Welcome to the third episode of our new “Guide to Good” series, where we explore transformative ideas shaping our world. Community organizers play a crucial role in building collective power to address systemic issues that affect us all. Judith Le Blanc, a proud citizen of the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma and the Executive Director of the Native Organizers Alliance (NOA), joins Brandolon Barnett, Head of Innovation and Philanthropy at Giving Compass, to share insights on the value of Indigenous frameworks in organizing, what it takes to build collective power and lead lasting change, and why donors should support grassroots led movements.

How Collective Power Leads Lasting Change

Many of the pressing issues facing Native communities connect to larger national challenges, including environmental justice as well as access to high-quality healthcare and education. NOA, which partners with Alliance for a Just Society, provides training and organizing networks for Indigenous leaders to advance solutions to these challenges. 

NOA’s focus on building capacity within tribal leaders and communities creates a sustainable platform for addressing systemic challenges. This grassroots approach to building collective power is effective. Le Blanc talks about changes the group has helped lead, including the campaign to get U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland appointed. Secretary Haaland is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary.

Le Blanc explains that the appointment created the conditions for structural reform, including a historic 200 co-management projects between tribal nations and federal agencies. 

Connecting History and the Horizon

When investing in positive change, whether it be as an organizer or a donor, Le Blanc says most people concentrate on what they want in the future, their horizon. But reflection on the past is important too.

Recognizing the connection between what has happened in the past, what is happening now, and the impact of our actions on the future is central to Indigenous values. Le Blanc wants to see more people bring this framework of the time continuum into grassroots organizing and collective power building.  “The way we conceptualize power-building in the 21st century has to be with an Indigenous framework. We are all in relation. Everything that we do in our own communities has an impact far beyond the immediate,” she explains. 

There’s a connection between social justice movements as well. Le Blanc discusses the ways the 2016 protests to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation were informed by the Black Lives Matter movement, the fast food workers Fight for $15 movement, and the DREAMers movement. “All of these movements were in a flow, creating new norms of social struggle…of how to show our collective power,” says Le Blanc.

Seek Guidance from People with Lived Experiences

Le Blanc also highlights the need for inclusive social movements that prioritize Native voices and experiences. Too often, she says, people invested in creating change “parachute into a community” and make funding decisions without guidance from local people.

By centering the perspectives of Native communities, funders and social movements can better address the nuanced challenges faced by Indigenous and all peoples. 

As investments are made to create large, structural changes, it’s critical to build solutions that will stand the test of time. Le Blanc’s experiences and expertise are reminders that change-making efforts need innovative thinking but also should consider whether the solution is actually meeting the needs of the community it aims to serve, expanding the possibilities for all people, and factoring in the impact to future generations. By supporting and amplifying collective power building, we can honor the wisdom and experiences of Indigenous communities while contributing to a more equitable and just society.

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