Community Action
Crisis and tragedy often ignite a sense of outrage, sorrow and concern which can unite citizens with one another in support of a common cause. When a member of a community becomes a victim of physical or emotional harm, it may serve as a painful reminder that no individual is immune to such tragedy. A highly publicized violent crime often precipitates a desire for community members to take extra measures to protect themselves and their families. During these times of individual, familial, and community suffering, the movement of community activism for victims' rights is often launched.
In order for community activism to be most effective, it must be structured and organized. Specific goals must be outlined; resources must be assembled and utilized effectively; and the progress of the movement should be monitored and managed.
Managing community resources is one of the keys for successful community activism. The marketing of your issue is very important and can be illustrated by the continuum of awareness, comprehension, belief and action (Sunderland, 1988). The community must first be made aware of your issue and then be educated so they understand this issue or problem as it relates to them. Then, through examples of the problem in your community, they must come to believe in, and buy into, your issue. Action or personal involvement in the movement is most likely to occur after awareness, comprehension and belief have been accomplished.
The Process
Paramount to any community effort is the ability to define the objective or goal of the movement. Community activists may focus on changing a state law or instituting a new policy in a public agency. Other community activists may work to locate a missing child, implement "neighborhood watch" programs, or establish local crime prevention efforts.
The initial definition of this goal facilitates the next step in community activism - to decide upon a plan of action. This plan should note what resources are necessary to implement it effectively.
Some of the initial resources necessary in a movement of community activism are:
- Establishing a meeting place;
- Creating a means of financial support; and
- Locating and training volunteers.
The media often provide the greatest means of exposure. A press conference following a local tragedy or crisis can provide a forum for disseminating critical information about what occurred and how the victim's family and community are reacting. A greater degree of public awareness can be achieved through the following:
- Public awareness/outreach event(s);
- Public service announcement(s);
- Press releases;
- Community forum programming;
- Religious publications, such as church newsletters;
- Speakers' bureau;
- Booths and displays; and
- Corporate and business support.
Community Outreach
It is important to maintain exposure in a community by conducting a variety of events including:
- Petition drives;
- Marches;
- Community speak-out meetings;
- Education days or weeks to build awareness of the issue; and
- Continued speaking engagements.
Financial Support
Financial support for community activism can be achieved in a variety of ways. Monetary contributions may be made directly to the victim's family through the establishment of a trust fund, or via the donation of funeral expenses or meals. Local businesses can donate printing services, postage, office materials, or T-shirts in support of a cause. Similarly, a meeting place for community activists may be provided by local organizations. Possibilities to consider for meeting places are:
- Libraries;
- Religious institutions' meeting rooms;
- Civic organizations;
- City facilities;
- Restaurants; and
- Hotel meeting rooms.
It is not only essential to elicit community support and a strong pool of volunteers but, most important, to retain these contributions long term. One suggestion for maintaining this involvement is to help local members feel that they are components of a "larger effort" often nationwide depending on the cause to reduce crime (Leonard, 1991, p. 2).
Along these same lines, networking with similar organizations in neighboring communities provides an opportunity to "learn and share" (Leonard, 1991, p.2). Educating both the public and volunteers about the issues and goals of the movement helps clarify why the purpose and mission are so important and why their continued support is needed.
Volunteers
Community efforts are most often carried through by volunteers who care about the issue and want to become involved in improving their community. There are many jobs and tasks that volunteers can effectively carry out in community activism. Volunteers can be responsible for such tasks as:
- General office duties;
- Media relations and public awareness;
- Fundraising;
- Speakers' bureau;
- Court monitoring;
- Public education;
- Legislative action; and
- Victims' services.
Keeping volunteers occupied with meaningful tasks and acknowledging their labor and efforts will help sustain their commitment, while also increasing the productivity of the movement (National Center for Victims of Crime, 1990, 1992).
The Criminal Justice Services Division of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) conducted the first national study on volunteers serving in support roles to law enforcement agencies in communities around the country. This study clearly determined that community volunteer help is out there. In fact, older or retired volunteers are performing more than 44 law enforcement tasks in agencies all across the country and helping make their communities a safer and better place to live (Sunderland, 1988).
Conclusion
While communities confronted with tragedy may struggle with their sorrow and suffering, this pain often unites members and moves them to take action. Movements of community activism provide some of the most effective tools to eradicate a community crisis, such as locating a missing child, avenging the injustice endured by a victim, and initiating public awareness and community cohesiveness -- some of the strongest tools in the fight to prevent violent crime.
References
Leonard, Richard. (1991). "Maintaining Neighborhood Watch Involvement in Albuquerque." The Catalyst, 11(10): 2.
National Center for Victims of Crime. (1992). "Managing Staff and Volunteers." The Road to Victim Justice: Mapping Strategies for Service. Washington, DC: National Victim Center and National Organization for Victim Assistance.
National Center for Victims of Crime. (1990). Volunteer Leadership, Victims' Rights: Opportunities for Action Series. Arlington, VA: National Center for Victims of Crime.
Sunderland, George. (1988, October). "The Community: A Partner in Crime Prevention." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bibliography
Baldwin, Liz. (1991). "We Were Just Not a Neighborhood." The Catalyst, 11(1): 1-2.
Brown, Lee. (1992, May). "Violent Crime and Community Involvement." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1988). "The Response to Crime is a Complex Process that Involves Citizens as Well as Many Agencies, Levels, and Branches of Government." Report to the Nation on Crime and Justice, 2nd edition. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
Hawkins, David and Richard Catalano, Jr. (1992). Communities that Care. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc.
National Crime Prevention Council. (1993). Finding Funds and Building Support for Community Crime Prevention. Washington, DC: National Crime Prevention Council.
National Crime Prevention Council. (1992). Getting Together to Fight Crime: How Working with Others Can Help You Build a Safer and Better Community. Washington, DC: National Crime Prevention Council.
National Crime Prevention Council. (1995). How Communities Can Bring Up Youth Free from Fear and Violence. Washington, DC: National Crime Prevention Council.
National Center for Victims of Crime. (1997). "Crime Prevention," FYI, Arlington, VA: National Victim Center.
For additional information, please contact:
Center for Community Change
1000 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 342 - 0519
Corporation for National Service
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20525
(202) 606 - 5000
National Association of Town Watch
P.O. Box 303
7 Wynnewood Road, Suite 215
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 649 - 7055
National Crime Prevention Council
1700 K Street, NW
Second Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006-3817
(202) 466 - 6272
National Families in Action
2296 Henderson Mill Road
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30345
(770) 934 - 6364
National Urban League, Inc.
120 Wall Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10021
(212) 558 - 5300
Neighbors Who Care
P.O. Box 16079
Washington, DC 20041
(800) NWC - 7770
(703) 904 - 7311
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Copyright © 1997 by the National Center for Victims of Crime. This information may be freely distributed, provided that it is distributed free of charge, in its entirety and includes this copyright notice.