Through a series of training sessions, clergy, churchgoers, and community leaders become steeped in the fundamentals of community organizing: conducting political and power analysis; building public power through structured actions; establishing intentional relationships as a basis for power; examining institutional relationships and how they affect communities; and developing relationships with other congregations who are actively working on issues in the public arena.

In 1991, RCNO made a conscious institutional decision to focus its efforts primarily on African Americans after observing the interests of blacks being neglected, marginalized and/or under-appreciated by mainstream organizing networks. Our training is also specially designed to meet the needs of people of faith who have not previously had many opportunities to participate in community organizing as a public ministry.

Agents of Change

Churches that have fewer than 200 members predominate in black communities. These smaller churches are much more likely to be attended by members who live in the surrounding neighborhood. With their immediate connection to the people and institutions in traditional black neighborhoods, small and mid-sized churches are uniquely positioned to serve as agents of change for low-income African Americans. They are on the front lines, and most in need of the capacity building and training that RCNO provides.

Additionally, RCNO's groups are not persuaded by one political party or another. Our participants work all sides of the political spectrum to accomplish their policy goals. We also believe that local communities must organize themselves into regional and statewide networks to protect their interests. Small movements are built one by one, and state policy is impacted through the structure of RCNO regional affiliates, who work together across denominations to achieve mutually beneficial policy victories.