Career Options for Community Organizer

Community Organizer Career Community organizing is a number of activities performed by a person in order to organize a group of people with common interests and goals, to form an organization which would represent the community, to attract people’s attention to the problem and to influence the government, institutions, corporations and other decision-making bodies.

Community work of this kind is present in almost every sphere of life. An organizer’s activities range from school-based projects to world-wide civic organizations and movements like Amnesty International, the Civil Rights Movement, National Organization for Women and many others.

Community Organizer Career

Community organizer career requires from a person a number of inborn skills and abilities, which nevertheless can be acquired and developed. Leadership and organizing skills, strategic thinking, persistence, creativity, latitude, and strong personal commitment are among the qualities required for the job.

The duties of a community organizer are to mobilize people and to form a managing body representing the community, to work out a program in order to promote interests and to reach goals of the community, to coordinate the work of activists, to recruit and train volunteers, to raise money etc. The goals of the communities in general are democracy, equality, justice and peace. Community organizer’s work is aimed at change, which is often positive not only for the community being represented, but for the society in the whole.

Annual salary of a community organizer is estimated at $32,000-35,000.

What Will be Taught during the Course of Studies?

Many outstanding community organizers often do not posses any particular education in the sphere, their professionalism comes out from their deep commitment. But nowadays organizations hiring community organizing specialists usually choose people with a college degree in social science, human services or other related spheres. That’s why a training course would be a great advantage for those who want to take up a community organizer career.

During the course students are to obtain extensive knowledge in many spheres, the main ones are:

World history
Sociology
International studies.

Students undergoing a course in community organizing have an opportunity to acquire and develop a number of skills required by the job:

Understanding of social processes;
Interpersonal skills;
Written, oral, and debate skills;
Problem-solving skills;
Ability to use various forms of media;
Planning, coordinating and scheduling skills.

The courses mostly include field work in a community as a part of curriculum.

Where Can I Enroll for a Training Program in Community Organizing?

There are a number of institutions which provide training courses in the sphere, though usually they do not award degrees. But there are other programs related to community organizing, where one can earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree: sociology, international studies, international development and others.

Located in Chicago, Illinois, the academy offers training in the sphere – Organizing for Social Change. The course teaches various methods of organizing and maintaining a movement, teaches how to work out a strategy of development of the community. The course is focused on Direct Action Organizing.

Midwest Academy

The centre is situated in Washington, DC. It provides training and technical assistance on a consultant basis, there are community organizing workshops available for the interested in the field. Sessions last over 6 months and are often followed by work with the Centre.

Center for Community Change (CCC)

CTAC is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and is focused on developing organizational and planning skills alongside with leadership skills. The centre provides training of all of the three levels of a community-based organization: the board, the staff and volunteers.
Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC)

Training Institute for Careers in Organizing (TICO)

TICO, based in New York, offers an Apprenticeship Program, which is a full-time 12-week introduction course to community organizing as well as “one-shot” and ongoing training for grassroots groups. During the training different methods are combined: workshops, mentoring and hands-on experience.