The inability to combat social injustices lies in the lack of power communities have to hold powerful organisations of the State and the Market to account for the decisions they make and the adverse impact they can have. Communities can gain that power by building non-partisan alliances of institutions where large numbers of people meet and associate e.g. schools, churches; mosques, synagogues, trade unions, resident associations, community groups etc. This collective power can be harnessed to take action on the issues that matter to these groups in common and make powerful politicians, civil servants and business leaders accountable, thus helping to transform communities for the common good. Citizens UK (CUK) have proved that community organising can honour the traditions of faith and education networks to enable people to flourish and maintain their dignity. Common areas for action have included wages, work, housing, health and immigration.
The following 5 steps form a strategy that can achieve social change:
Organise a diverse alliance - this should be open to a range of issues and will be a permanent group working for the common good.
Listen to your community (and each other)-lived experience of injustices and deprivation to help identify the key issues, also a means of identifying other leaders to be involved in future action. The selected issues can be prioritised on factors such as the number of lives affected, the degree of impact of the change, sometimes the issue could be small but the effect huge on a smaller number of individuals.
Plan a strategic response to the selected issue – identify where the power lies to change the situation for the better, work out a plan of action, consider alternative means of achieving the desired outcome. This involves the groups selecting issues to focus on which are likely to have a positive outcome, to research possible solutions and to plan a strategy to get the decision makers around a table with the alliance.
Take action to get a reaction – This action is designed to get the attention of those in power over the selected issue, to help start a relationship with them and to get a meeting where the issue and possible solutions can be discussed. These actions can be imaginative, enjoyable but pointed. They demonstrate to the decision makers that the alliance has wide community support and its own power.
Get a seat at the table – Negotiate! CUK reminds us that ‘ if you do not have a seat at the table you are on the menu!’
The objective is to pursue sustainable shared solutions to community issues. CUK can help with all these steps by training people to enhance their ability to build alliances, effectively listen and spot the vital issues, act as community leaders in their neighbourhoods, design actions to prompt a reaction and on how to be effective negotiators. It is our aim to raise the finance necessary to train and employ Community Organisers, with the help of CUK.