You’ve moved to a new country and want to build community. How can you become a respected organizer?

2 Identify your niche

Once you have a general sense of the context, you can find your niche as an organizer. What are the issues that you are passionate about and have some experience or expertise in? What are the gaps or needs that you can address or contribute to? What are the goals and strategies that you want to pursue or propose? You can identify your niche by reflecting on your own interests, skills, and values, as well as by listening to the voices and stories of the people you want to organize with.

3 Build your credibility

To become a respected organizer, you need to build your credibility with your potential allies, partners, and supporters. You need to show that you are trustworthy, competent, and committed. You can do this by being respectful, transparent, and accountable in your interactions with others. You can also demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and achievements by sharing relevant information, resources, and stories. You can also seek feedback, advice, and endorsement from other organizers who have more experience or influence than you.

4 Grow your network

As an organizer, you need to grow your network of contacts, connections, and relationships. You need to reach out to people who share your vision, values, and interests, and invite them to join or support your cause. You can do this by using various channels and methods, such as social media, email, phone, or face-to-face. You can also attend or host events, workshops, or meetings where you can meet and engage with new people. You can also collaborate or partner with other groups or organizations that have similar or complementary goals or strategies.

5 Develop your leadership

To become a respected organizer, you need to develop your leadership skills and qualities. You need to be able to inspire, motivate, and empower others to take action and make change. You can do this by articulating a clear and compelling vision, mission, and message for your cause. You can also create and implement a realistic and effective plan, budget, and timeline for your activities and campaigns. You can also delegate tasks, responsibilities, and roles to your team members, and provide them with guidance, support, and recognition.

6 Evaluate your impact

As an organizer, you need to evaluate your impact and progress as a way to learn, improve, and celebrate. You need to measure and document the outcomes and outputs of your work, such as the number of people you reached, mobilized, or influenced, the changes you made or contributed to, and the challenges you faced or overcame. You can do this by using various tools and techniques, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or stories. You can also share your results and feedback with your stakeholders, donors, and supporters, and acknowledge their contributions and achievements.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?