Community Disorganization Analysis

Community organizing was utilized by involving the poor and working class communities. He espoused that it was a contest for power and between those who have money and those who have people. Since the poor greatly outnumber the rich in most communities in the United States, his tactic of dividing the rich and the poor made it easy to choose sides. Alinsky knew that participation in the political process was key to securing his demands. He also used the concept of an organization for organizations to build strength and power on a national basis. The focus was on using neighborhood groups, small businesses, labor unions and the Catholic Church. He directed efforts to these groups because they already had a strong sense of organization that
As he pronounced, “The first step in community organizing is community disorganization,” (Alinsky) achieved by identifying the controversial issues upon which people feel most compelled to act. He felt that it is the organizer’s role to be an outsider who agitates the targeted group and then listens to the concerns they have. He then does what is necessary to get them to act on those concerns. Examples today that are high on my communities list would include out of control taxes, large numbers of low paid workers who have several part time jobs, but no employer paid benefits and a system that prevents the low income majority from having a voice. The election system is designed to prevent any candidate other than the two primary parties from gaining any real traction. Basically, they hand pick the two choices we have to vote on. Historically here in New Jersey all of the Governors over recent time have been bad choices for the taxpayer and great for others in power. What would motivate me would be doing things that make people from other states want to move here for quality of life, not just a quick buck. I would like to stay here in New Jersey, not look forward to the time I leave. Things that could be done might start with fixing the part time loop hole so business does not have to pay people benefits. I think this could work to remove people off of government benefits. In turn the businesses
He would do this by establishing legitimacy in the community, listening to their needs, establishing a common self-interest and them linking many group together. In contrast the Freirian organizing approach centered on education and the short comings of the current system. That system he referred to the “banking system” of education where teachers would essentially deposit information into the student’s heads. That led to the danger of keeping the students from reaching critical consciousness. He also promoted alternative methods of liberation education. The liberation education was the essential strategy for mobilizing communities for social change. He believed that children and youth had the capacity toe act as agents of social transformation. He relied on youth centered interactions to allow adults to help facilitate their