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The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) uses the community organizing model in order to build better communities.

Community organizing has a rich history in American social movements and is about people working together for systemic social change. It is about developing collective self interests by working with others and taking action on issues the community cares about through true democracy, where the power is with the people.

Community organizing is not about the short-term mobilization of bodies, protests or rallies.  It is about achieving long-term change through building powerful, public relationships; influencing and negotiating with government, corporations and institutions; achieving direct representation; and holding decision makers accountable to the people through public actions.

The CCESL staff have written a Community Organizing Handbook that we use in trainings, civic engagement programs and courses.  This handbook can be used as a tool to develop public skills and as a guide to organizing people for change.  We provide this online tool as a public resource, if you have questions or would like to print or distribute this handbook please contact us at, 303.871.3706 or ccesl@du.edu.

 

Charla Agnoletti

DU Student

Our mission with the Engaged Community Initiative is to engage the student population at DU with meaningful community work that motivates individuals to acknowledge themselves as the creators and sustainers of a strong, vibrant community.

DJ Close

DU Student and Puksta Scholar

By educating students about the differences between volunteering and service learning, I hope to create sustainable community relationships between Greek organizations and the Denver community.

 

Anne DePrince

Anne DePrince

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

In 2005, I received a Public Good Grant that allowed me to continue research and partnership-building efforts.  My research depends on strong community partnerships; in that context, I have been involved in discussions at CCESL about engaged scholarship."