Community Organizing

<h2 id="section---IsCommunityOrganizingForMe">Is Community Organizing for Me?</h2> <h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p>Training for <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Community_Resource_Specialist_Do.html">community organizers</a> is available from the undergraduate to the master's degree levels. You can pursue a degree or a certificate program in community development or organizing, social work, social justice or social change. With training in this field, you can get involved in urban neighborhood revitalization, community organization management, community education administration or government work. </p> <h3 id="section---ProfessionalResponsibilities">Professional Responsibilities</h3> <p>According to <i>Salary.com</i>, community organizers address community needs, organize workers and volunteers to solve problems, lead group activities or provide emotional support to those who need it. They may be employed as <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Social_Worker_Career_Summary_Employment_Outlook_and_Education_Requirements.html">social workers</a>, government workers and social service assistants. Populations in need can include refugees, the homeless, the poor or immigrants (<i>www.salary.com</i>). </p> <h3 id="section---EmploymentAndSalaryInformation">Employment and Salary Information</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were approximately 470,830 individuals working in the field of social and human assistance and management in 2013. Nationwide, employment opportunities for social and human service assistants and managers, as well as social workers, are expected to grow by a faster-than-average rate between 2012 and 2022. </p> <p>In May 2013, social and human services assistants earned a median annual salary of $29,230; those employed as managers earned $61,160. In May 2013, the 276,760 professionals employed as child, family and school social workers had median annual incomes of $42,120 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). While the BLS does not report employment and salary information specific to community organizers, according to <i>Salary.com</i> in June 2014, professionals who held this title earned between $23,886 and $43,286 a year (<i>www.salary.com</i>). </p> <h2 id="section---HowCanIBecomeACommunityOrganizer">How Can I Become a Community Organizer?</h2> <h3 id="section---CertificateAndUndergraduatePrograms">Certificate and Undergraduate Programs</h3> <p>Undergraduate certificate and <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Social_Services_Degrees_Online_Program_FAQs.html">bachelor's degree programs in social services</a> and community organization cover topics in finance, decision-making, planning methods, public relations and organizational structure. Other courses explore factors that affect social change, poverty and community leadership. This training can prepare you for a career as a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Case_Manager_Do.html">case manager</a>, community organizer or government worker, as well as for graduate degree programs in community organization, law or human rights. </p> <h3 id="section---GraduatePrograms">Graduate Programs</h3> <p>A <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Which_Colleges_Offer_a_Masters_Degree_in_Social_and_Community_Services.html">master's degree program in community services</a> may include topics in community planning and development, community-media relations, social justice and policymaking. You may also study job and rural development, feminism, race relations and global education. Minority communities, politics and intercultural communication might also be covered. A <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Social_and_Community_Services_Masters_Degree_Program_FAQs.html">graduate degree</a> can also lead to a career in government, human and social services or social work. </p> <h3 id="section---RequiredSkills">Required Skills</h3> <p>According to the BLS, social workers must be mature, hard-working and responsive to their clients' needs. State and local government officials need to be able manage finances and work well with other workers (<i>www.bls.gov</i>).</p>