How We Organize
Relational Organizing
Together New Orleans takes a grassroots approach to community organizing, primarily centered around building broad-based relationships that extend across diverse communities.
A Bottom Up Approach
We host “house meetings” with friends and neighbors—intimate gatherings where people share personal stories and engage in deep listening. These conversations reveal the challenges facing our communities and guide our network in choosing the issues we’ll act on together.
Action Campaigns
Once we’ve decided to “take action” on an issue, we dig deep—researching its complexities and crafting practical solutions. Then, Together New Orleans mobilizes the full strength of our member institutions to drive real change.
These actions have reduced utility bills, provided disaster shelters, and brought millions of dollars to the city for critical public services.
The Iron Rule
One of our core principles is that Together New Orleans organizers never do for people what they can do for themselves. This means that our professional organizers train leaders on how to run an action campaign themselves.
We’re all about helping faith and community organizations develop the leadership capacity of their members. This has a multiplying effect, greatly expanding the capacity of our network to get things done.