Grassroots Organizing: Empowering Local Development

the long-lost art of making things happen locally

At a time when local initiatives are becoming increasingly crucial, a committed and organized group, even a small team can initiate significant local change. The key to success is taking initiative and fostering collaboration—figuring out who needs to be contacted and what steps must be taken to transform a vision into reality. To build things like appropriate housing, cohousing, schools, and more – this course will focus on cohousing as the main example. At this juncture, where national governments are somewhat debilitated and not getting enough done about things like housing, we need to work at the neighborhood level to get many things done. If you have a well-organized group of people, even if small, they can shake it up locally and make things happen.

Value and Key Outcomes: This workshop will delve into the proven methods of grassroots organizing through the lens of cohousing, while also providing insights that can be applied to a variety of community projects. It will equip participants with the practical knowledge and skills needed to organize, lead, and execute projects that address local needs and enhance community life.

This workshop is for: Individuals passionate about grassroots efforts and creating lasting local change, architects, developers, and planners, those seeking to launch new, locally-focused projects like homeless shelters, healthcare clinics, or educational centers, or anyone looking to build a traditional cohousing community, a tiny house village, or another innovative housing project, this workshop will provide the tools you need.

By the end of this workshop, participants will have the skills, strategies, and inspiration needed to organize and execute their own community development projects—whether they are focused on cohousing or any other local need—using the principles of grassroots organizing to create lasting change.