This is the long-awaited revision of a well-known and widely used text in community organizing.
The text provides a comprehensive introduction to the wide variety of approaches that guide social change, social
activism, and community building work. Community Organizing and Development links various theories of organizing
to the techniques and tactics of practice. It is vividly illustrated by dozens of real-life practice examples.
It balances descriptions of protest actions and visible projects with the behind-the-scenes routines that make
such work possible. The text describes and illustrates the skills and organizational techniques needed to undertake
successful community projects, such as converting a former crack house into safe, clean, affordable housing.
Features :
A classic text on community organizing, now completely revised and updated.
Provides a comprehensive overview of theories and skills of community organizing, with vivid real-world examples.
Links theories of organizing to the variety of techniques and tactics used in practice.
New To This Edition :
Completely revised and largely rewritten to emphasize community empowerment (Part III) and organizing within
multi-cultural communities, and to reflect new theories and strategies of community organizing.
New chapter on support organizations that help community groups (Chapter 17), greatly revised chapters on community
development and social production (Part VI), and a description of the importance of social capital in communities
(Chapter 5).
Updated theories, references, and examples.
Table of Contents
Preface to the Third Edition.
I. ORGANIZING FOR EMPOWERMENT.
1. Organizing for Collective Empowerment.
II. RESOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS THROUGH ORGANIZING.
2. Understanding and Combating Social Problems.
3. A Thumbnail Sketch of the History of Community Organizing.
III. EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY BUILDING.
4. Creating Empowerment for Collective Action.
5. Understanding Community.
IV. MOBILIZING AND SUSTAINING COMMUNITY ACTIVISM.
6. Organizers: What They Do and How They Learn to Do It.
7. Mobilizing for Collective Action.
8. Gaining Power through Community Research.
9. Building Capacity in an Empowered Organization.
10. Developing Capacity through Participatory Meetings.
V. THE SOCIAL ACTION MODEL.
11. An Overview of Action Campaigns.
12. Influencing the Political System.
13. Confrontational Approaches: Direct Action and Litigation.
14. Extending Power through Coalitions, Publicity, and Skillful Negotiations.
