B. (2009) In the beginning, there was community organizing…Social policy: Arkansas Public Policy Panel. 38(4). p. 34

NA (2008). Take action: Community organizing action pack. The Marin Institute. Retrived March 4, 2010. from,

Niles, R. (January 6, 2010). Doing journalism in 2010 is an act of community organizing. The online journal review. Retrieved March 7, 2010. from,



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