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Community Listening and Organizing

Creating "Public Power Spaces"

We describe our work as creating “public power spaces” through learning, leadership and community building activities. These are not neutral spaces – they are rich in values about community, accountability, and respect. People engage in public life as they build relationships with others in their community, learn and celebrate together, raise interests, concerns, hopes and issues, and experience their own power. Our work is not limited to those who live in the housing we own and manage. We reach out to the broader community.

 
Youth Listening Session

Hope’s Community Listening Model

A core organizing strategy has been our Community Listening. We take on major Community Listening projects, engaging community leaders in developing the projects, designing reports and follow-up action. Over 1400 adults and youth have participated in dialogues. The themes emerging from our work with people shape new opportunities and future possibilities. 

 
Leadership Training

Understanding Power and Strategy

Hope creates opportunities for people to learn about power that impacts their everyday lives, including areas like:

  • Power analysis
  • Effective public life
  • Everyday leadership
  • Effective negotiation with schools, employers, community leaders, etc.
  • Active research – getting information you need

Some Examples

 
Franklin Ave Public Library

Community Issue

Hope organizers worked with community members to maintain neighborhood library and learning center services threatened by budget cuts. Hope organizers worked with community leaders to leverage a commitment from the Library Board to operate a interim library site on Franklin Avenue for 18 months while the Franklin Community Library building was renovated.

 
COFI Training

Learning in Partnership

Hope continues to build relationships with other organizations for collective learning and action. For example, Hope worked with six partner organizations to bring more than 50 people together for a day of learning with COFI (Community Organizing and Family Issues), a Chicago-based parent leadership organization.

 
Community Group

Crime and Safety Issues

Community members coming together to hold public institutions accountable provides major opportunities for teamwork and learning about effective action. Over the years Hope has worked with many groups of residents and neighbors to meet effectively with top police officials and negotiate about ongoing response to violence and illegal drug use and police respect for the community.