Building the Field of Community Organizing

About this grant

Despite significant growth in the field of community organizing during the past three decades, there are still critical gaps in its reach and effectiveness that prevent it from serving as a major force for social change. Rural America, the Great Plains and the South are sparsely organized; the white working class is difficult to engage; and other low-income groups are not well represented in most community organizations. Multiyear funding will enable the Center for Community Change (CCC) to build the field of community organizing by strengthening low-income grassroots organizations in selected regions of the United States; developing community organizing infrastructure in specific states; and establishing a community organizing "talent pool" for the field. Objectives include focusing on building a strong base of community organizations in the Great Plains and the South; adopting a more permanent, long-term approach to building viable community organizing infrastructure partnerships at the state level; and investigating ways to cultivate organizing talent.CCC’s mission is to help low-income people develop the capacity to improve their communities and change policies and institutions that affect their lives.