They were concerned about public and private retrenchment from their communities, and the ongoing institutional racism that ignored the dignity and humanity of their congregants.

In the absence of bold national leadership that might have addressed racial disparities and the need to revitalize poor communities, RCNO's founders determined that movement building was needed to bring some measure of attention, respect and social justice to neglected African American neighborhoods. As a result, they created a model for isolated churches and community groups to come together in a purposeful faith-based learning network that would extend their ministry beyond church walls to provide critical community services, while also building political power to make lasting policy change.

Today, RCNO Training Center instructs clergy and lay persons in the art of community organizing, public policy formation and program development. We accomplish our work through national and regional conferences and mentoring relationships, and through the development of regional and statewide public policy initiatives coordinated through our staff and affiliates. RCNO also serves as an intermediary for our affiliates, offering organizational, program and resource development assistance.

A National Network

Originally based in Philadelphia, RCNO Training Center has been headquartered in Los Angeles since 1997 under the guidance of our CEO and national director Rev. Eugene Williams III, an associate pastor and former union organizer.

Our board of directors and staff consists of clergy and community members from South Los Angeles to Southeastern Philadelphia. Our affiliates are comprised of 12 faith and community-based agencies in five states (Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois and Pennsylvania) in urban and low-income African American communities where we concentrate most of our work. Our affiliates represent more than 100 congregations and agencies working both locally and regionally to protect and revitalize their communities.

"The mission of RCNO Training Center is to build the capacity of clergy and lay leaders in small to mid-sized congregations to participate in faith-based community organizing to protect and revitalize the communities in which they live, work and worship."