#CommunityOrganizing

[theatermachtpolitik]

Ehrung für Community Organizer

Wolfgang Goede wurde die Ehre zuteil, den Speaker unserer Gemeinsinn-Konferenz 2011 mit ein paar Zeilchen zum Jubiläum zu würdigen, war schon ein gelungenes Ding, damals im OEBZ — time is flying … Honoree Jim Capraro was profiled for an article on “Community Spirit” in Credo, a Swiss international publication on philanthropy in 2014. (via Issuu) Dear Wolfgang, We’re excited for our upcoming 50th anniversary gala at the Fairlie. Here are the details: The celebration will take place Thursday October 24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Fairlie, 339 N. Bell Ave. Chicago, IL 60612. Get your ticket or sponsorship at greatersouthwest50.eventbrite.com. We hope you can join us! We also wanted to share a story about our work from an angle that most people don’t know about. While most of us know Greater Southwest Development Corporation for its work here in Chicago, Wolfgang Goede brings a global perspective. Goede, who lived at 67th and Damen when he visited Chicago in the early 1970s to learn about community organizing, met our inaugural Visionary Award honoree Jim Capraro then and went on to collaborate with him in multiple ways over the years. Here he shares a story about Jim and how our work has influenced thinkers in Germany, Latin America, and beyond.

A conference on comprehensive community development sponsored by Local Initiatives Support Corp. in Chicago in 2012 featured among others (left to right): Maren Schüpphaus from Munich, Francesca Santaniello from Milan and Bergamo, Jim Capraro, and Wolfgang Goede from Munich & Medellin. “Mister International, James Capraro—Opportunities come from relationships” I first met “Cappy,” as we called him back then, in 1972. I had come to Chicago as a German volunteer to learn community organizing. West Englewood, Little Lithuania, Greater Lawn: I got to know the Southwest Side like the back of my hand at door knocking and block club meetings. Jim, a resourceful teacher of organizing skills and a great door opener, also with his buddies. (Meanwhile, the ‘Germans’ House’ where I and other volunteers lived on 67th Place and Damen became the most visited party location in the area). “Opportunities come from relationships” is Jim’s mantra .  The closer, the happier—and the more these relationships can generate civic power. Jim is a broker for relational power. I have seen his work influence policy in his hometown of Chicago but also in 30 other U.S. cities and beyond, in the transatlantic triangle between the U.S., Europe, and South America. We worked together on some of these including on a series of trainings in Munich, Milan and Medellín in the 2010 years. The focus of much of this work is the Comprehensive Community Development method (CCD) that Jim developed from community organizing. It’s a fusion of citizen empowerment and entrepreneurship, underpinned by best practices developed while at Greater Southwest Development Corporation. Southwest Chicago was a microcosm of the current global challenges around integration, housing, education, jobs. Jim used his experience and insights to teach international folks how to tackle these issues.

Jim brought the Greater Southwest model to a community development conference in Medellín, Colombia in 2015. ( Photo by Wolfgang Goede)

Community Spirit

“Community spirit” is the heart of the method. As conference curator and community participation expert Maren Schüpphaus, put it in an essay, Comprehensive Community Development is the synergy of one's own concerns and civic spirit within the political context, but apart from the electoral process. This became a key message for activists and Germany’s quite top-down democracy. Outside Germany, Jim’s impact has been felt in Colombia, as well, where Anneli Seifert featured him and his work at a training at Medellín's Antioquia University in 2015. Jim’s training refreshed this spirit in a country divided by decades of guerrilla warfare and entering the post conflict. Seifert saw Jim as following in the footsteps of a great humanist, Alexander von Humboldt. Von Humboldt, whose journey of discovery took him through Colombia in 1801, was also inspired by community. Von Humboldt wanted people to share empathy, responsibility and a sense of interconnectedness within local communities throughout the world based on an eternal bond between nature and humanity. This trail leads to another famous scholar: the Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville, whose book Democracy in America praised the public spirit of voluntary associations—of which, 200 years later, Greater Southwest is a shining beacon. Congratulations board, members and staff, volunteers, donors and supporters, last but not least Jim! Wolfgang Chr. Goede. Munich and Medellín Political Scientist, Journalist, Facilitator Community Organizer 1972-1976 Chicago | San Francisco Thank you for reading! We hope you can join us on October 24. Get tickets and info at GreaterSouthwest50.eventbrite.com   - All of us at Greater Southwest Development Corp. Get tickets and sponsorship information Our mission is to be a catalyst for creating and maintaining a vital Southwest Chicago community by empowering, building and sustaining development that raises the quality of life for our neighborhood residents, businesses and industries. Learn more: greatersouthwest.org View As Webpage

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[noevilproject]

[minister-erik]

HOLY APOSTLES SOUP KITCHEN (feeding program of the church of the holy apostles providing hot meals, counseling and referrals services in new york city) - Composition Friday

© Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

[bantucola]

Check out the Gulf Coast Black Business of the Day: 2WINS Learn More: https://tinyurl.com/2ofpccwz #blackowned #blackbusiness #buyblack #spend$20 #showyourreceipts #supportblackbusiness #local #gulfcoast #groupeconomics

[yddevents1]

Do you have what it takes to keep your "BLACK CARD"? . Come and test your cultural knowledge and enjoy performance of the eclectic @mzundefined_ . Click the link in the bio to snag your tickets. . #gamenight #appreciationdinner #yddevents #communityorganizer #gtaevents #thingstodotoronto #torontoeventplanner #torontolife https://www.instagram.com/p/ClaDkots1XV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ptseti]

HOW LBJ TRIED TO CENSOR CIVIL RIGHTS HEROINE

Today we remember Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil-rights leader and community organiser who passed away on March 14th, 1977.

During the 1960s, Black Southerners came together to organise and resist White-supremacy and systemic violence against African-Americans. Hamer was one of the founders, and the vice-chairperson, of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, a political force created to challenge the racist mainstream Mississippi Democratic Party.

In 1964, in a bid to change things, she gave powerful testimony testimony to the Democratic National Convention, explaining her hardships - and why the Mississippi Dems needed to reform.

This was televised - or it was supposed to be, until she was cut off air by an ‘urgent’ TV press conference that had been convened by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This turned out to be a complete damp squib - Johnson merely reminded reporters that it had been nine months since Kennedy’s assassination! That gave the game away: LBJ simply hadn’t wanted Hamer’s words to reach the wider nation.

FannieLouHamer #CivilRights #CommunityOrganizer #AfricanAmerican #Mississippi #Racism #Heroine

[hunpin]

Echoes of Change: Learning from the Front Lines of Social Movements

The case "Fair & Lovely Vs. Dark Is Beautiful" took me back to a pivotal chapter in my life—a period of profound learning and awakening. The themes resonated deeply with my own experiences with Professor Marshall Ganz in HKS, whose teachings on organizing and social movements have been nothing short of transformative for me.

During my time with Professor Ganz, I learned about the power of collective action and the intricate art of community organizing. His approach isn't just about rallying people—it's about weaving individual stories and struggles into a powerful narrative that demands change. This lesson was not just theoretical; it was vividly illustrated in the life of an African American man I met, who had been unjustly incarcerated during his teenage years. His story is a stark testament to the systemic injustices that plague our society.

Frustrated by the relentless social stigma and the barriers he faced, he channeled his energies into creating an organization dedicated to advocating for the African American community. His work aims to dismantle the stereotypes and prejudices that underpin racial discrimination, striving to uplift those who suffer silently.

This interaction was a stark reminder of the harsh realities many face and how easily I could have been in his place under different circumstances. It instilled in me a responsibility to use my voice and resources to fight for equity and justice. Inspired by his resilience and Professor Ganz’s teachings, I’ve learned that leadership is about more than guidance—it’s about advocacy and action.

As I reflect on these experiences, I am reminded of the importance of awareness and passion in driving social change. It’s not enough to be aware; we must be willing to act, to educate others, and to stand firm in the face of adversity. We all have roles to play in shaping a more just society, and I am committed to doing my part.

Let us draw inspiration from those who have turned their struggles into a call to action and continue to push for meaningful change in every community. Together, we can challenge the status quo and create a world that reflects the values of justice, equality, and compassion.

#SocialJustice #CommunityOrganizing #Leadership #ChangeMakers #BeTheChange #MITSloanBranding2024B

[hunnygoddessblog]

Mistakes, Grace and Growth: What Are We Learning Together?

Mistakes happen, but they’re also some of life’s greatest teachers. Today’s episode is all about finding grace in those moments and how that same grace can strengthen our communities. CommunityOrganizing

#Advocacy #RealTalk #Growth

[theatermachtpolitik]

Ehrung für Community Organizer

Wolfgang Goede wurde die Ehre zuteil, den Speaker unserer Gemeinsinn-Konferenz 2011 mit ein paar Zeilchen zum Jubiläum zu würdigen, war schon ein gelungenes Ding, damals im OEBZ — time is flying … Honoree Jim Capraro was profiled for an article on “Community Spirit” in Credo, a Swiss international publication on philanthropy in 2014. (via Issuu) Dear Wolfgang, We’re excited for our upcoming 50th anniversary gala at the Fairlie. Here are the details: The celebration will take place Thursday October 24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Fairlie, 339 N. Bell Ave. Chicago, IL 60612. Get your ticket or sponsorship at greatersouthwest50.eventbrite.com. We hope you can join us! We also wanted to share a story about our work from an angle that most people don’t know about. While most of us know Greater Southwest Development Corporation for its work here in Chicago, Wolfgang Goede brings a global perspective. Goede, who lived at 67th and Damen when he visited Chicago in the early 1970s to learn about community organizing, met our inaugural Visionary Award honoree Jim Capraro then and went on to collaborate with him in multiple ways over the years. Here he shares a story about Jim and how our work has influenced thinkers in Germany, Latin America, and beyond.

A conference on comprehensive community development sponsored by Local Initiatives Support Corp. in Chicago in 2012 featured among others (left to right): Maren Schüpphaus from Munich, Francesca Santaniello from Milan and Bergamo, Jim Capraro, and Wolfgang Goede from Munich & Medellin. “Mister International, James Capraro—Opportunities come from relationships” I first met “Cappy,” as we called him back then, in 1972. I had come to Chicago as a German volunteer to learn community organizing. West Englewood, Little Lithuania, Greater Lawn: I got to know the Southwest Side like the back of my hand at door knocking and block club meetings. Jim, a resourceful teacher of organizing skills and a great door opener, also with his buddies. (Meanwhile, the ‘Germans’ House’ where I and other volunteers lived on 67th Place and Damen became the most visited party location in the area). “Opportunities come from relationships” is Jim’s mantra .  The closer, the happier—and the more these relationships can generate civic power. Jim is a broker for relational power. I have seen his work influence policy in his hometown of Chicago but also in 30 other U.S. cities and beyond, in the transatlantic triangle between the U.S., Europe, and South America. We worked together on some of these including on a series of trainings in Munich, Milan and Medellín in the 2010 years. The focus of much of this work is the Comprehensive Community Development method (CCD) that Jim developed from community organizing. It’s a fusion of citizen empowerment and entrepreneurship, underpinned by best practices developed while at Greater Southwest Development Corporation. Southwest Chicago was a microcosm of the current global challenges around integration, housing, education, jobs. Jim used his experience and insights to teach international folks how to tackle these issues.

Jim brought the Greater Southwest model to a community development conference in Medellín, Colombia in 2015. ( Photo by Wolfgang Goede)

Community Spirit

“Community spirit” is the heart of the method. As conference curator and community participation expert Maren Schüpphaus, put it in an essay, Comprehensive Community Development is the synergy of one's own concerns and civic spirit within the political context, but apart from the electoral process. This became a key message for activists and Germany’s quite top-down democracy. Outside Germany, Jim’s impact has been felt in Colombia, as well, where Anneli Seifert featured him and his work at a training at Medellín's Antioquia University in 2015. Jim’s training refreshed this spirit in a country divided by decades of guerrilla warfare and entering the post conflict. Seifert saw Jim as following in the footsteps of a great humanist, Alexander von Humboldt. Von Humboldt, whose journey of discovery took him through Colombia in 1801, was also inspired by community. Von Humboldt wanted people to share empathy, responsibility and a sense of interconnectedness within local communities throughout the world based on an eternal bond between nature and humanity. This trail leads to another famous scholar: the Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville, whose book Democracy in America praised the public spirit of voluntary associations—of which, 200 years later, Greater Southwest is a shining beacon. Congratulations board, members and staff, volunteers, donors and supporters, last but not least Jim! Wolfgang Chr. Goede. Munich and Medellín Political Scientist, Journalist, Facilitator Community Organizer 1972-1976 Chicago | San Francisco Thank you for reading! We hope you can join us on October 24. Get tickets and info at GreaterSouthwest50.eventbrite.com   - All of us at Greater Southwest Development Corp. Get tickets and sponsorship information Our mission is to be a catalyst for creating and maintaining a vital Southwest Chicago community by empowering, building and sustaining development that raises the quality of life for our neighborhood residents, businesses and industries. Learn more: greatersouthwest.org View As Webpage

Read the full article

[noevilproject]

[minister-erik]

HASK 2023 Thanksgiving Celebration by ERIK MCGREGOR Via Flickr: Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen And Pantry 2023 Thanksgiving Celebration. #Community #CommunityOrganization #CommunityPower #donate #feedthehomeless #food #foodforall #FoodJustice #FoodPantry #FoodSecurity #FeedThePoor #GivingBack #HASK #HealHunger #HolyApostlesNYC #HolyApostlesSoupKitchen #homeless #homelessness #hunger #hungry #makeadifference #Manhattan #NewYork #NYC #servingthecommunity #SocialPrograms #SocialService #SoupAndSoul #SoupKitchen #volunteersmakeadifference © Erik McGregor - erikrivas@hotmail.com - 917-225-8963

[bantucola]

Check out the Gulf Coast Black Business of the Day: 100 Black Men of Pensacola Learn More: https://tinyurl.com/26nojt5w #blackowned #blackbusiness #buyblack #spend$20 #showyourreceipts #supportblackbusiness #local #gulfcoast #groupeconomics

[duxfemfac]

For the community organizers… “#ORGANIZING is the process of BUILDING an organization of people with SIMILAR INTERESTS who use their COLLECTIVE POWER to WIN immediate improvements in PEOPLES LIVES, RAISE CONSCIOUSNESS and alter the relations of POWER.” - School of Unity and Liberation @newvoicesrj #communityorganizing #reprojustice #newvoicesrj #tuesdaymotivation #tuesdayvibes #tuesdayquotes #tuesdaythoughts #tuesdaymorning #tuesday https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFk_nYLAUb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[socialworkonscreen]

Centering on a young activist named Lupita, this short documentary highlights the continued struggle of the Indigenous Maya in Mexico, who offer an inspirational example of a unified movement in resistance of neoliberal policies and in defense of Indigenous rights. In the 1990’s, the Indigenous Maya of Chiapas fought for autonomy from the increasingly neoliberal Mexican state. During a peaceful demonstration in her village of Acteal, Lupita’s mother was murdered by a right-wing paramilitary group in a church massacre that claimed the lives of 45 Indigenous people. Lupita, just a young girl, narrowly escaped with her life. Now, more than 2 decades later, Lupita continues as an activist in the struggle for Indigenous control of their land, leading a new generation of comrades within her community. This film offers an inside perspective on one of the most important Indigenous movements of our time, demonstrating the incredible strength, resistance, and solidarity of the Maya people in their collective struggle for justice. Directed by Monica Wise Robles, 2020. Length: 20:52, available from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/jan/05/lupita-the-indigenous-activist-leading-a-new-generation-of-mexican-women . . . #Indigenous #Maya #Mexico #Zapatista #EZLN #Indigenousautonomy #Indigenousrights #communityorganizing #todossomosmarcos #shortfilm #documentary #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers https://www.instagram.com/p/COBemiSDb56/?igshid=kzc3c6wjlwc0