Module 7: Taking Action: Skills for Antifascists
Individual action is important, but lasting social change often requires collective action. This is where community organizing comes in. Community organizing is about bringing people together to build power, identify shared goals, and take action to achieve those goals. It's about working with communities, not for them, to create positive change from the ground up.
A. What is Community Organizing?
Community organizing is a process of building power through collective action. It involves:
Identifying a Shared Issue or Problem: Finding a common concern that affects a particular community.
Building Relationships: Connecting with people in the community, building trust, and fostering relationships.
Developing Leadership: Identifying and developing leaders within the community.
Creating a Shared Vision: Working together to define a shared vision for the future and a set of goals.
Taking Collective Action: Developing and implementing strategies to achieve those goals, such as:
Organizing protests and demonstrations.
Lobbying elected officials.
Educating the public.
Building coalitions with other groups.
Creating alternative institutions (e.g., mutual aid networks, cooperatives).
Empowering the Community: The ultimate goal of community organizing is to empower the community to take control of its own destiny and create lasting change. It is based in the idea that those most impacted need to be at the for front.
B. Examples of Community Organizing:
Community organizing takes many different forms, depending on the specific context and goals. Here are a few examples:
Neighborhood Associations: Residents organizing to address issues like crime, housing, or access to services.
Tenant Unions: Renters organizing to fight for better living conditions and affordable housing.
Labor Unions: Workers organizing to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Immigrant Rights Groups: Immigrants and allies organizing to protect the rights of immigrants and fight for immigration reform.
Environmental Justice Organizations: Communities organizing to address environmental problems that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Racial Justice Organizations: Groups organizing to challenge systemic racism and police brutality.
Disability Rights Groups
Groups Challenging Fascism at a Local Level: Communities organizing to counter fascist rallies, challenge hate speech, and build inclusive communities.
These are just a few examples, and many other types of community organizing exist. The key is that community organizing is about building power from the ground up, empowering people to take action on the issues that affect their lives. It requires patience, commitment, and a willingness to work together, even when it's difficult.