Community organizing

Community organizing is a process by which disempowered people - most often low- and moderate-income people - are brought together to act in their common self-interest. Most often these organizations seek populist goals and the ideal of participatory democracy. Community organizers create popular movements by building a large base of concerned folks, mobilizing these community members to act, and developing leadership from and relationships among the people involved.

History of Community Organizing in the United States

Robert Fisher and Peter Romanofsky have grouped the history of community organizing in the United States into four rough periods:

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1880 to 1900

People sought to meet the pressures of rapid immigration and industrialization by organizing immigrant neighborhoods in urban centers. Since the emphasis of the reformers was mostly on building community through settlement houses and other service mechanisms, the dominant approach was social work.

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1900 to 1940

Community organization was established distinct from social work, with much energy coming from those critical of capitalist doctrines. Studs Terkel documented community organizing in the depression era, perhaps most notably that of Dorothy Day. Most organizations had a national orientation because the economic problems the nation faced did not seem possible to change at the neighborhood level.

Related Topics:
Capitalist - Studs Terkel - Dorothy Day

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1940 to 1960

The emergence of the distinctive approach of Saul Alinsky spurs new thought and new blood into community movements. Those influenced by Alinsky are concerned with social justice without having socialist thought as their primary framework. Alinsky promoted greater awareness of community organizing in academic circles, and those affiliated with Alinsky trained a generation of organizers, including César Chávez.

Related Topics:
Saul Alinsky - Socialist - César Chávez

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1960 to Present

The civil rights movement, the anti-war movements, the feminist movement, and the gay rights movement all influenced and were influenced by ideas of neighborhood organizing. Experience with federal anti-poverty programs and the upheavals in the cities produced a thoughtful response among activists and theorists in the early 1970s that has informed activities, organizations, strategies and movements through the end of the century. Less dramatically, civic associations and neighborhood block clubs were formed all across the country to foster community spirit and civic duty, as well as provide a social outlet.

Related Topics:
Civil rights movement - Anti-war - Feminist movement - Gay rights - Civic association

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