The United States has a long history of people organizing for social change. Early organization for change came from labor protests, which originated as early as colonial times (Mises Institute, 2009). The first recorded strike for higher wages occurred in Philadelphia in 1786, and was initiated by shoe makers (2009). Perhaps more famously, workers organized to strike in the industrial revolution, leading to the types of unions we are more familiar with today. Textile workers first went to strike in 1824, and by the 1830’s, strikes became more largely recognized as a way for the disadvantaged working in factories to gain protection and power over their employer (UShistory.org, 2008).
Today, community organizing is understood largely through scholars such as Eduard C. Lindeman, who published an important book identifying what a community was, and how it could be understood (Smith, 1996). Lindeman’s definition of community organization was:
“Those phases of social organization which constitute a conscious effort on the part of a community to control its affairs democratically, and to secure the highest services from its specialists, organizations, agencies, and the institutions by means of recognized interrelations.”
Lindeman helped define the needs and identify the structure of communities. Later Gracy Coyle and Mary Parker Follet joined Lindeman’s work, and they published information further defining and exploring the concepts of community organizing (1996).
Seattle has a rich history in organizing for the rights of the disadvantaged. The University of Washington has put together an incredible record of Civil Rights organizations, as well as Labor History.
https://depts.washington.edu/civilr/organizations.htm
We hope to join and support this legacy with our work at the Activism Project.
References:
Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution. (2008, January 01). Retrieved May 15, 2016, from http://www.ushistory.org/us/22a.asp
A History of Labor Unions from Colonial Times to 2009. (2009, July 17). Retrieved May 15, 2016, from https://mises.org/library/history-labor-unions-colonial-times-2009
Smith, M. K. (1996). Community organization. Retrieved May 15, 2016, from http://www.infed.org/community/b-comorg.htm