HLTH3102 Reflections on Community Organizing and Organizer Experiences in Health Advocacy

This paper will include 2 major components,

1. Your organizing activity reflections


2. A community organizer interview

What to do:

Write a paper no more than seven (7) pages.

1. Describing and analyzing your interview with the organizer and your experience organizing


2. Be sure to incorporate what you have learned from class readings and discussions.


3. Specially to note is what is how closely these activities meet (or not) the criteria for community building or community organizing as discussed in class and readings.

Assignment details:

Identify a groups, organizations or agencies that are largely involved in community organizing around your chosen health issue. (Become actively involved in at least 1 organizing activity (preferably 2, if possible) of one or more of these groups.

For example, you may participate in:

• A meeting to plan, organize, strategize, build coalitions, etc. to affect change concerning your health issue.


• A march, rally, protest, vigil, public hearing or other organized activity designed to engage or confront the public/elected officials to effect change concerning your selected health issue.

Please note that these are just examples. And are not meant to limit the type of activity you become engaged. You must become an active participant in these functions and not remain passive observer or sidelines participants. If your selected group will not be working sponsoring one or more of these activities while you are working on this project, you may select a similar activity from another group health issue.

• Conduct a virtual interview with a community organizer who is working on health issue you have selected.


• This could be for the same organization you become active with. If you are unable to find an organizer working on your issue, you can interview someone else as long as you consider them to be an organizer.


• The focus of this paper should be telling the organizers story (not the organizations story) and your experience participating in a community organizing activity.


• Include in your paper a description of the ORIGIN, STRUCTURE, PROBLEMS AND SUCCESES of the groups the organizer has worked with as applicable.


• Additional reflections can include: How are community organizers responding / coping /adjusting to COVID-19?


• How these community organizing evolve during pandemic?


• What disparities if any did the pandemic exacerbate for their target community?


• Do not submit a transcript of your interview. (i.e. I asked..they said) Please note that the organizer or their organization can remain anonymous. If the organizer is agreeable to you using their name, inform them in advance that your paper will be reviewed by your instructor.