What is relational organizing? Why are grassroots groups the key? How is it relevant in 2023 - and 2024?
Slowly, one door at a time, families vote together and civic engagement grows
Central Valley Matters (CVM) supports grassroots organizations that use relational organizing to foster civic engagement and empower the traditionally underrepresented residents of Congressional District 22.
Relational organizing is a type of community organizing that relies on relationships and trust to inspire residents to take action, such as registering to vote and voting in elections that impact their communities and their lives. At the heart of relational organizing is connection, and making connections takes time and requires deep listening as people share their concerns and their values.
The grassroots groups supported by CVM work to empower and educate community members by connecting with them in various ways, including tabling, covid outreach, food distribution, youth leadership training, registering voters, and canvassing. They know their communities well because they are in them, day in and day out, far in advance of an election. The staff and canvassers come from the same community, have the same cultural background and look like and speak the same language as the people they connect with. These groups are not “helicoptering” in and attempting to get out the vote a couple of months before an election. They are trusted messengers living and working in the community whom community members regard as “credible sources of information.” And, the community will listen to them in election years when the groups share information about upcoming elections and encourage residents to vote.
All of this is the hard work that the grassroots groups do way before an election as well as the run up to an election. It’s why CVM is proud to partner with these groups in non-election and election years.
CVM-vetted groups need our money now to fund staff who can be out in the community building those relationships; they need offices, support staff, data analysis and much more. And these investments will pay dividends in the election years.
Relational organizing is all about making connections, listening and sharing stories