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Helping people and communities develop the tools to shape their own futures has long been a focus of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The following edited transcript is from one of seven videos by Mott in which those working in the field of community organizing reflect on the lessons, opportunities and challenges for creating lasting social change.

Question: What are the qualities and skills needed in a good community organizer?

Rowena Pineda 
Spokane, Washington 
Formerly with the Idaho Community Action Network

The key quality of a good community organizer is the ability to listen to people, to what they are saying and to the solutions that are coming from the community. Sometimes we come in from outside, thinking we have the answers and, for the most part, we don’t. The people who are affected by the issue know exactly what’s wrong and what it takes to correct it. Our job is to really listen to them, to give them their “voice” and empower them to build their leadership so that they can push their solutions forward.

Jack McKay
Food AND Medicine 
Brewer, Maine

You have to care, you have to want to listen and learn. I think those are the most important things. You also have to have the courage to be vulnerable, to expand your experience. Organizing is about you and about others, and it’s very important to be able to strip down whatever barriers, whatever past experiences you may have that may create barriers to connecting with other people. That takes courage and it’s a challenge. If people are caring and have heart, if they want to see a difference and are willing to be vulnerable, then it’s just a wonderful career, a wonderful thing to do.


Dee Washington 
Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods
Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina

A good community organizer is passionate about people, they know themselves and have a desire to make a change in the world. The moment that I saw some real injustices, it was like, “Is this really happening?” It was surreal and at that moment I said, “I’ve got to do something about this.” If I’m the only person “on deck,” I can’t just do nothing. If you’ve ever felt that way, then that to me is what it takes to be a community organizer. There are other skills you’ll learn, but what will drive and motivate you will be those things you see in the world that need to change.