COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Community organizing is a means of bringing people together to address
problematic social conditions. As a purposeful collective effort, organizing
requires sound analytical, political, and interactional skills. An important
aspect of those skills for professional organizers involves a continuous pattern
of systematic planning, "doing", reflecting again (theorizing) and acting
strategically to build a group that can achieve its aims.
Community organization is rooted in the reform tradition of professional social
work and such values as self-determination, self-sufficiency, empowerment,
and social justice. Therefore this course is particularly relevant to direct
practice with and advocacy for disempowered groups in the society, such as
ethnic and racial minorities, low income persons, women, the aged and the
disabled.
The methods course in community organization is aimed at students who
seek to expand and refine their skills in organization-building and collective
action. It builds on foundation knowledge and skills from the prerequisite
introductory level practice courses in the curriculum.
Students enrolled in this course should have completed all of the introductory
(foundation year) practice courses and the first year practicum or their
equivalents. Therefore this course assumes familiarity with such relevant skills
and knowledge as: the nature of organizations, service delivery networks,
community structures and dynamics, power structure and dynamics,
empowerment, advocacy, small group dynamics and staff, leader and
member roles in work with task groups.
I. COURSE GOALS
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theory and practice
of community organizing in the United States.
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES
Knowledge
1. to illustrate the historical knowledge base of CO practice;
2. derive a conceptual framework for practice & analyze issues like
organizers;
3. to compare & contrast the major tasks, processes, models, and
technologies of organizing;
4. to determine the main issues in working directly with individuals and groups
whose social class, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and
status are both similar to and different from the worker's;
5. to calculate the worker's role with disempowered groups, and with the
nature of combating institutional manifestations of social oppression.
B. Skills
1. to use one's self differentially (e.g. enabler, organizer, leader, researcher,
planner, developer, advocate, strategizer, broker, negotiator) as required in
the complex role of the organizer as change agent;
2. to sharpen analytical, political, and interactional skills for community
organizing;
3. to assess the differential potential and requirements for building and
sustaining a collective effort to address a problematic social conditions;
4. to apply different approaches to organizing as necessary according to the
variables and givens of the situation, such as organizational, political, and
community resources and skills;
5. to work effectively with constituencies whose backgrounds and experiences
differ widely from the organizer's.
6. to productively employ a community micro-analysis and/or effectively utilize
a community power analysis.
C. Attitudes
1. to appraise for the developmental processes involved in community
organizing;
2. to clarify the values of self-determination, empowerment, and social justice;
3. to develop with one's own ethical and political beliefs;
4. to appreciate differences in values, norms, and attitudes of individuals and
groups from diverse backgrounds and experiences;
5. to understand the role of spontaneity in CO practice;
6. to identify one's limitations in skills and knowledge and to seek appropriate
assistance.
III. TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Lecture, small and large group discussion, role playing, experiential exercises,
and films. These methods will help with the integration of classroom and field
experience. All students are strongly encouraged to be active participants and
learners in the classroom setting. Please bring questions and be prepared to
ask them in class.
IV. REQUIRED TEXTS
Alinsky, S. (1972). Rules for radicals. New York: Random House.
Bobo, K., Kendall, J. & Max, S. (1991). Organizing for social change: A
manual for activists in the 1990s. Midwest Academy: Cabin John, MD. Seven
Locks Press.
Fisher, R. (1994). Let the People Decide: Neighborhood Organizing in
America (2
nd
ed.). New York, NY: Twayne.
Fisher, R. & Ury, W. (1991). Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without
Giving In. New York: Penguin.
McDougall, H. (1993). Black Baltimore: A New Theory of Community.
Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Rogers, M.B. (1990). Cold Anger: A Story of Faith and Power Politics. Denton,
TX: University of North Texas Press.
Various articles as assigned.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Austin, Michael J. and Jane Isaacs Lowe (eds.). CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
IN COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and
Bacon, 1994.
Betten, Neil and Michael J., Austin, et. al. THE ROOTS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING: 1917-1939. Philadelphia, Temple University Press, 1990.
Boyte, Harry C. COMMONWEALTH: A RETURN TO CITIZEN POLITICS. NY:
Free Press, 1989.
Brager, George, Harry Specht, and James Torczyner. COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING. New York, Columbia University Press, 1973, 1987.
Burghardt, Steve. THE OTHER SIDE OF ORGANIZING. Cambridge,
Schenkman Publishing Company, 1982.
Delgado, Gary. ORGANIZING THE MOVEMENT: THE ROOTS AND
GROWTH OF ACORN. Philadelphia, Temple University Press, 1986.
Delgado, Gary. BEYOND THE POLITICS OF PLACE: NEW DIRECTIONS IN
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN THE 1990's. Oakland, CA: Applied Research
Center, 1994.
Ewalt, Patricia L., Edith M. Freeman, and Dennis L. Poole (eds,)
COMMUNITY BUILDING: RENEWAL, WELL-BEING, AND SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY. Washngton D.C., NASW Press, 1998
Fisher, Roger and William Ury. GETTING TO YES: NEGOTIATING
AGREMENT WITHOUT GIVING IN. New York, Penguin Books, 1981, 1991
(revised)
Hardcastle, David A., Stanley Wenocur, and Patricia Powers. COMMUNITY
PRACTICE: THEORIES AND SKILLS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS. NY: Oxford
Un., 1996.
Kahn, Si. ORGANIZING. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1982.
(Revised edition), NASW, 1991.
Kretzman, John P. and John L. McKnight. BUILDING COMMUNITIES FROM .
NY: Columbia University Press, 1993.
Rivera, Felix F. and John Erlich. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN A DIVERSE
SOCIETY. (2nd. ed.) Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon, 1995.
Rothman, Jack, John E. Tropman, and John L. Erlich (eds).. STRATEGIES
OF COMMUNITY INTERVENTION. (5th ed.). Itasca, IL: Peacock Press,
1995.
Rubin, Herbert and Irene Rubin. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND
DEVELOPMENT. Columbus, OH: Merril Publishing Company, 1986.
Simon, Barbara Levy. THE EMPOWERMENT TRADITION IN AMERICAN
SOCIAL WORK: A HISTORY. NY: Columbia University Press, 1994.
Staples, Lee. ROOTS TO POWER: A MANUAL FOR GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZING. New York, Praeger Publishing, 1984.
Tropman, John E., John L. Erlich, and Jack Rothman (eds.). TACTICS AND
TECHNIQUES OF COMMUNITY INTERVENTION, 5th ed., Itasca, IL: F.E.
Peacock Press, 1995
(Due Session 3)
Please write up a 3 page description of your "political" self. What are your
earliest memories of politics? How have you been involved politically, if at all?
Is so, why? If not, why not?
V. COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Critical Thinking
Professional practice requires the ability to formulate critical questions about
one's experiences and reading; to recognize information lacks and identify the
information needed to solve a problem; to make keen observations of
behavior and events; to process and analyze data in order to make effective
decisions and chart a course of action; and to evaluate the latter. These are
all part of the process of critical thinking.
Critical thinking demands that each individual take a mentally active stance
towards one's intellectual and experiential tasks. In that sense we are all
continuous learners. Specifically in relation to this course, it also means that
students must take responsibility for their own learning.
Students are expected to engage intellectually with the course reading; to
attend classes and participate actively in class discussions, exercises, and
projects; to question and analyze their own and other's assumptions and
viewpoints; to take initiative in all aspects of the progress of the course.
Bibliography
The literature pertinent to the field of community organization extends well
beyond social work texts and journals. The long bibliography attached to the
syllabus is intended to serve the student beyond the demands of the course
itself.
A complete reference for any book in the readings section can be found in the
BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES section of the syllabus. Required Readings are
generally available at the Health Sciences Library (HSL) and in some cases at
the Reading Room of the School of Social Work.
VI. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. POLITICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY
(Due Session 3)
Please write up a 3 page description of your "political" self. What are your
earliest memories of politics? How have you been involved politically, if at all?
If so, why? If not, why not?

2. NEIGHBORHOOD MICROANALYSIS OR COMMUNITY POWER
ANALYSIS
(Due Session 5)
Using the organizer's exercise at the back of Warren and Warren's "How to
Diagnose a Neighborhood" article, choose a well defined small neighborhood
area in Baltimore in which you do not live and do a micro analysis of it. Drive
or walk around, and using the chart as framework, take notes. Please write up
a 5 page description of the neighborhood, noting as many factors as you can
about it. Include a map of the area, too. (Note: If you have already done an
assignment like this, please see the instructor.)
3. FINAL ASSIGNMENT: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PROJECT
(Due Session 3, 8, Last class)
Each person, either individually or in a small group, will design a community
organizing project, which may relate to your field placement. They should be
15-30 pages (depending on whether you work alone or in a group),
incorporate at least 15 different readings, and be done in APA style. By
Session 3, I want to see a 1 page description of your proposed project. By
Session 8, I want to see a detailed (2-4 pages) outline of the proposed project,
including topic, potential steps, and possible references for it. Consult the
Midwest Academy Strategy Chart framework or Nicholas et al. Macro practice
framework (see me) for developing your proposal.
4. POP QUIZZES
(As need be)
If I feel that students are not engaging class reading materials, I will
administer pop quizzes.
VII. GRADING
Instructor will grade students in consultation with students. Grades will be
weighted as follows: 10% class attendance, reading, and participation; 10%
political autobiography, 15% neighborhood microanalysis, 15% pop quizzes,
and 50% the community organizing project. Grades will be assigned
according to the standard UMB system;
A=Excellent
B=Good
C=Fair
D=Poor
F= Failure
COURSE OUTLINE AND SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
SESSION 1:
Introductions and course overview
Film: From the Bottom Up
Key question(s):
(1) Why are you interested in community organizing?
(2) What is civic culture, what is politics, and how does politics affect
your life?
(3) Why organize anyway?
Required Reading:
None
SESSION 2:
History of and prospects for community organizing in the U.S.
Ethical considerations
Political considerations
Key question(s):
(1) What are some of the "contradictions in social relations" that social
workers face in their daily lives and professional practice now and in the
past?
(2) How do these bear on the history of community organizing in and out
of the social work profession?
(3) How is your own life affected by "contradictions in social relations"?
(4) What is the historical role of CO practice in the field of social work?
Required Reading:
Fisher, Let the People Decide, Intro., Chs. 1-2 (pp. 1-66).
Warren & Warren, How to Diagnose a Neigborhood, In Cox et al (eds.).
Tactics and techniques of community practice, (pp. 27-40).
Wenocur, Stanley. "The Case for Grassroots Community Organization,"
in CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN SOCIAL WORK, ed. by Pruger and
Gambrill, Rockleigh, NJ: Allyn & Bacon, 1992.
Wenocur, Stanley and Steven Soifer. "Prospects for Community
Organization in the 21st Century" , in SOCIAL WORK IN THE 21ST
CENTURY, ed. by Michael Reisch and Eileen Gambrill. Thousand Oaks,
CA: Pine Forge Press, 1997 (also original draft is in LRC)
Recommended:
Betten and Austin, selected chapters as interested
Checkoway, Barry. "Core Concepts for Community Change". JOURNAL OF
COMMUNITY PRACTICE, VOL. 4 (1), 1997
Delgado, Gary. BEYOND THE POLITICS OF PLACE: NEW DIRECTIONS IN
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN THE 1990'S. Oakland, CA: Applied Research
Center, 1994.
Fisher, R. selected chapters as interested.
Fisher, Robert and Howard J. Karger, SOCIAL WORK AND COMMUNITY IN
A PRIVATE WORLD. NY: Longman, 1997., Chapters 1 and 2
Hanna and Robinson, Chapter 1 (including endnotes): History and Philosophy
of Social Change Strategies.
JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WELFARE, Vol. XVII (2), June
1990, SPECIAL ISSUE ON SOCIAL JUSTICE VALUES, AND SOCIAL
WORK PRACTICE.
See especially articles by:
Maurice J. Moreau. "Empowerment through Advocacy and Consciousness-
Raising: Implications of a Structural Approach to Social Work;
Linda Cherrey Reeser and Leslie Leighninger. "Back to Our Roots: Towards a
Specialization in Social Justice."
Mondros and Wilson. Chapters 1 and 2.
Reisch, Michael and Stanley Wenocur. "The Future of Community
Organization in Social Work: Social Activism and the Politics of Profession
Building," SOCIAL SERVICE REVIEW, 60 (1), March, 1992.
Riessman, Frank and S. M. Miller. "Social Change Versus the Psychiatric
World View," AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, 34 (1).
SESSION 3:
History of community organizing in the U.S., Part II.
Key questions:
(1) What kinds of historical trends have affected community organization
practice since its inception?
Required Reading
Fisher, Chs. 4-7 (pp. 98-233)
SESSION 4:
Theories for CO practice
Contingencies and ideologies
Power as a relational concept
Self interest
Praxis
Key question(s):
(1) Why do people get involved in community organizing efforts?
(2) What is the role of ideology in CO?
(3) What does the concept of power mean and how does it come into
play in CO practice?
Required Reading
Alinsky, Rules for Radicals, prologue, pp. 3-97.
Recommended
Bachrach, Peter and Morton S. Baratz. "Two Faces of Power," AMERICAN
POLICY SCIENCE REVIEW. December, 1962, pp. 947-952.
Berger, Peter L. and Richard John Neuhaus. TO EMPOWER PEOPLE: THE
ROLE OF MEDIATING STRUCTURES IN PUBLIC POLICY. Washington,
D.C.: American Enterprise Institute, 1977.
Blau, Peter M. POWER AND EXCHANGE IN SOCIAL LIFE. Ch. 5,
"Differentiation of Power."
Bachrach, Perter and Morton S. Baratz. POWER AND POVERTY: THEORY
AND PRACTICE. Ch. 3, "Key Concepts: Decisions and Non-decisions," and
Ch. 4, "A Model of the Political Process."
Domhoff, G. William. THE POWER ELITE AND THE STATE: HOW POLICY
IS MADE IN AMERICA. NY: Aldine de Gruyter, 1990.
Douglas, Robert and Mike Powell. "Mayor Schafer's Shadow Government,"
BALTIMORE MAGAZINE. Vol. 73 (4), April, 1980, pp. 68-75, 112-116. (RR)
Gamson, William. THE STRATEGY OF SOCIAL PROTEST. 1975, 1990.
Handler, Joel F. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM: A
THEORY OF LAW REFORM AND SOCIAL CHANGE. Ch. 1, "A Theoretical
Perspective," Ch. 6, "Social Change and Law Reform."
Mao-Tse-Tung. "On Practice," in FIVE ESSAYS ON PHILOSOPHY. Foreign
Language Press, Peking, 1977, pp. 1-22 (RR).
Miller, Jean Baker. "Women and Power," SOCIAL POLICY. 13 (4), Spring,
1983.
Pecukonis, Edward and Stanley Wenocur. "Perceptions of Self and Collective
Efficacy in Community Organization Theory and Practice," JOURNAL OF
COMMUNITY PRACTICE, 1 (2), 5-22, 1994.
Perrucci, Robert and Harry R. Potter (eds.), NETWORKS OF POWER:
ORGANIZATIONAL ACTORS AT NATIONAL, CORPORATE AND
COMMUNITY LEVELS. Hawthorne: NY, Aldine de Gruyter, 1989.
Russell, Daniel M. POLITICAL ORGANIZING IN GRASSROOTS POLITICS.
Silver, Michael. "Social Exchange," and "Social Construction of Reality," pp.
26-61, in SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE ORGANIZING TECHNOLOGY
(Baltimore, SSW & CP, UMAB, 1980 (HS/RR).
Solomon, Barbara Bryant. BLACK EMPOWERMENT. Ch. 1 "Empowerment";
Ch. 2, "Black Communities: Myth or Reality?"
Tjerandsen, Carl. EDUCATION FOR CITIZENSHIP: A FOUNDATION'S
EXPERIENCE. Emil Schwarzhaupt Foundation, 1980, especially Ch. 9, "What
Was Learned."
SESSION 5:
Community organizing goals
Roles of the organizer
Community power analysis
Film or game simulation
Key question(s):
(1) What are the different goals and roles of the community organizer?
(2) How are these determined?
(3) How do these fit with professional social work practice?
(4) Is there any relationship between goals and roles?
Required Reading
Rogers. COLD ANGER, Intro., Prologue, Chs. 1-10 (pp. 1-101)
Neighborhood Microanalysis or community power analysis due
Recommended
Blum, Arthur, Magdalena Miranda, and Maurice Meyer. "Goals and Means for
Social Change," in John Turner (ed.), NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION
FOR COMMUNITY ACTION. NASW, 1968.
Hanna and Robinson. 'Introduction"; Chapter 2, "Matrices of Change: A
Comparison of Traditional, Direct-Action, and Transformative Strategies
SESSION 6:
Models of community organization
Key question(s):
(1) How do you decide what model of CO to use?
(2) What variables affect your choice?
(3) What are the commonalities and differences among models?
Required Reading
Joseph, B., Mizrahi, T., Peterson, J. and Sugarman, F. (1989, March).
Women's perspectives on community organizing: A feminist synthesis
of theory and practice. Paper presented.
Rothman, Jack, (1995). "Approaches to Community Intervention" (on
reserve), also in Rothman, Erlich and Tropman (eds.) STRATEGIES OF
COMMUNITY INTERVENTION, 5
th
Edition. Itasia: F.E. Prentice, (pp. 26-
63).
Recommended
Bailis, Lawrence Neil. BREAD OR JUSTICE? GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING
IN THE WELFARE RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books,
1974.
Biddle, William W. and Loureide J. Biddle. THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT: A CASEBOOK. 1974.
Delgado, Gary. ORGANIZING THE MOVEMENT: THE ROOTS AND
GROWTH OF ACORN. 1986.
Ecklein, Joan and Armand A. Lauffer. COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND
SOCIAL PLANNERS. 2nd edition, 1984.
Elphick, Chris. "Community Arts and Community Development: Socio-Cultural
Animation," in Paul Henderson, David Jones, and David N. Thomas (eds.),
THE BOUNDARIES OF COMMUNITY CHANGE. London: Allen and Unwin,
1980.
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PRACTICE, Vol. 3, Numbers 3/4, 1996 is
devoted to conceptual models of commmunity practice. See especially Cheryl
Hyde's article, "A Feminist Response to Rothman's 'The Interweaving of
Community Intervention approaches'".
Kretzman, John P. and John L. McKnight. BUILDING COMMUNITIES FROM
THE INSIDE OUT: A PATH TOWARD FINDING AND MOBILIZING A
COMMUNITY'S ASSETS. Evanston, IL: Center for Urban Affairs and Policy
Research, 1993.
Krumholz, Norman and John Forester. MAKING EQUITY PLANNING WORK.
Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1990.
Lancourt, Joan E. CONFRONT OR CONCEDE: THE ALINSKY CITIZEN
ACTION ORGANIZATIONS. 1979.
Lauffer, Armand. "Community Self-Help as Strategy and Outcome: The
Examination of an Israeli Experience," JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY
PRACTICE. 1 (1), pp. 43-56, 1994.
Mondros and Wilson. Chs. 9 and 10.
Morrissey, Megan H. "The Downtown Advocate Center: A Case Study of a
Welfare Rights Organization," SOCIAL SERVICE REVIEW. Vol. 64 (2), June,
1990, pp. 189-207.
Pruger, Robert and Harry Specht. "Assessing Theoretical Models of
Community Organization Practice: Alinsky as a Case in Point," SOCIAL
SERVICE REVIEW. June, 1969, pp.123-135.
SESSION 7:
Models of community organization (cont'd)
More on the IAF approach
Transformative approaches
Key question(s):
(1) What's the difference between community development, social
planning, and social action?
(2) What's the difference between Direct-Action and Transformative
models of social change?
Required Reading
Alinsky. RULES FOR RADICALS
Bradshaw, Catherine, Steven Soifer and Lorriane Gutierrez. "Toward a
Hybrid Model for Effective Organizing in Communities of Color,"
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PRACTICE. 1 (1), pp. 25-42, 1994.
Rogers. COLD ANGER, Chapters 11-16, Epilogue (pp. 105-199).
Williams, James, "Alinsky Discovered Organizing (Like Columbus
Discovered America), in THIRD FORCE, July/August 1996 (LRC)
Film: Bill Moyer Interview with Ernesto Cortez
Recommended
Adams, Frank, with Myles Horton. UNEARTHING SEEDS OF FIRE: THE
IDEA OF THE HIGHLANDER. Winston-Salem, NC: Blair Publishing, 1975.
Delgado, Gary. ORGANIZING THE MOVEMENT; THE ROOTS AND
GROWTH OF ACORN, Philadelphia, Temple Un. Press, 1986.
Robinson, Buddy and Mark G. Hanna, "Lessons for Academics from
Grassroots Community Organizing: A Case Study - The Industrial Areaas
Foundation". JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PRACTICE, Vol. 1 (4), pp. 63-94,
1994
SOCIAL POLICY. Winter, 1991. "Building Movements, Educating Citizen:
Myles Horton and the Highlander Folk School."
Twelvetrees, Alan. ORGANIZING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT:
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATIONS AND CITIZEN POWER ORGANIZATIONS. Adershot,
England: Gower Publishing, 1989.
Wenocur, Stanley. "The Social Welfare Workers Movement: A Case Study of
New Left Thought in Practice," JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL
WELFARE. Fall, 1975. (RR).
SESSION 8:
Nuts and bolts of organzing:
One on one meetings and door-knocking
Role plays
Key question(s):
(1) What do we mean by 'self interest' in organizing, and how do you
identify it?
(2) How do you successfully organize a neighborhood?
Required Reading
Alinsky, Rules for Radicals, pp. 98-196.
Staples, Lee. "Can't Ya Hear Me Knockin'?", ROOTS TO POWER. Ch. 2.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PAPER OUTLINE DUE
Recommended
Alexander, Chauncey and Charles McCann. "The Concept of
Representativeness in Community Organization," SOCIAL WORK. January,
1956, pp. 48-55.
Bailis, Lawrence N. BREAD OR JUSTICE. Ch.3, "Boston Model for
Grassroots Organizing."
Brown, Michael. "How to Recruit People to Your Organization," Cambridge,
MA, 1994.
Burghardt, Steve. ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITY ACTION. Ch. 2, "Know
Yourself: A Key to Better Organizing."
Haggstrom, Warren C. "The Tactics of Organization Building," in Cox et. al.
(eds.), STRATEGIES OF CO. (1979 edition).
Henderson, Paul and David N. Thomas. SKILLS IN NEIGHBORHOOD
WORK. Ch. 1 - 5.
Mondros and Wilson. Chs. 1 , 2, and 3.
Rubin and Rubin. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND DEVELOPMENT. Ch. 3,
6-8.
Silver, Michael. "Canvassers Doorknocking Technology," (unpublished, 1979).
(RR).
Thomas, David N. ORGANIZING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. Ch. 4, "Some
Opening Moves in Neighborhood Work," pp. 68-88.
Wellstone, Paul D. HOW THE RURAL POOR GOT POWER. University of
Mass., 1978.
Zurcher, Louis A. Jr. "Stages of Development of Neighborhood Action Groups:
The Topeka Example," in Irving A. Spergel (ed.), COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION: STUDIES IN CONSTRAINT. 1972.


SESSION 9:
Doorknocking (cont'd)
Exercise in community (tentative)
Key question(s):
(1) What is an "issue"? How do you find a "good" issue?
Required Reading
Bobo. Kendall. and Max. Organizing for Social Change, Chapters 1-11,
pp. 3-93.
SESSION 10:
Meetings, structures, and leadership development
Key question(s):
(1) Once you have begun to organize people, how do you actually build
the organization?
(2) What is meant by the idea of leadership and how do you "develop"
it?
(3) What's the role of "actions" in building your org'n?
Required Reading
Bobo, Kendall and Max, Organizing for Social Change, Chapters 12-19
(pp. 86-174).
Recommended
Burghardt, Steve. ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITY ACTION. Ch.3, "Building
and Maintaining an Organization."
COMMUNITY JOBS. "3 Perspectives: The Reasons for High Staff Turnover,"
June, 1981. (LRC)
Freire, Paulo. PEDAGOGY OF THE OPPRESSED, 1974
Kahn, Si. "Leadership: Realizing Concepts Through Creative Process",
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PRACTICE, Vol. 4 (1), 1997
Lakey, Berit, et. al. GRASSROOTS AND NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP: A
GUIDE FOR ORGANIZATIONS IN CHANGING TIMES, 1995
Mondros and Wilson. ORGANIZING FOR POWER AND EMPOWERMENT.
Chapter 4, "Maintaining and Deepening Member Participation".
Mondros, Jacqueline B. and Scott M. Wilson. "Building High Access
Community Organizations: Structures as Strategy," in Mizrahi and Morrison,
1993.
Wilson, James Q. POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS. Ch. 3, "Organizational
Maintenance and Incentives," and Ch. 4, "Social Structure and
Organizations."
SESSION 11:
Strategies, tactics, campaigns
Simulation exercise
Key question(s):
(1) How do you choose strategies and tactics? What are the factors you
should consider?
Required Reading
Bobo, Kendall, and Max. Organizing for Social Change, Chapters 20-26,
pp. 176-243.
Recommended
Bailis, Lawrence. BREAD OR JUSTICE. Ch. 9, "Toward a Theory of Social
Protest."
Beckhard, Richard. "The Confrontation Meeting," in Bennis, Benne and Chin
(eds.), THE PLANNING OF CHANGE. 1969, 2nd edition.
Benne, Kenneth E. and Max Birnbaum. "Principles of Changing," in Bennis,
Benne and Chin (eds.), THE PLANNING OF CHANGE. 1969, 2nd edition.
Brager and Holloway. CHANGING HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
(Part II). "Initial Assessment," Ch. 5, 6 (also recommended pre-skimming Part
I, Chs. 2, 3, and 4 for fuller development of force-field perspective.
Brager and Specht. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. Part IV. "Influencing
Targets: Tactics for Community Change," Chs. 12-16.
Burghardt, Steve. ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITY ACTION. Ch. 6,
"Marches and Demonstrations," Ch. 7, "Coalition Work."
Chin, Robert and Kenneth D. Benne. "General Strategies for Effecting Change
in Human Systems," in Bennis, Benne and Chin (eds.), THE PLANNING OF
CHANGE. 1969.
Mondros and Wilson. Chs. 6-8.
Rubin and Rubin. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND DEVELOPMENT. Chs.
9-12.
Warren, Roland L. "Types of Purposive Change at the Community Level," in
Kramer and Specht (eds.), READINGS IN CO PRACTICE. 1969, 1st edition.
Walton, Richard E. "Two Strategies of Social Change and Their Dilemmas," in
Kramer and Specht (eds.), READINGS IN CO PRACTICE. 1969; also in
Bennis, Benne and Chin (eds.), THE PLANNING OF CHANGE. and in Cox et.
al. (eds.), STRATEGIES OF CO. 1979, 3rd edition.
Wenocur, Stanley. "The Adaptability of Voluntary Organization: External
Pressures and United Way Organizations," POLICY AND POLITICS. Vol. 3,
June, 1975.
SESSION 12:
Diversity Issues in Community Organizing
Film: Salt of the Earth
Required Reading
McDougall, Harold A. BLACK BALTIMORE: A NEW THEORY OF
COMMUNITY. Prologue, Chapters 1-5, (pp. 1-112)
Recommended
Daley, John M. and Paul Wong. "Community Development with Emerging
Ethnic Communities," JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PRACTICE. 1 (1), pp. 9-
24, 1994.
Ecklein, Joan. COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS. Ch. 4, "Organizing and
Racism,"; Ch. 7, "Women and Organizing."
Foster, Madison. "Black Organizing: The Need for a Conceptual Model of the
Ghetto," CATALYST. Vol. 1 (1), 1978.
Gaventa, J., B. Smith and A. Willingham (eds.). COMMUNITIES IN
ECONOMIC CRISIS: APPALACHIA AND THE SOUTH. Philadelphia, Temple
University Press, 1990.
Grosser, Charles F. "Organizing in the White Community," SOCIAL WORK.
Vol. 16 (3), July, 1971.
Gutierrez, Lorraine and Edith A. Lewis. "Community Organizing with Women
of Color: A Feminist Approach," JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PRACTICE. 1
(2), pp. 23-44, 1994.
Kurzman, Paul. "The Native-Settler Concept: Implications for Community
Organization," SOCIAL WORK. Vol. 14 (3), July, 1969, pp. 55-64.
Medoff, Peter and Holly Sklar. STREETS OF HOPE: THE FALL AND RISE
OF AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD. Boston: South End Press, 1994.
Milio, Nancy. 9226 KERCHEVAL: THE STOREFRONT THAT WOULD NOT
BURN. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press, 1970.
N.O.W. GUIDELINES TO FEMINIST CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING. 1982.
(LRC)
Pope, Jacqueline. BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS THEM: ORGANIZING
WOMEN AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL. NY: Praeger Publishing, 1989.
Rivera, Felix G. and John L. Erlich. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN A
DIVERSE SOCIETY. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1995. (Read
selective articles based on interest).
SESSION 13:
Coalition building
Role Play
Key question(s):
(1) How is a coalition different from a grass roots social action group?
(2) What are the main ingredients for an effective coalition?
Required reading
McDougall, Black Baltimore, Chapters 6-9, pp. 113-211.
Mizrahi, Terry and Beth B. Rosenthal. "Managing Dynamic Tensions in
Social Change Coalitions," in Mizrahi and Morrison, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL ADMINISTRATION: ADVANCES, TRENDS,
AND EMERGING PRINCIPLES, 1993
Cohen, L., Baer, N. and Satterwhite, P . "Developing Effective Coalitions:
An Eight-Step Guide", Spring 1994 ( LRC).
Recommended
Roberts-DeGennaro, Maria, "Conceptual Framework of Coalitions in an
Organizational Context. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PRACTICE, Vol. 4(1),
1997
Simmons, Louise B. ORGANIZING IN HARD TIMES: LABOR AND
NEIGHBORHOODS IN HARTFORD. Philadelphia: Temple Un., 1996

SESSION 14:
Negotiation
Role play
Running effective meetings
Key question(s):
(1) When should you negotiate and when should you avoid negotiating?
(2) What do I do during negotiations?
(3) What are basic principles of good meetings?
Required Reading
Cook and Wenocur, "Bargaining and Negotiation" (class handout)
Fisher, Roger and William Ury. GETTING TO YES, Parts I & II, pp. 1-94.
Meeting Handouts
SESSION 15:
Technologies in starting and maintaining organizations:
Technical and legal matters
Administration
Fundraising
Key question(s):
(1) Does your organization need to be incorporated?
(2) How do I find financial support for the organization?
Required Reading
Fisher, Getting to Yes, Parts III-V, pp. 95-187.
Recommended
Kiritz, Norton J. PROGRAM PLANNING AND PROPOSAL WRITING. Los
Angeles, Grantsmanship Center, 1974, 1978.
Klein, Kim. FUNDRAISING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. CRG Press, 1985.
Lauffer, Armand. GRANTSMANSHIP. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications, 1977.
Rubin and Rubin. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND DEVELOPMENT. Chs.
13-17.
SESSION 16:
The state of CO in the 1990's
Guest speaker (tentative)
Class evaluation
Key question(s):
(1) Is CO today different from CO efforts in the past?
(2) What will be the effect of computer technologies on community
organizing?
Required Reading
None
*FINAL PAPER DUE*