Building People Power: Why Mobilization Alone Won't Solve Our Political Crisis

In the face of our current political challenges, it is tempting to feel like you have to keep moving to the streets in protest. But the truth is, simply getting together for protests or rallies is not enough. As social justice activists and nonprofit leaders, we must dig deeper. Our aim should be to create lasting change by building strong community ties. This goes beyond temporary mobilization; it involves showing people the power they hold and how they can utilize it for a fairer future. We do this through community organizing.

Understanding the Limitations of Mobilization

Mobilization often revolves around quick actions—like protests, rallies, or town hall meetings—that can generate excitement and visibility. These are critical for movement building and can help to escalate campaigns, create a crisis for elected officials thereby urging them to act, and energize the people. However, these fleeting moments are not enough to advance real change -- especially in an era of authoritarianism where many of our elected officials have demonstrated that they are more afraid of pissing off Trump than they are of the crowd of people mobilizing near their offices. Indeed, during the budget reconciliation process millions of people across our country have shown up at protests and rallies; yet, Republicans still passed an egregious bill that will harm our communities and nation. Similar dynamics have taken place with regards to immigration, DOGE, the dismantling of the federal government, political appointees, and, and, and...

We are protesting, we are sending emails, we are making phone calls, we are showing up at the rallies and by and large we are being ignored. Many feel disillusioned, doubting that their voices matter. We must change course or risk burning out our people, and being left with a dwindling, reactive movement. It's time to shift towards long-term building and strategic community organizing.

Rev. Nelson, the Chief Political Strategist at Transforming Change is leading a power building training with residents in Cincinnati, OH.

The Power of Community Organizing

Community organizing isn't just about assembling people; it’s about crafting a collective vision. It's about politicizing the people so that they can better understand what is causing their pain and how they can join in the movement to build a society that works better for us all. It is about building deeper relationships with our community and demystifying the political process. Through this type of engagement, people begin to recognize their own strength and the importance of their contribution to social issues. Relationships built in this way lead to shared goals and actionable campaigns. When community members have ownership over their initiatives, they become champions for change, ensuring that their voices are heard.

Build People Power to Take Power

The reality is, much of what is happening across our nation right now is the result of an authoritarian leader whose power is unchecked by Congress or the courts. We are living out our founders worst fears. They created the three branches of government in large part to safe guard us from drifting towards a monarchy or dictatorship. Unfortunately, those whose job it is to reign in, and if needed remove from power, the president are cowering and colluding with him instead. We have to take power back from the oligarchs and elect leaders who are truly governing for we the people. The only way to take power is to build people power.

To build power we have to shift from mobilizing actions to organizing actions. Organizing actions include canvassing, house meetings, trainings, community town halls. and strategy planning.

As we build, we will be better positioned to sustain our efforts and we will be ready for perhaps one of the most consequential mobilizing efforts in our lifetime -- the 2026 midterm election. Let’s dedicate ourselves to this crucial work, understanding that lasting change rests on community power and empowerment. Together, we can reshape our political landscape, ensuring it serves all people.

POWER BUILDING TRAINING