The Community Action Committee (CAC) at Harvard's Institute of Politics offers a wide variety of both educational and hands-on participatory experiences for members. The goal of CAC is to educate members about community organizing through theory, historical case studies, and guest speakers, and then to use that knowledge to not only collaborate with the broader Harvard community but also extend our impact to the Cambridge/Boston area and even engage with state and national-level priorities. Throughout the semester, members will have the chance to interact with a number of experienced community organizers who will share their expertise with membership. At the same time, members will also be working on hands-on projects with community partners and non-profit organizations to put the principles of community organizing that they are learning into practice.
This semester, CAC members will join the IOP’s Campaigns and Advocacy Program in attending weekly advocacy and organizing training sessions. Members will also have the opportunity to work in small teams with community organizations on a variety of issues depending on where interests in activism lie. Previous projects have focused on topics ranging from criminal justice to health policy. CAC thus holds a unique place within the IOP at the intersection of politics and community organizing, providing a space for Harvard students to learn directly from community leaders while also giving these students the chance to collaborate with each other on causes about which they are deeply passionate.