Power-based Community Organizing (S. Nguyen)

DEFINE: This theory describes a type of community organizing that is based on the cooperative action of big groups of people, who are interested in solving problems through public action on a political level. The power-based model uses strategies such as public meetings, protests, and marches to put pressure on existing government structures to concede to the demands of the people.

APPLY: Power-based community organizing might be used in situations where community members identify problems at the structural level.

ADAPT: I recently watched a documentary called 'The Water Front' which tells the story of how community organizing was used to fight against local officials to make water more affordable for residents in the Highland Park community. After years of experiencing water shut offs, increases in the cost of water, and struggling to get access to water, local residents created a grassroots movement to fight for what they believed to be a basic human right. These residents and community organizers used strategies in protesting, marches, and public hearings to put pressure on government officials to create change within the community. (waterfrontmovie.com)

Smock, Kristina. (2004). Democracy in action: Community organizing and urban change. New York: Columbia University Press.