What Do Community Organizers Do?

A Look at Raising the Minimum Wage and Nonprofit Action

Community organizers are the driving force behind many social movements, working to improve the lives of vulnerable communities. One of the issues they often tackle is raising the minimum wage, a goal pursued by nonprofits and grassroots organizations nationwide. Here's a breakdown of what community organizers do, using this example of minimum wage advocacy.

1. Identifying and Understanding the Community and Its Problems

The first step in any organizing effort is identifying the community and understanding its needs. For a campaign to raise the minimum wage, organizers focus on low-income workers struggling to make ends meet. They gather stories, conduct surveys, and analyze the system that keeps wages low, often revealing deeper issues like corporate practices or political inertia. This understanding helps create a clear picture of the problem and its root causes.

2. Developing a Shared Solution and Narrative

Once the issue is understood, organizers work with the community to develop a shared solution. In the case of raising the minimum wage, the solution is straightforward: increase the minimum wage to a living wage.

But this isn't just about numbers, it's about creating a compelling narrative that everyone can rally behind. Organizers will highlight stories of workers struggling to survive on low wages, framing the issue as a moral imperative for government action. This narrative becomes the cornerstone of all advocacy efforts.

3. Creating an Action Plan to Win Collective Power

With the problem and solution outlined, organizers then create an action plan to mobilize collective power. For raising the minimum wage, the plan might include:

• Researching existing laws and identifying what needs to change

• Building a coalition of unions, organizations, and community leaders to show widespread support

• Lobbying politicians to push for legislative change

• Public education campaigns to raise awareness about the issue

• Protests and rallies to generate media attention and apply pressure

This plan outlines concrete steps to bring about change, focusing on uniting as many people as possible to influence policymakers.

4. Building Relationships and Educating the Community

One of the key roles of an organizer is to build relationships and educate people on how they can contribute to the cause. Organizers engage directly with community members—particularly low-wage workers—and help them understand how the issue affects them personally.

Through town halls, workshops, and outreach, organizers show people how they can get involved. Whether it's signing a petition, attending a rally, or calling their legislators, everyone is encouraged to play an active role in the movement. This relationship-building creates a sense of collective ownership of the cause.

5. Keeping the Plan Moving Forward

Community organizing is a long-term effort, and organizers must keep the plan moving forward, even in the face of setbacks. This requires ongoing support and adaptation.

For the minimum wage campaign, this means:

• Training volunteers to engage with media, legislators, and the public

• Providing regenerative support to prevent burnout and keep momentum going

• Building coalitions with other groups that share similar goals, such as housing or labor organizations

• Using media relations to continue educating the public and applying pressure on lawmakers

By maintaining focus and constantly evolving the strategy, organizers ensure the campaign remains relevant and impactful.

Community Organizers: The People-Driven Problem-Solvers

Community organizers are uniquely positioned to drive change. They juggle various roles—event coordination, recruitment, relationship-building, and more—while keeping a clear eye on the end goal. In the case of raising the minimum wage, these organizers are working tirelessly to unite people, develop solutions, and push for change. The ultimate goal is to create a world where workers are paid fairly for their labor.

The road to change is often long and challenging, but community organizers are experts at keeping the momentum alive. They know that lasting social change requires collective action, and they work tirelessly to ensure that people have the tools, knowledge, and support needed to take meaningful action.

If you're interested in getting involved in a cause like raising the minimum wage, consider reaching out to local organizing groups. There’s always room for more voices in the fight for justice.