CO's Promise: "Liberty, Equality and Community" The community organizing movement is a largely American phenomenon. It is based deeply in our democratic values. It is, in the view of its participants and practitioners, the members, leaders and organizers of mass organizations, the major hope for the building of democracy in our country. It comes directly to grips with the two central problems of our time: economic and social inequality on the one hand and the alienation of the people from civic life on the other. It is growing both numerically and in its self-confidence. If it continues and avoids some of the mistakes of the past it offers the promise of becoming a major new force in American public life. The likelihood of this happening is increased both by the continuing economic and spiritual crisis of our times and by the growing consciousness, confidence and competence of the organizers and organizations who now are part of the movement. The movement is 'outside the system' in the sense that it is creating new forms of participation and power in public life. It is 'inside the system' in the sense that it is firmly rooted in the American democratic tradition and uses the Constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people as the basis for its organizing work. Those of us who are in the movement imagine ourselves to be in the great tradition of American democracy. Our hopes and dreams are based on our confidence in the people as a whole to govern themselves. We have seen nothing in past or present experiences to persuade us that any other approach will bring us closer to liberty, equality and community.48

- Mike Miller, Organize Training Center

CO is a serious and effective but imperfect strategy. Those involved in the field measure their chances for future success on the basis of what they have experienced - learning from trial and error, taking it step-by-step, building for the long term. CO's work is in distressed communities and with disenfranchised constituents - a "school of hard knocks" if there ever was one. With resources in short supply and no magic bullets to be found, CO's practitioners can have few false illusions. You do it or you don't, and you try again until you've succeeded.

CO groups have made enormous progress against long odds in a range of areas. The progress is measured in people with power capable of shaping their futures and in tangible, meaningful policy and program benefits. This progress is likely to continue and spread if for no other reason than the determination, grit and intelligence of those within CO who are dedicated to its success. And the vision to which they are dedicated is America as it was meant to be.