Community Organizing is a new journal dedicated to advancing the scholarship and practice of community organizing around the globe. Reflecting the core commitments of community organizing at all levels, this journal has a special focus on the importance of democratic and relational work that enables leadership development, community power, and structural change. We recognize that community organizing exists in many different contexts and settings around the world, taking on a wide variety of forms. The journal therefore prioritizes careful reflection and critical analysis, grounded in a range of traditions and approaches.
The journal seeks to engage scholars and practitioners together in analyzing and reflecting on the diversity of approaches and definitions in the field. We aim to center less prominent and non-dominant perspectives, voices, and ways of knowing, emphasizing the importance of the voices of those most affected by oppression, injustice, and inequality. Specifically, we invite co-authorship between university-based scholars and community-based practitioners. Single-author publications from scholars and/or practitioners are, of course, welcome as well. As we encourage collaborations across the continuum of scholar-practitioners, we emphasize that knowledge and effective action emerge from a dialogue that includes ground-up, co-creative processes, and multidisciplinary theoretical and political perspectives.
The Editorial Board wishes to thank the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, Cleveland State University and the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice, Clark University, for their support of the Journal.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET
What can the U.S. and the world learn from the defeat of Viktor Orbán's authoritarian regime? register: bit.ly/Hungarylessons
Read more about Breaking the Code: Lessons from Hungary 28 MAY
This second issue of COJ focuses on the guiding question: In what ways does the field of community organizing elevate a democratic vision of humanity? Manuscripts were solicited from academic researchers and practitioners to address current challenges and opportunities for democratic organizing, specifically: whether organizing effectively connects with other forms of political and civic engagement, how organizing practices defend and promote democracy, and how organizing challenges the growing concentration of wealth and the rise of authoritarian movements. An introduction by Lara Rusch and Tobias Meier frames the issue by categorizing the articles as both the politics of organizing and organizing within politics. The introduction is followed by brief reflections on the state of organizing from professional organizers across three continents. The issue comes full circle with final reflections from organizing praxis.