What exactly is a Community Organizer?

Question

My mother is in the PTA, is that the same thing?

Answer 1

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Community Organizing: work with informal community leaders to conduct and/or coordinate community events, projects and coalitions to address issues of target population and to empower target population; conduct and maintain needs assessment and resource inventory for community; assist in program planning and development including research, data collection, strategic action planning including mapping of resources and report writing; network with community groups to motivate positive health-related change in the community; maintain documentation of agreements, policies, strategies implemented and successes; conduct and/or generate speaker’s bureau to increase awareness of target population and/or community activities; conduct effective community meetings, supervise and support volunteers; and participate in the development and implementation of a community health action plan to address community-identified top priority health problems.

Community Outreach: conduct efficient outreach by mapping geographical location of target population; disseminate health education information and teach basic public health practices relating to chronic and communicable disease (including AIDS), and injury prevention; relay and discuss findings on health needs and cultural perceptions of the community to the Public Health Department; represent Public Health staff on selected community organizations and committees; act as catalyst for problem solving through community networks to reduce health barriers; collaborate in the development of outreach strategies; and act as liaison between community and Public Health for improved service delivery.

Referral-Based Follow-Up Activities: support the work of Health Educators, Nutritionists and/or Public Health Nurses; provides appropriate client-based interventions and follow-up to improve identified health problems; clarify professional and medical instructions to community and referred clients; track and locate clients; and facilitate community and client coordination of Public Health Services with other appropriate services.

Specific duty assignments may involve working with hard-to-reach or special populations (Hispanics, Native American, African American, Asian, injection drug users, homeless, teens, seniors, etc.).

Answer 2

I was a community organizer for three years.  There is a lot of phone work and running around the neighbourhoods.. but it certainly does not qualify you to be president.. if it does... well h**l.. I'm throwing my hat in the ring!

Answer 3

pretty much