Class Notes - October 5, 1999

1. Neighborhoods- are a resource for organizers along with others to form people power
2. Organizing base
3. Information – helps the organizer to form campaigns
4. Communication – is needed for organizers to work with leaders

Community organization is about how people without power can get power.

1. people in communities share common needs
2. more manageable
3. not much needed

Community Organization builds on identities; these identities are often rooted in a specific geographical location.

Problems can occur for organizers because of dominant values.

Dominate Values – separate us therefore you have to look for a neutral base to organize such as the neighborhood.

Individualism – is a dominant value

A geographical place defined by boundaries

Race, gender, class, common issues, population, religion, entertainment, schools, architecture, environmental conditions, occupations, age, history, language, ethnicity, zoning laws, crime, safety

Some of these are examples of the way we identify ourselves and some are physical traits of the neighborhood.

This helps you as a community organizer because you know the key elements of a community.

Warren & Warren says to look at communities as a social system

• Systems are interdependent, a way to organize people, they are dynamic – subject to change.

Redlining, behaviors and patterns

-Norms are about informed hidden rules and values

This helps you as an organizer because it gives you a way into the neighborhood.

The physical attributes are less relevant than the social and behavioral attributes.

You have to combine physical attributes with the social ones to get what you want.

You have to know key features of a neighborhood and know how to prioritize and utilize them.

Neighborhoods can be based on mutual aid, you can identify with them, and they are social places.

Next class will be held on October 12, 1999.

Assignment number 2 is due.