How to Start a Community Action Project

1. Identify a need or issue in your community. What are the challenges that your community faces? Talk to your neighbors, community leaders, and local organizations to get their input. Brainstorming ideas for a community action project then taking this gathered information to create a hierarchy of needs. See how they may all be related.

Many time multiple issues may very well all share the same causation. By identifying the issues you will find the best route to fixing them.

2. Do your research. Once you’ve identified a need, learn more about it. What are the causes? What are the existing solutions? What are the potential impacts of your project?

It is suggested that you include in your research other people or organizations that may have worked toward finding solutions to these issues in the past, or are currently working on them. Reach out to people who have been involved to find out what they know about it. Don’t be afraid to ask what kept them from reaching their goals. Are there any roadblocks that you need to be aware of? What are some of the thing worked for them.

Pick their brain to find out information on if they are aware of potential financial partners. This is a good time to find out who might help you in your mission. Keep in contact with these people. They are not in your network. Treat them as you would any alley or supporter. Remember to gush on the appreciation. They just helped you navigate through many items that may have slowed you down with your goals. Always give credit where credit is due.

Also keep track of the information. Write it down. File it way. This information is for more than your knowledge and may help later when teaching others what you know.

3. Build a team. You don’t have to go it alone! Recruit people who are passionate about the issue and have the skills and experience to help you succeed. Referring to people you contacted and networked with in number 2 on this list is a great place to start. They have experience and knowledge that you don’t. So invite them into the mix.

When if comes to team building, remember that not everyone is going to be as passionate as you are on the topic. Or if they are, they may not communicate the same way you do. Do don’t expect too much. A good understanding to have is that everyone will share what they feel is appropriate to the situation, if given the chance AND they will feel valued for doing so. How can you show your appreciation?

A good portion of your time when starting out on your project will be, what I call, Casting Your Net. You are not looking for any one specific kind of help, you are just looking for anyone who is willing to put some energy it. Sometimes it simple getting to listen. The easiest way to get people on your team is to just ask. “Hey, there is no way I could break down all the things we want to do in this one conversation, but we are hosting a community meet and greet this coming Tuesday at the library. 6pm. It will be in the Community room. If you would like to hear more then come on by.” If they seem on the fence about it, mention punch and pie. I hear that everybody loves punch and pie. (Source: South Park) LOL

4. Develop a plan.
What are your goals? Every good plan need an outcome in mind. “We are cleaning the part Saturday, and here is how we would like it to look when we are finished.
What are your action steps? Make them simple. The easier the better. NEVER over complicate something. Keep in mind what kinds of skills are going to be needed for each task. What kind of tools will be needed? How many volunteers for each step in the plan. Who is the lead for each part of the plan?

What is your timeline? Now this is the trickiest part because sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. Take the park clean up for example. What happens if it’s raining? Is there a back up date? Is that clear to everyone involved? Sometimes things will be delayed. That’s alright.

Another thing that is important is to be very clear about start and end times. People tend to work best with schedules. And if you have very specific needs that fit into a specific schedule then you will need to know when it starts and when it ends. Try to get everyone involved to agree to these times. If someone needs to be late because of a prior engagement, then you know not to include them in a team that is doing something right away.

Creating a clear and concise plan that everyone on your team can understand is the most important part of being a community leader. Take the extra time to think about potential road-bumps and hurtles that you may come across and try to work out solution and work them into your plan. Once again, this is where recruiting experienced people helps.

5. Secure funding (optional). Some community action projects can be done on a shoestring budget, while others may require funding. There are a number of grants and other funding sources available, so do your research and start applying early. There is a pattern for doing so that has already been laid out, and it works. In many cases all you will need to do is share your plan with other local organizations and they will help fund your project. Other times you will need to follow an application process and the wait for funds may take time. So have multiple funding options on the table and leave no stone unturned. Don’t think your above setting up a car washing fund raiser. 🙂

Many times organizations will ask their team mates to help fund or supply resources to reach the goals of the project. Also fund raisers are great ways to get the teams together to interact.

We will be publishing more articles on Fund Raising in the future. In the mean time, don’t hesitate to ask us for information on resources and references that may help you make your goals happen.

6. Get the word out. Promote your project to the community. Let people know what you’re doing and how they can get involved. Use social media, local media, and community events to spread the word. Remember that Many Hands Make Light Work! The more the marrier.

I am notorious for sharing everything with everyone, when I in the mix with a project. You never know who may be interested or know someone else who may be interested. You never know who might have access to an old lawn mower that they would donate to the cause, or have a few extra bucks to donate to the cause. They key is to make it as fun and productive as possible. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. Hold multiple meet-ups and events and promote the heck out them.

What I have seen work best when organizing for community action projects are scheduled meet and greets that have a open topic model. Everyone can come share their ideas and projects for a few minutes, maybe round table format, and then host a social gathering after the meet and greet. A mixer, if you will. People will naturally gravitate to projects that inspire them the most. Actually, they will probably connect with multiple organizations. But since you are the organizer of the event your time on the floor is the most. Use it to let everyone know when your specific project meets up. Also, little important note on hosting meet and greets. Pass an email list around. Get everyone’s emails and USE THEM!

7. Take action! Once you’ve done your planning and preparation, it’s time to take action!
I want to use this time to discuss the importance of “Getting permission”. I know people don’t like to do it and we would rather just do the work sans an authority telling us we can, or making us pay a permission fee, but sometimes that’s needed. Most of the time that organizers get into troubled waters with legal issues is when they let their egos think they are above societies rules and regulations. While it may very well be these same rules and regulations that we need to change, following the current rules are important. Whether we agree with them or not. So take time to look into if you need these said permissions or if you and just do it. You cand find this information when you are in the research phase.

Implement your plan and start making a difference in your community.

8. Be patient. Change takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Keep at it and celebrate your successes along the way. And ALWAYS give props to everyone who has help you accomplish what you set out to do. Remember that it’s easy to start something. It’s a bit more challenging to finish something. And sometimes it challenging to keep others interested in it as well. This is really where a skilled actionist shines.

It’s a good thing to remember that you are dealing with the ebbs and flows of many things tate are just not in your control. Or you may not have the resources to accomplish something you set out to do… DO NOT LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU.
Think of every moment of static as a lesson you needed to learn about a topic you needed to learn about and in the future that will no longer be an issue. And if it is you will have the skills and experience to know how to take care of it.

9. Evaluate and adapt. As you go, take some time to evaluate your project. What’s working? What’s not? What can you do to improve? Be willing to adapt your plan as needed.
IF you schedule weekly or bi-weekly meet ups for your goals then these are great times to review. You can never do it too often so thin about including this concept every step of the way.

After the event I always host a date for a get together with all those who were involved. Make it big deal. Celebrate your accomplishments.
Just as I usually have fun activities or events scheduled for after the meet & greets leading up to the task or initial start of of a longer project, I’ll do the same post the accomplishment. The first part is the evaluation. Ask, IF we had to do that again, what could we have done better? What did we learn?

10. Celebrate your successes!
Take the time to celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how big or small. This will help you stay motivated and keep moving forward.
I talked about this in number 9, but here are a few things to think about.
Everyone loves to be recognized for their contribution. Little rewards can go along way. Mementos of your time together.

Keep in mind that some of your potential professional sponsors can be reserved for this experience. Talk to them about in kind donations to say thank you to those who make your task possible.
There are many ways to say thank you to your team. Hosting a party is right there on the top of the list.

11. Share your story. Once you’ve completed your project, share your story with others.

Here are some additional tips for starting a community action project:

• Start small. Don’t try to take on too much at once. Start with a small, achievable project that you can build on.
• Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan. Be willing to adapt your approach as needed.
• Have fun! Community action should be enjoyable. If you’re not having fun, you’re less likely to stick with it.

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