STEPS AND INSIGHTS

IN COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING

Prof. Juliet K. Bucoy

ORGANIZERS “DON’T DO IT” BUT GET
OTHERS “TO DO IT”

WE ARE …
CONNECTORS AND MOBILIZERS
 Community Organizing

 In the Philippines, community organizing is

defined as a process of “development by the
people, of the people and for the people”
(Manalili, 1990). Practitioners define it as an
approach or method which refers to a series of
activities aimed at “the grouping of people to
struggle for their common needs and
aspirations” (TWSC, 1990: 6).
Community Organizing: Towards
Community Disorganization

 DILG – Department of Interior Local

Government
 DA – Department of Agriculture
 NIA – National Irrigation Administration
 DAR – Department of Agrarian Reform
 FLRF – Federation of Land Reform Farmers
 FFF – Federation of Free Farmers
 CPP – Communist Party of the Philippines
 NPA – New People’s Army
 Community Organizing

In the case of devastated communities, we need

to organize leaders who would lift up the
depressed spirits of people to unite and
collaborate their resources to rebuild their
communities.
 What is
Community Organizing (CO)?
CO is the process by which the community identifies its
needs, problems and issues confronting them, sets
objectives and develops the confidence and will to work
with these problems, needs and issues,
finds the resources (internal
and/or external) and takes
Action collectively.
 Focus of
Community Organizing
1. Removal of blocks to growth.
2. The release of potentialities of individuals, groups and
communities.
3. Development of the capacities of indigenous leaders to lead
in the management of their community concerns.
4. Developing capacities of different sectors in the community to
function as an integrated whole.
5. Strengthening people’s capacity for problem-solving, decision-
making and cooperation.
6. The full use of inner/indigenous resources before tapping
external resources.
 Values of
Community Organizing

1. A commitment to democratic processes and goals.

2. Right of community for self- determination.
3. Belief on the capacity of people to change.
4. Belief on the innate dignity of individuals and groups in
the community.
5. The commitment to seek social
justice and equity.
 Social Functioning
Matching Person and Environment by Focusing on
Interaction Between Them
Environmental
Person’s needs, opportunities
capacities, and and demands
activities

INTERACTIONS

PERSON ENVIRONMENT
 The PIE Model
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT - physical setting and time
- socio-economic-political-
PERSON cultural contexts
- biophysical - primary groups
- health - secondary groups
- cognitions
- emotions
- behavior SITUATION
- internalized
effects of the
environment PERSON
SITUATION
Actual Situation
(external, objective)
Perceived Situation
(internal, subjective)
Basic Premise in Community Work

Community development practitioners no longer

bring experts from outside the community; rather
they come to communities and listen to what
residents have to say. Instead of focusing solely
on problems, practitioners now examine how
community assets can be used to improve the
quality of life of the people
Steps in Community Organizing
 1. Entering the Community

 First do your community map, then asset

mapping
 Establish rapport and relationships. Gather
information about the situation in the community
through ground working. Talk to as many people
as possible and document or record your
conversations;
 Avoid grand entrance and raise people’s
expectations when entering the community.
 Pay courtesy call to recognized leaders of the
village. It is giving due respect to them.
 Be prepared and do not bank on the residents for
your needs;
2. Integrating with the People

 The process is a continuing conversation

where through our participation in
informal discussions, production activities
and social functions can lead us to do our
preliminary mind mapping.
 Integration is a continuous process. As it
goes on, one realizes that the people’s
problems and aspirations validates or
become his own.
 3. Social Analysis

 Research becomes meaningful if it is

used as an instrument for
conscientization.

 Conscientization is not only making

them realize their issues but also for
them to act on it.
 It is important that the people can do
something to change their situation
for the better.
 Know and make your case
Needs assessment is a critical part of community
organizing practice. It is essential to ask the
question:
 How do you know there is a problem?
 How do you know there is a need for a particular
intervention Answering this question entails
gathering empirical (objective) and perceptual
(subjective) data.
 How serious is the problem/need?
 How pervasive is it?
 How many people does it affect or affected?
 Who believes there is a problem/need?
 Who is defining the problem/need?
 Why at this time?
4. Identify and Develop Leaders
Leadership Wheel for People’s Weal or W4W
Developing Leadership

How do you identify

leaders and Potential
leaders to meet needs?
How do you create
opportunities for
leadership development?
5. Core Group Building - The Community Wheel
6. Setting Up the Organization

 It is important that the worker assist

the people to make some criteria on
how they can choose their leaders
and eventually assist them to draft
their plans for the future.

 Consolidation and expansion of the

organizations must be done on a
continuing basis.
 7. Strengthening the Organization

 Continuing education program for

both leaders and members such as:
 Teambuilding
 Leadership formation training,
 Values Orientation and Clarification
 Program and Project Planning
 Communication
 Advocacy
 Networking
 Others as necessary
 Alliance Building

 Alliance building and networking must be done on a

continuing basis.
 Links with other organization with similar
persuasions must be strengthened.
 Collective actions with them must be pursued and
the process of community organizing continues.
 Weaving the Strands Toward
Societal Transformation

 Community Organizing as a strategy is

towards holistic and integral development
It is about bringing people together and
collectively working towards their desired
future.
References :
 Angelito Manalili, Community Organizing for People’s Empowerment,
1990
 Prof. Emmanuel Luna, “Rethinking Community Development
 Marine Institute,
http://www.marininstitute.org/action_packs/community_org.htm - Cached
 Mike Green and Henry Moore, Consultation and Training Workshops
Community partnerships, www.mike-green.org
 The Community Organizing Toolbox
http://www.nfg.org/cotb/07whatisco.htm - Cached
 Susan Stall, Randy Stoecker, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING OR
ORGANIZING COMMUNITY?GENDER AND THE CRAFTS OF
EMPOWERMENT, http://comm-org.utoledo.edu/papers96/gender2.html -
Cached
 Terry Mizrahi Ph.D. BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR ORGANIZING:
PERSPECTIVES FROM PRACTICE,
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/ecco/bpfo.htm - Cached
 Alinsky Redux - organizing principles
http://www.tpi.org/karoffcorner/imagined/Alinsky_Redux.pdf - Cached