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Tips For Community Organizing
Community organizing is a vital way to engage your church and surrounding community around key issues. Here are some tips to help you get it done.
1. Build Relationships – It is important to first build relationships with individuals who can help you reach out to others. Get to know the other groups around you – other churches, non-profits, or other faith based groups. The better you know them, the better they know you, and the more likely they are to work with you.
2. Get Other Leaders On Board – Reach out to the other faith leaders in the community. Getting them on board is likely to bring a good number of their supporters as well.
3. Use the Community Around You – Reach out to high schools and colleges in your area – getting young people involved can bring more adults along, too. Network with these groups to create an event, and to spread the word about the event you are hosting.
4. Use Your Imagination – Come up with a creative way to interact with the community. Hold a block party in an environmentally friendly way. Hold an open house to discuss a particular issue. Set up a table at a pre-existing event. Use your imagination, and do something you have never seen done before. The more unique your event, the more attention it may grab.
5. But, Emphasize Your Topic – Do make sure that your creativity in event planning doesn’t overshadow the issue. Make sure people walk away remembering to get in touch with their legislature around the energy bill currently before Congress as much as they remember that great crab dip at the block party.
6. Start Small and Grow – Start with a small local gathering, and then hold another one, and invite everyone to bring another person. Don’t be worried if your first shot only brings out a handful of people. This is the stuff networks are built from.
7. Always Be Respectful – Treat all belief systems equally, and make sure everyone at the table has a chance to speak. And, don’t forget to thank people once they are involved, both publicly and privately. Let them know how much their support means.
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The Poverty Initiative
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