As the largest grassroots community organization in New Hampshire, GSOP unites to strengthen community members’ voices in decisions that shape their communities by taking issue-oriented actions. By doing so, GSOP broadens and deepens our own organizations’ leadership, builds community, and promotes a just society.
The organization strives to create communities in which residents accept, respect, and value one another; justice, equity, and the democratic process are upheld in all interactions.
We unite to strengthen our voice in decisions that affect our communities by taking action on issues such poor housing, failing schools, barriers to citizenship, unjust working conditions, and costly health care that put our neighborhoods at risk. We work together for a just society.
For GSOP, the ways we achieve social change–increasing the ability of traditionally disenfranchised people to impact decisions affecting their lives – is as important as the reforms achieved; the methods used to create the change are as important as the change created. GSOP believes that every person has the right to be included in the decision-making processes within their community.
Relationships and leadership development are key elements in GSOP’s work.
We use community organizing as our main tactic, recruiting leaders through face to face meetings in local congregations, housing developments, and community centers, and through knocking on doors. We conduct leadership training to create a shared culture of engagement in civic life and a shared set of skills, including how to research key issues and approaches.