Organizing is a tool used to mobilize constituents with a common goal in mind. Organizing consists of building a base of members from those core members who agree with the message to those who need convincing (Jane URL). The next step is to “empower people to solve their own problems” (Mueller, 2004). Following Ella Baker’s model, organizing should ask its members “What is our purpose here? What are we here to accomplish?” (Payne, 1989). From there, organizations should give its members the tools and the platform to follow their own initiatives.

I particularly favor Ella Baker’s model of horizontal leadership or “group-centered leadership” (Payne, 1989) which is a concept of “leadership as teaching” (Payne, 1989). Ella Baker’s concept of organizing can also be referred to as “participatory democracy” and it encourages all members to be involved in the decision-making process as well as the implementation of initiatives (Mueller, 2004). Organizations who follow this model have seen success and individual growth of its members such as Students Deserve.