A grassroots charity had been trying for some time to get a meeting with a big cheese at a bank to encourage him to start paying the living wage. Several letters and phone calls later, but no luck. Plan B was to rope in a band of nuns and ‘storm’ a branch of said bank at the busiest time, of the busiest day, in the busiest week of the year. The nuns made their way into the bank and withdrew money at the cash desks and cash machines, and opened bank accounts. All very civilized, you see. Then they proceeded to pay that money back in and close their newly-opened accounts. The idea was to cause queues and irritation and generally be as much of a nuisance as possible – all with a view to getting the big banking boss to agree to a conversation about the living wage. This went on for several hours with staff finally resorting to calling the police! The police could do nothing – after all, it isn’t illegal for a nun to open an account or withdraw cash now, is it?

To cut a long story short, the boss did eventually agree to a meeting, at which he was gently persuaded to start paying those on a minimum wage a living wage instead. Several other big businesses soon followed suit…

Why am I telling you this story?

Beyond the humour, there is an important message here: When people with shared goals unite, they can get things done. Having the cheek to try just about anything can only enhance the heady mix of enthusiasm, determination and dynamism.

Beyond the important message however, is a very worrying situation indeed. If my twice-daily google alerts on Millennium Development Goals are anything to go by, we are way off reaching most of the 8 goals designed to aid the world's poorest and most vulnerable. 

We could dwell on that for the next four and a half years, or… we could try something altogether different – people power…

I’m talking about community organizing.

What’s it all about?

Simple:

Step 1: People who live near each other unite and form an organisation, which acts in their collective interest.

Step 2: This organisation, which represents a particular community works towards generating lasting power, with a view to influencing decision-makers on a range of issues over time

Step 3: Work alongside and nurture new local leaders, facilitate coalitions and campaign for change.

NB: Ideally, get a say, and get your voice heard before the big decisions are made.

Community organizing in action:

There are groups all around the world following these three steps, and in so doing, get some of the power back in the hands of the people. It’s about being pro-active and not re-active. Speak up, reach out, get heard, and more importantly, get change.

Whilst some of you might not have heard of ‘community organizing’ as such, I’m sure the concept will seem familiar.

Most notably made famous by US President Barack Obama, the movement is fast gaining in notoriety, prominence, and influence. So much so, here in the UK, the three party leaders, David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Gordon Brown chose to spend an afternoon addressing the London Citizens (an alliance of community organisations in London) just three days before the recent general election.

Not just a new-age fad

So we know that politicians are beginning to sit up and take note. Morever, as demonstrated by the funny nun story, it does actually achieve something.

What does the future hold for community organising?

Its proven track record and the fact that David Cameron, our new Prime Minister, can’t go ten minutes without mentioning the ‘Big Society’, leads me to believe that we in the UK will be seeing a whole lot more of such groups and stunts in years to come. A new era of decreasing dependence, and greater involvement with the decision-making process, it seems, is on the horizon…

The question is, with the scope for change so vast, will community organizing begin to take off around the world, and more importantly, in developing countries, where the need for change is far greater?