From the Grassroots Up: Sustaining the Future of Community Organizing
Throughout history, the pursuit of justice and social change has been fueled by the remarkable capacity of individuals to organize and cultivate the power and leadership of impacted communities. When reflecting on these pivotal figures, names like Bayard Rustin, Cesar Chavez, Ella Baker, Yuri Kochiyama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Angela Davis, Nelson Mandela, and countless others readily come to mind.
These individuals, often referred to as organizers, are the ones who operate at a grassroots level to build a base within their communities, nurturing leaders to enhance the capacity of community members to take collective action. This collective action can range from small-scale initiatives like collaborating with local governments to install a stop sign at a busy intersection to large-scale endeavors that mobilize thousands of people for institutional change.
The truth is most people who work as organizers never gain the public, let alone historical, recognition for their work or impact. Tens of thousands of organizers are working all across the country to develop leaders, mobilize voters, train volunteers, and advocate for policy change on issues from increases in minimum wage to access to reproductive healthcare. The work of organizers is critical to a healthy and thriving democratic society.
However, this is not a new issue. This community of professionals is confronting a significant crisis at a time when their skills are urgently needed. For far too long, organizers have been asked to do more, working in increasingly violent and oppressive environments, which has decimated a profession. Despite the pressing need for their expertise, numerous grassroots power-building organizations are encountering difficulties in attracting, training, and retaining skilled organizers.
Over the past 15 years, intense polarization, toxic political discourse, lack of institutional funding, and scarce prospects for economic stability and career advancement have resulted in a shortage of skilled and experienced organizers.
This crisis is not just a warning; it’s a full-blown emergency. With a crucial election on the horizon, the lack of action on this issue could have severe and long-lasting consequences. The absence of skilled and experienced organizers could lead to a significant loss in community engagement and a decline in the effectiveness of social change initiatives.
In the coming months, my colleague Katie Fox and I are excited to share insights, new research, and organizing practices that reflect our two decades of professional organizing experience and recent work with Community Change, the California Endowment, and the Organizer Learning Project.
We are eager to highlight organizations and organizers who are doing amazing work to address this challenge. The aim is to further understand the size and scale of this issue and spark a conversation about how to preserve, formalize, and nurture this vital profession.
Stay Tuned… 😉
