Written by: idahojen
9/5/2008 12:53 PM

I don't know how many of you were offended by those comments, but I was. Oddly, before the other day, I didn't consider myself a community organizer. But now I'm beginning to think I am.

Even if I don't fit the traditional definition of a community organizer, I certainly have many friends and family I love and respect who are long-time community organizers. These are people who have worked for little or no money. They have made sacrifices in their personal and family lives. Organizers spend countless hours on the road, visiting remote parts of their state or region. For example, when my husband was doing community organizing around disability issues in Missouri, he drove over 100,000 miles in his own car!

Besides the countless sacrifices, community organizers usually have enormous responsibilities. Most I know have been responsible for keeping struggling non-profits afloat. They have to recruit people to their cause and get those people to volunteer. AND they have to make sure the mission of their organization is getting met. Not to mention keeping their funders happy. So much for the comparison!

So why do people do this? Because they believe in their cause. Because they want to create a more perfect world. Because they feel a responsibility to do the work. Because they take to heart "You must be the change you want to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi).

Want to learn how to BECOME a community organizer? Or are you already a community organizer and want to hone your skills? Check out Wellstone Action!'s Organizing Tools and get started today!

Copyright ©2008 Jennifer Grush-Dale

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