Community organizers who work in public interest jobs are increasingly important in today’s society for several reasons. One is the downtown in the economy with fewer dollars available to pay workers, and community organizers draw people together who will work for free. Another reason is the vast number of social issues plaguing us today. People feel strongly about taking on and resolving these issues that will not be handled by some bean counter in a corporate office.
When you look at examples of work done by community organizers, you can see how important these people are. One prominent example is the campaign effort put forth by supporters of Barack Obama. Whether you voted for or against him, certainly you have heard all of the partisans and pundits agreeing that one of the keys to his successful campaign was its methodical orderliness.
There are many kinds of public interest jobs other than political ones whose roles within communities are just as vital, if not more so. In some of the smaller-sized cities of the country (examples are Rochester, New York, and Youngstown, Ohio), the municipal administrations have hired organizers to recruit citizens who want to overcome excessive poverty and joblessness in order to strengthen and develop the city. These are urban areas plagued by schools on fiscal watch, crumbling infrastructures, racial or ethnic injustices, and other problems without the money for quick fixes. In both cases, and others like them, the cities have created jobs in public interest areas to unite people with common hopes and goals for their native towns.
Other examples include advocacy in areas that used to be funded but no longer are. While animal humane societies date back into the last century, in recent years, government budget cuts have laid to rest these programs. Some groups focus on environmental concerns, youth or elder issues, and cultural programs. Other times they unite people who oppose a proposed event: those who resist the construction of a super-mart in their neighborhood or the installation of a sewage treatment plant in their midst.
By utilizing community organizers, the hiring entity (a company, a city, a social organization) succeeds in recruiting many people for the price of one. In addition, these public-interest advocates find ways to draw out untapped resources within the community; even if a person will not ''work for the cause,'' so to speak, he is likely to provide a donation of goods, services, or money to appease his social conscience. Most importantly, in these times when people at work are harried by extra responsibilities and worried that their company will downsize, these leaders stimulate people to work in their free time for a cause that motivates them and at a pace they can enjoy.
A side benefit of this public interest work is the free training that the average person gains from it. For example, someone who is completely unfamiliar with desktop publishing software might learn all about it working on the newsletter for their local parent-teacher association. Countless people learn skills working under community organizers that they then utilize in their full-time careers.
Community organizers also serve to unify factions within different companies or organizations that might otherwise remain unknown to one another. By establishing networks with key people in these places they encourage collaboration and growth. For example, united by the organizer, Company A might help Company B with one service if Company B repays with another service.
Most community organizers begin their careers of service by working in public interest internships while they are enrolled in college. Law students often volunteer at community centers to provide pro bono legal service for populations groups (seniors, single women, injured workers, etc.) who cannot otherwise afford it. Social work students spend at least a semester volunteering within a social service organization, such as counseling addicts and their families in drug rehabilitation facilities.
The history of community organizers goes back pretty far into this country’s history. Some maintain that community organizers are liberal socialists; however, studies reveal that most organizers arose from the grass-roots level to overcome community challenges in an effort to avoid socialism.
Are you stymied trying to think up the names of community organizers? You probably have thought of the Reverend Jesse Jackson or Sister Teresa and a few others. But here are a few names you might not think of; people whose efforts have played an important role in their communities include Paul Revere, who organized the citizenry to arms against the British; President Jimmy Carter, who brought Habitat for Humanity to the social forefront; and ''Bill W.,'' who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous. Now that you’re thinking about it, what other names can you come up with? Do you want to add your name to the list?
