Community Development
Community Organizing
Grassroots organizing begins by focusing on people who share a common place; such as an apartment building, a city block, or a neighborhood. It is the process of bringing unconnected people together to in order to work for a common purpose.
For most communities the big problem is resources, particularly time. Organizing small areas, such as a block or two, to address a specific problem is manageable for one or two people; however, a larger area with more difficult problems is a different story.
In the United States there are many training programs in community organizing.
Adapt to available resources
Most of the literature on community development is far too optimistic about what can be achieved by all-volunteer groups that are not propelled by a hot issue.
Treat each method of community organizing as a guide.
The Citizens Handbook: A Guide to Building Community
By Charles Dobson and the Vancouver Citizen's Committee
copyright © 2008
Illinois Association of REALTORS®
