From Kitchen Tables to Community Action: Organizing to End Gender-Based Violence in Rural Areas

Imagine the early days of the movement to end gender-based violence in rural areas—when the seeds of community care and justice were sown around kitchen tables, driven by a shared commitment to support and transform communities. While the setting may have shifted from kitchen tables to office spaces, the guiding question remains the same: What does our rural community need? Effective organizing doesn’t impose solutions; it grows them from within.

Successful organizing relies on building trust and fostering connections. It’s an extension of what many advocates already do: meeting people where they are, finding ways to connect different perspectives, building networks, and filling in the gaps that may exist in awareness. Organizing in a rural setting comes with unique considerations. Rural communities often operate within well-defined boundaries, with closely held norms that can make new ideas feel like a challenge to long-held beliefs. But rural communities are not a monolith. Understanding your community’s dynamics, power structures, and existing efforts is essential to creating strategies that resonate. What works in one town might face resistance in another.\

Education is a crucial component of effective organizing, but it doesn’t always happen in formal settings. Collaborate with peer educators— teachers, healthcare workers, clergy, social workers, and even local celebrities. Their voices carry weight and can help spread awareness about gender-based violence in ways that are accessible to the community. As people begin to see the connections between the issues and their own lives, they are more likely to get involved. The goal of education in organizing is twofold: to empower individuals with the knowledge they need to act and to create a broader cultural shift in how issues are perceived and addressed.

At its core, community organizing is about effecting change. Yes, providing services for survivors is critical, but advocating for social justice is just as important. Organizing means not only supporting survivors but also working to dismantle the conditions that allow gender-based violence to continue. Without this broader focus, cycles of violence will persist unchecked.

As you plan your organizing efforts, consider:

• How does your community view your program?

• Who do you hope to bring into your work?

• What challenges do you face as a rural organization?

• What organizing strategies have you tried or plan to try?

• How are these strategies focused on survivor safety, social justice, or both?

  
  

Adapted from “From the Ground Up: Strategies for Organizing in Rural Communities,” Praxis International, 2005

Stand Up and Be Counted: Nonprofit Tips to Get Out the Vote

Contrary to what many think, nonprofit organizations can take action to Get Out the Vote. With the big day just weeks away, it’s crucial toVnavigate the election season wisely. Although nonprofits have specific restrictions on how they can be involved in the electoral process based on Federal and state law, there are still ways to make a meaningful

impact. Although you can’t endorse a candidate or political party, you may be able to organize nonpartisan voter registration drives or give staff paid time off to vote. These actions can empower your community without crossing legal boundaries.

Now is not the time to sit on the sidelines!

Check out these resources to help navigate the election season while keeping your activities 501(c)(3) compliant:

Bolder Advocacy: Offers support and resources on the laws and

regulations governing nonprofit communication on policy issues.

National Council of Non-profits: Provides extensive materials about

nonprofit advocacy, including federal, state, and local laws governing

nonprofits.

And don’t forget: rules governing nonprofits do not apply to individuals. Anyone may work on political campaigns outside work hours, or by using available leave.

Survivor voices matter at the polls:

The Survivors’ Agenda Network is organizing as a force for structural

change this election season. Learn more about the Survivors’ Agenda

and their Voter Registration toolkit here: https://survivorsvote.org/

Ask Praxis: How can rural advocacy programs build relationships and trust with marginalized communities in their service area?

When you realize your outreach isn’t reaching everyone in your community, it’s easy to slip into self-doubt. Remember, strengthening relationships with marginalized folks is not achieved with one act. Drawing on reliable, time-tested community organizing strategies is a

great approach.

Start by showing up and helping to solve problems. Even if the issues are not directly related to gender-based violence, being present and tackling challenges alongside the community helps lay the groundwork for trust. You want your program to be a good citizen. You want you work to not just be accepted but supported and valued by the community.

Focus on solutions that come from within your community. Collaborate with formal and informal leaders, such as those in farming, 4-H, outdoor recreation, and tribal or county fairs, and dedicate the necessary time and resources to build long-lasting connections. Don’t

be afraid to think outside the box and have fun!

Get familiar with the demographic makeup of your service area. Understanding marginalized communities' unique dynamics, histories, and priorities will help guide your approach. Humility, compassion, honesty, and creativity are essential.

Here are some areas to reflect on as you strengthen your approach:

• Representation: Is your board, staff, and volunteer pool reflective of the people you seek to serve? If not, why? If so, are their voices centered in programming and operations? Are they in leadership positions?

• Language Access: Do you have a language access plan? It is important that services and materials are available in peoples’ first language and qualified interpreters are readily accessible.

• Support and Collaboration: Does your program support the work of culturally specific services and/or community leaders? Are they involved with your organization? Do you co-sponsor events and lend expertise to each other?

• Community Input: Have you sought input from people and organizations from marginalized communities? Have you engaged them in interviews, surveys, and focus groups?

For additional guidance on strengthening outreach and building meaningful relationships with marginalized communities, check out culturally specific TA providers. Organizations like Activating Change, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, Esperanza United, Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, Monsoon Asian and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity, Tahirih Justice Center, Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community, and others offer valuable resources tailored to the unique needs of diverse communities.