Political Organizing Primer
What Is Grassroots Organizing?
Grassroots organizing is the practice of building collective political power from the bottom up. It centers ordinary people — not donors, consultants, or institutions — as the primary force for social and political change.
- Organizing communities around shared material concerns
- Building durable relationships and trust
- Creating pressure on political and economic power structures
- Winning concrete improvements in people’s lives
Organizing Traditions
- Labor organizing and worker power
- Civil rights and racial justice movements
- Environmental and climate justice
- Mutual aid and community self-defense
- Anti-authoritarian and pro-democracy movements
Learn More
- Indivisible – Guide to Grassroots Advocacy
- The Commons Library – Organizing strategy and theory
- Beautiful Trouble – Creative resistance toolkit
- Training for Change – Facilitation & movement tools
Why Local Organizing Matters
Most decisions that shape people’s daily lives are made locally — often with minimal public participation. Grassroots organizing focuses on city councils, county boards, commissions, and institutions that directly affect communities.
- Land use and housing decisions
- Environmental protections
- Policing and public safety
- Labor standards and enforcement
- Public health and infrastructure
Gloabal Groups to Align With
(You dont have to believe in all of them to find one to beleive in)
| Name | Country/Region | Focus/Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Amnesty International | Global | Human rights advocacy |
| Human Rights Watch | Global | Investigate and report human rights abuses |
| American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) | United States | Defend constitutional rights |
| Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) | United States | Fight hate and bigotry |
| MoveOn | United States | Progressive public policy advocacy |
| Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) | United States | Promote democratic socialism |
| International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund | Global | Support antifascists and anti-racists |
| Black Lives Matter Global Network | Global | End systemic racism and violence |
| United Against Fascism | United Kingdom | Combat far-right ideologies |
| Hope Not Hate | United Kingdom | Challenge hate and extremism |
| The Progressive International | Global | Unite progressive forces worldwide |
| Solidarity | United States | Socialist, feminist, anti-racist activism |
| European Network Against Racism (ENAR) | Europe | Combat racism and discrimination |
| Open Society Foundations | Global | Promote justice and human rights |
| Freedom House | Global | Expand freedom and democracy |
| National Lawyers Guild | United States | Advocate for human rights |
| Refuse Fascism | United States | Oppose fascism and authoritarianism |
| People's Action | United States | Advance economic and racial justice |
| Color of Change | United States | Strengthen Black America's political voice |
Building a Community
Resources and Links
- Security First – Umbrella: Security Handbook for Activists - Read here
- Tactical Technology Collective - Visit site
- Radical Librarian Collective - Visit site
Tips for Building a Covert Community
- Maintain Operational Security (OpSec)
- Use Trusted Channels: Communicate through encrypted, secure platforms.
- Small, Decentralized Cells: Organize in semi-independent groups to minimize risk.
Additional Tools and Platforms
Secure Communication Tools
- Ricochet Refresh - Visit site
- Cwtch - Visit site
- Briar - Visit site
- Session - Visit site
Anonymous Browsing and Communication
- Tor Browser - Download
- I2P (Invisible Internet Project) - Visit site
Secure File Sharing and Storage
- OnionShare - Visit site
- VeraCrypt - Visit site