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History

Our Origin

Our sister organization, Community Change, was founded in 1968 by leaders of the civil rights, labor, and anti-poverty movements. We were born into the chaos and heartbreak that followed the deaths of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, as a living legacy to the senator. Our founders’ vision and their charge—to build power through grassroots leadership, to challenge the government to be a force for good, to focus on poor people, especially poor people of color—are just as relevant today as at the time of our birth.

For over five decades, Community Change has focused our work on strengthening the field of community organizing. Community Change launched its advocacy arm in 2003 to add political power to our movement.

In 2018, Community Change marked 50 years of organizing and advocacy.

5 Organizers in 5 Decades

To mark our 50th Anniversary in 2018, we spoke with five organizers whose stories captured our evolution.

Watch their stories

Decades of Change

All our work takes place within the backdrop of the past half century of turmoil and change in the country.

The Power of Many

In 2008, we wrote about the many people and organizations that built power with us in Community Community Change's first 40 years.

Read More

CHANGEWIRE STORY

Continuing the unfinished work

of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy

Watch the video on ChangeWire
The 'Home Is Here' coalition gathers at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Activists make a final stop at Speaker Boehner's office, but he doesn't open the door. They engage in a peaceful civil disobedience in front of his office, holding hands and chanting.
41 immigrant rights leaders and community members were arrested as they peacefully marched to protest the House GOP's inaction on a path to citizenship for undocumented families.