Mike Pouraryan
Community Organizers in America
Over 20 years ago, Barack Obama began his career as a Community Organizer. It seems as if Rudy Guliani and Sarah Palin aren’t quite sure what a Community Organizer does so I would like to do a little ignorance bashing to help anyone out who may be fooled by the ridiculous comparison of Mayor and Community Organizer. A career as a community organizer is an option for people who want to make a difference, are concerned about social inequities, and are interested in community solutions and empowering people. People come to careers in community organizing from diverse professions and backgrounds.
1880 to 1900
People sought to meet the pressures of rapid immigration and industrialization by organizing immigrant neighborhoods in urban centers. Since the emphasis of the reformers was mostly on building community through settlement houses and other service mechanisms, the dominant approach was what Fisher calls social work. During this period, The Newsboys Strike provided an early model of youth-led organizing.
1900 to 1940
Community organization was established distinct from social work, with much energy coming from those critical of capitalist doctrines. Studs Terkel documented community organizing in the depression era, perhaps most notably that of Dorothy Day. Most organizations had a national orientation because the economic problems the nation faced did not seem possible to change at the neighborhood levels.
1940 to 1960
The emergence of the distinctive approach of Saul Alinsky spurred new thought and new blood into community movements. Those influenced by Alinsky were (and still are) concerned with social justice as their primary framework. Alinsky promoted greater awareness of community organizing in academic circles, and those affiliated with Alinsky trained a generation of organizers.
1960 to present
The American Civil Rights Movement, the anti-war movements, the Chicano movement, the feminist movement, and the gay rights movement all influenced and were influenced by ideas of neighborhood organizing. Experience with federal anti-poverty programs and the upheavals in the cities produced a thoughtful response among activists and theorists in the early 1970s that has informed activities, organizations, strategies, and movements through the end of the century. Less dramatically, civic associations and neighborhood block clubs were formed all across the country to foster community spirit and civic duty, as well as provide a social outlet.
Many of the most notable leaders in community organizing today emerged from the National Welfare Rights Organization. John Calkins of DART, Ernesto Cortes of the Industrial Areas Foundation, Wade Rathke of ACORN, John Dodds of Philadelphia Unemployment Project and Mark Splain of the AFL-CIO, among others.
It’s no wonder the Republicans want people to think Community Organizers don’t have responsibilities. They don’t want disenfranchised people to have empowerment in their own communities.
Community Organizers Empower the Powerless
1880 to 1900
People sought to meet the pressures of rapid immigration and industrialization by organizing immigrant neighborhoods in urban centers. Since the emphasis of the reformers was mostly on building community through settlement houses and other service mechanisms, the dominant approach was what Fisher calls social work. During this period, The Newsboys Strike provided an early model of youth-led organizing.
1900 to 1940
Community organization was established distinct from social work, with much energy coming from those critical of capitalist doctrines. Studs Terkel documented community organizing in the depression era, perhaps most notably that of Dorothy Day. Most organizations had a national orientation because the economic problems the nation faced did not seem possible to change at the neighborhood levels.
1940 to 1960
The emergence of the distinctive approach of Saul Alinsky spurred new thought and new blood into community movements. Those influenced by Alinsky were (and still are) concerned with social justice as their primary framework. Alinsky promoted greater awareness of community organizing in academic circles, and those affiliated with Alinsky trained a generation of organizers.
1960 to present
The American Civil Rights Movement, the anti-war movements, the Chicano movement, the feminist movement, and the gay rights movement all influenced and were influenced by ideas of neighborhood organizing. Experience with federal anti-poverty programs and the upheavals in the cities produced a thoughtful response among activists and theorists in the early 1970s that has informed activities, organizations, strategies, and movements through the end of the century. Less dramatically, civic associations and neighborhood block clubs were formed all across the country to foster community spirit and civic duty, as well as provide a social outlet.
Many of the most notable leaders in community organizing today emerged from the National Welfare Rights Organization. John Calkins of DART, Ernesto Cortes of the Industrial Areas Foundation, Wade Rathke of ACORN, John Dodds of Philadelphia Unemployment Project and Mark Splain of the AFL-CIO, among others.
It’s no wonder the Republicans want people to think Community Organizers don’t have responsibilities. They don’t want disenfranchised people to have empowerment in their own communities.
Sanity Road
It was the Republicans who got a man elected who championed the Emancipation Proclamation. It was the Republicans in Congress who voted the 1964 Civil Rights Act into law. Just take another look at the facts.
I will not belittle most community organizers, certainly not the ones who work for noble goals and recognition. They have their place. No community organizer has to make certain the water department functions, potholes are filled, etc. This is to what Gov. Sara Palin was referring. It is one thing to jump start and motivate a group of people. It is another to be prepared and carry the real responsibilities of governmental affairs wherein there can be no excuses.
You want a man voted into office whose very premise of being the "first Black" candidate is a lie. He is half white.
Now, I do not care what his color is, just be honest. You can be Black, white, or somewhere in the middle, just do not base your campaign on such a basis. We do not care your color, we want a person of integrity and experience. Obama has neither. He has proven this time and time again by his mentors -- one a racist pastor about whom you know. Another was a "Weather Underground" organizer who beat conviction by a technicality.
I want to elect Obama to be President because of his plan which is clearly laid out in his blueprint for change Really Long Link .
I don't know what Sarah Palin meant. I do know what she said. It shows her ignorance and the puppetry going on in her nomination which I find offensive to women especially the Republican women who Republican pundits have said are more qualified than she is for the job.
You can only talk about people who Obama knows negatively, not anything he has done. Like John McCain's Keating five scandal in which he directly cheated the American people and Sarah Palin's current investigation where she can actually be impeached.
I believe that John McCain has based his campaign on the fact that he is not black. Simply you have me or you have the black guy type of mentality.
Let's not even try to compare the Republican's of old to today's Republican Party (Just ask Republicans for Obama.