Embracing Opportunities and Navigating Challenges

A Study of Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Progressive Advocacy Groups' Community Organizing Models

Abstract

Community organizing is essential for building and sustaining collective community-based power to effect change, which is a core goal of progressive social change organizations. However, the characteristics and commonalities in community organizing approaches, and the tensions groups experience as they engage in organizing remain unclear. This paper sheds light on these questions by presenting findings from a survey about the experiences of 24 progressive social change groups that engage in community organizing across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It synthesizes similarities and differences in diverse models of organizing practice and elevates challenges that arise from implementation. We begin by describing the organizing models currently in use, including predominant organizing frameworks, the range of local groups that are supported, the structures of these local groups, and the resources available to them. We found that organizations primarily used hybrid organizing models that combine locally-based relational practices with centralized professional skills. This combination of structure and approach sought to harness ‘people power’ to effect social change by mobilizing ever increasing numbers of supporters and leaders. This paper also examines the challenges that respondents faced in maintaining their organizing models, including 1) difficulties in recruiting and retaining volunteers and volunteer leaders, 2) balancing staff and volunteer autonomy and flexibility with organizational priorities and responsibilities, and 3) balancing the resource needs to employ staff to maintain these volunteers and the group’s organizing model more generally. We conclude with reflections on the opportunities that innovative technologies and new organizing strategies present to progressive social change organizations.