An Exploration on Community Organizing: Operations, Issue Determination, and Impact Scope

Community organizing can be defined as “the coordination of cooperative efforts and campaigning carried out by local residents to promote the interests of their community” (Oxford Dictionary). Yet this term can be interpreted differently based on the interests and issues of a community and those who seek to serve it. Since community organizations are commonly structured to address community needs, their efforts are very different depending on the demographics, regions, and capabilities of the organization itself and its constituencies. The details of community organizing are best understood by learning from current organizations working to reflect the identities and issues of the communities they work for. The current research sought to understand how community organizations operate - from the decision-making process, to coalition-building, to hiring, and beyond - as well as how their impact works in relation to national advocacy efforts. The analyses found within this research can inform audiences on how community organizations measure impact, how they choose to engage in building people power, and how to become involved with these types of organizations.