Community organising is a practice of building collective power by bringing people together around shared concerns, lived experiences, and common interests in order to challenge injustice and create change. Unlike service delivery or advocacy conducted on behalf of communities, organising is rooted in the principle that people most affected by a problem should play a central role in defining it and acting to address it.
Community organising is not primarily about delivering solutions. It is about developing relationships, leadership, and collective capacity so that communities can influence the conditions shaping their lives over time. As such, organising is both a method of action and a long-term strategy for democratic participation and systemic change.
What Distinguishes Community Organising #
Community organising is often contrasted with other forms of social change work, particularly service provision and advocacy.
- Service delivery focuses on meeting immediate needs but does not necessarily shift power or address root causes.
- Advocacy may seek policy change but is often conducted by professionals rather than those directly affected.
- Community organising centres on power-building, leadership development, and collective action led by community members themselves.
This distinction does not imply opposition between approaches. Rather, organising occupies a specific role within broader change ecosystems, particularly where durable participation and power redistribution are required.
Core Principles of Community Organising #
Power and Collective Agency #
At its core, community organising is concerned with power: who has it, how it is exercised, and how it can be redistributed. Organising begins from the recognition that individuals acting alone have limited influence, while collective action can shift decision-making dynamics.
- Power is understood as relational rather than merely positional.
- Organising seeks to build power through numbers, legitimacy, and coordinated action.
- Collective agency is developed through shared analysis and mutual accountability.
Relationships as Infrastructure #
Organising treats relationships not as secondary to action, but as the infrastructure of change. Trust, reciprocity, and shared commitment enable communities to sustain action beyond moments of crisis.
- One-to-one conversations are used to surface interests, values, and motivations.
- Relationships create the basis for solidarity across difference.
- Strong relational networks support resilience during conflict or backlash.
Leadership Development #
Rather than relying on charismatic individuals, community organising prioritises distributed leadership.
- Leadership is understood as a set of practices rather than a formal position.
- Organising invests in developing the skills, confidence, and political understanding of community members.
- Leadership development ensures continuity and reduces dependence on a small number of actors.
Key Practices in Community Organising #
Listening and Issue Identification #
Organising typically begins with structured listening processes designed to identify shared concerns and priorities.
- Listening helps distinguish between individual grievances and collective issues.
- Problems are reframed as systemic rather than personal.
- Issues selected for action are specific, winnable, and connected to broader structural change.
Base-Building and Membership #
Base-building refers to expanding and sustaining participation within a defined community.
- Organisers identify constituencies affected by an issue and invite participation.
- Membership structures clarify who is involved and how decisions are made.
- A strong base increases legitimacy and bargaining power.
Strategy and Campaign Development #
Community organising often translates collective concerns into campaigns with clear objectives and targets.
- Campaigns are grounded in analysis of power and decision-making structures.
- Actions are chosen to build confidence, visibility, and leverage.
- Success is measured not only by external wins, but by internal growth in capacity.
Collective Action and Accountability #
Action is a defining feature of organising, but it is purposeful rather than performative.
- Actions are designed to apply pressure, demonstrate unity, or disrupt unjust systems.
- Public accountability is sought from decision-makers with the power to enact change.
- Reflection after action supports learning and adaptation.
Organising, Culture, and Identity #
Community organising is not only instrumental. It also plays a role in shaping collective identity and political culture.
- Shared action fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
- Organising creates spaces for political education and consciousness-raising.
- Cultural practices, rituals, and narratives reinforce solidarity and meaning.
Through these processes, organising contributes to longer-term cultural change, not just immediate outcomes.
