Episode 175: Organizing From The Ground Up
Although President Barack Obama made being an organizer “sexy,” being an organizer from the ground up is hard work. L. Joy brings the new Executive Director of Community Voices Heard (CVH), Juanita O. Lewis, to the front of the class to discuss her life in organizing, best practices and strategies for organizing, and she shares CVH’s survey and initiative, Follow Black Women.
Homework:
CVH’s Follow Black Women Survey closes February 28, 2022 https://www.cvhpower.org/follow-black-women
Want to learn to organize around issues you are concerned about? Search in your area for organizations that are either already organizing around the issue or see if they offer training.
Our Guest:
Juanita O. Lewis is currently the Executive Director for Community Voices Heard. Juanita joined CVH in 2009 and has played a key role in redeveloping the Hudson Valley region as an organizing center for New York State. Starting as the Yonkers organizer, she worked with members to win an Affordable Housing Ordinance, and Ban the Box for city employees. In partnership with staff, she created and leads the organization's leadership development program called the Ella Baker School for Organizing, which is building the capacity of CVH members. Juanita has also been instrumental to CVH’s housing justice work, leading a 100+ person action and winning the campaign for a Housing Needs Assessment as part of the People’s Agenda for Westchester County. She also led and won critical electoral campaigns in Newburgh and Yonkers resulting in elected officials pushing for better housing and jobs policies.
