Toward a Hybrid Model for Effective Organizing in Communities of Color

Abstract

a trainer specializing in cultural diversity and supervisory skills for Western Washington University b

Educating Students for Multicultural Community Practice

“…However, a multicultural perspective requires the development of skills and behaviors in addition to these perspectives and self understanding. These include skills to mix and phase different approaches according to the community, its needs and strengths, and the resources available (Bradshaw et al, 1993). Multicultural organizers must also develop skills to learn from communities.…”

“…This involves awareness of one's own understanding of the community, finding ways to learn more about the local community through key informants, working as partners to develop local leadership, identifying and building from community strengths, and focusing on ways to build cohesiveness within and between ethnic communities. The critical role of the organizer is that of learner who approaches the community to understand and facilitate change (Bradshaw et al, 1993;Green, 1995;Rivera & Erlich, 1995).…”

“…This is particularly true in the literature on education for multicultural practice. As our society becomes increasingly diverse, it will be particularly important for community organizers to learn the strategies, tactics and techniques that are needed to work effectively with people of widely varied backgrounds and experiences (Bradshaw, Soifer & Gutiérrez, 1993;Burghardt, 1982;Gutiérrez & Lewis, 1994;Rivera & Erlich, 1995).…”

Community Participation

“…This explicit power orientation is reflected in much of the literature on feminist practice. Feminist writers extend the concept of working with individuals and groups to encompass larger/macro systems (Bradshaw, Soifer, & Gutierrez, 1994;Gutierrez & Lewis, 1998). Saul Alinsky (1971) both practiced power-based community work and wrote with elegance of this approach to community involvement.…”

A Qualitative Exploration of Alternative Strategies for Building Community Health Partnerships: Collaboration- Versus Issue-Oriented Approaches

“…There is an extensive literature on community collaboration and community organizing that includes general arguments for collaborative approaches, [1][2][3][4] theoretical rationales, [5][6][7] specific strategies to promote community participation, [8][9][10] and case study examples of successful collaboration. [11][12][13] environment, employment).…”