Community Organizing Case Studies

Posted by on March 5, 2004

[posted from Comm-Org]

From: “Nancy Marks”

February 25, 2004

Dear Comm-List Colleagues:

We are pleased to share with you some three important reporting documents that the Ricanne Hadrian Initiative for Community Organizing (RHICO) has just produced. RHICO is a joint program of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) and the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC-Boston). RHICO was created to improve and enhance the ability of CDCs to
represent disenfranchised communities through the integration of organizing and development in order to build community and organizational power.

We hope you will take the time to look at these three reports. These reports offer a snapshot into the exciting, rich and challenging world of CDC organizing:

?An Overview of RHICO: Massachusetts CDCs Organizing for Change

?Behind the Organizing: Measuring CDC Progress
RHICO is one of the first groups in the country As one of the few groups in the country to do so, RHICO attempting to capture the impact of CDC organizing using quantitative measurements. RHICO CDCs that are working to integrate organizing and housing development strategies are showing increases in the number of produced and preserved housing units, new leaders and active members, and policy victories for their neighborhoods.

?CDC Stories of Change
Using qualitative accounts, this document brings to light the work of RHICO CDCs. Stories range from community leaders struggling to build not just more affordable housing, but housing that reflects their community’s vision to CDCs that are engaging neighborhood residents while challenging themselves to be more democratic organizations.

Please use the links below to download these reports and learn more about RHICO; scroll down to “for more information” on each page listed.

–RHICO Overview
http://www.macdc.org/docs/rhico.html

–Behind the Organizing
–CDC Stories of Change
http://www.macdc.org/docs/rhico_org.html

We welcome your comments and questions. If you would like additional information about RHICO, please feel free to contact me.

Peace.
Nanc

Nancy Marks
Director of Organizing, MACDC
99 Chauncy St., 5th fl.
Boston, MA 02111
617.426.0303 x25
nancym@macdc.org