What is community organizing?
Community organizing is the practice of building collective power to create change. It’s not about one charismatic leader—it’s about ordinary people working together toward shared goals.
The core insight: people with shared interests, when organized, have more power than they do as isolated individuals.
Core principles
Start with listening
Before you organize anyone, understand what they actually care about. Talk to people. Ask questions. Listen more than you talk.
What frustrates them? What do they want? What would they fight for?
Build relationships
Organizing is relational. It’s not about broadcasting messages—it’s about building genuine connections between people.
One-on-ones are the foundation. Sit down with individuals. Learn their story. Share yours. Find common ground.
Develop leaders
Your goal isn’t to do everything yourself. It’s to develop others to take leadership. Every person you bring in should be able to bring in others.
Ask: who can take ownership of this? How can I support them?
Take action
Analysis and discussion aren’t organizing. Action is. Petitions, meetings, events, confrontations—things that move toward your goal.
Actions should be:
- Targeted at a decision-maker
- Winnable (or teach something valuable if lost)
- Engage new people
- Build toward bigger actions
Win concrete victories
Wins matter. They demonstrate that organizing works. They build confidence and momentum.
Start with winnable fights. A small win is better than a noble loss.
Build organization
Actions are temporary. Organization is permanent. Build infrastructure that outlasts any single campaign.
Membership, communication channels, leadership development, recurring meetings—these are the bones of lasting power.
The organizing cycle
1. Listen
Understand the community. What are the issues? Who are the leaders? What’s been tried before?
2. Research
Who has power over the issue? What pressure points exist? What’s been done elsewhere?
3. Build relationships
One-on-ones. House meetings. Small gatherings. Build the network of people who will take action.
4. Plan strategy
What’s the goal? What’s the theory of change? What actions will move you toward the goal?
5. Take action
Execute the plan. Mobilize people. Apply pressure. Demonstrate power.
6. Evaluate
What worked? What didn’t? What did you learn? How do you adjust?
7. Repeat
Organizing is iterative. Each cycle builds on the last. Each win creates capacity for bigger wins.
Power analysis
Who has power over your issue?
Identify the decision-makers. The city councillor? The developer? The CEO? The minister?
What do they care about?
Everyone responds to incentives. What does your target want? Re-election? Profit? Public approval? Quiet life?
What leverage do you have?
How can you affect what they care about? Votes? Media coverage? Disruptive protest? Consumer pressure?
Who are your allies?
Who else cares about this issue? Who has power or influence you can ally with?
Who are your opponents?
Who benefits from the status quo? Who will actively work against you?
Tactics
Petitions
Demonstrate breadth of support. Good for list-building. Less effective for actually winning unless tied to other pressure.
Public meetings
Bring community members face-to-face with decision-makers. Power comes from turnout and visibility.
Direct action
Disruption, protest, civil disobedience. High risk, high reward. Use strategically.
Media
Coverage amplifies your message and creates pressure. But media is a tactic, not a strategy.
Electoral
Supporting or opposing candidates. Running your own. Long-term power building.
Legal
Lawsuits, regulatory complaints. Can be effective but often slow and expensive.
Common mistakes
Starting with tactics
“Let’s have a rally!” isn’t a strategy. Start with goals, then choose tactics that serve them.
Organizing the already organized
It’s comfortable to work with people who already agree. Real organizing brings in new people.
All talk, no action
Meetings and planning sessions aren’t progress. Action is progress.
Burning out your core
The same 10 people doing everything is unsustainable. Develop more leaders. Share the load.
Declaring victory too early
Announcements and promises aren’t wins. Implemented change is a win.
Fighting losing battles
Some fights aren’t winnable right now. Losing repeatedly is demoralizing. Pick your battles.
Building organization
Membership
Who belongs? What does membership mean? Dues? Commitments? Rights?
Leadership
Who makes decisions? How? How do new leaders emerge?
Communication
How do you reach members? Email, meetings, app, all of the above?
Finances
How do you fund the work? Dues, donations, grants?
Sustainability
How does this continue when you step back? What’s the succession plan?
Getting started
- Talk to 10 people about the issue
- Find 3-5 who want to do something
- Pick a specific, winnable goal
- Plan a first action
- Bring in more people
- Win or learn
- Build from there