THE ORGANIZERS' FORUM -- committed solely to the practice and work of organizing -- was born with the notion that there was a need for a forum and a place for organizers to come together to share and reflect on their work. The mission of the Organizers Forum is: to strengthen grassroots organizations by increasing capacity and stability of these democratic structures, to link organizing networks, and to improve on the skills and strategies employed by both community and labor organizers. 

To build the capacity of an organization it is essential that organizers be trained, have perspective on their own growth as well as perspective on the greater movement for social and economic justice.  The success of community and labor organizations is contingent on effective and stable organizers who are also connected to a wider vision that aids the organization in collaborating and developing working alliances with other organizing efforts.  

To this end, the Organizers’ Forum hosts twice yearly Organizer Dialogues, bringing together experienced constituency-based organizers to look honestly and critically at our work, learn new skills and approaches, and be challenged by organizers who are doing exceptional or innovative organizing. To date, there have been 14 Dialogues attended by hundreds of both community and labor organizers from both the USA and Canada.


An International Dialogue in Australia


September 21-27, 2008

Our fall 2008 International Dialogue will be located in Australia where we will meet with organizers in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.  There are exciting changes and developments that are currently taking place in Australia.  There is a newly elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of the Labor Party.  Rudd replaced John Howard and is making modest but progressive changes.  The economy is robust. Labor unions have challenges as we do, and although they admit to learning from our labor unions, they are also quick to point out that their models of organizing are adapted to an Australian culture.  There are community organizing efforts as well, and exciting activism among the Aborigines people.

We plan to travel with approximately 15-20 participants, and we will strive to have a mix of both community and labor organizers/leaders from a variety of community organizations and unions.  We look for participants to meet in Sydney, pay their own travel and visa costs in addition to a program fee. The Organizers Forum will pay for food, lodging, and ground transportation. 

If you are interested in applying to attend this dialogue, we invite you to apply by sending an email of interest to Barbara Bowen, National Coordinator of the Organizers' Forum.  Please respond no later than July 8 because there are a limited number of spaces.