ABSTRACT
Accountability is especially important when change agents are engaged in multi-issue organizing or working in coalition with diverse groups representing a variety of constituencies and actors. To “meet people where they are” has always been a mantra for organizers, social workers and the like. This can apply to any level of organizing—organizing neighborhood people, social services consumers, or organizing people in coalitions. Whether one is talking about organizing individuals affected by an issue and bringing them into an organization or collective of people, or building a formal, broad-based coalition with other organizations, it is useful to consider some of the core values and aspirations of organizing. These guideposts—empowerment, accountability, relationship, and transformation—can serve as a moral compass for community organizers. Community practitioners, such as social workers, have discussed extensively on the nature of relationships and partnerships between practitioners and constituents.
