When you want to change your country, start by changing your community. This is the underlying principle of the Center for Community Change (CCC), one of the well-known community building and development organizations in the United States.

Its purpose are three-fold, namely:

  • Assist in the establishment and development of community organizations;
  • Bring positive attention to poverty-related national issues; and
  • Aid in ensuring that government programs address community needs.

Indeed, the community is the organization's main focus in the conviction that success in the community level can be parlayed into success on the state level and even beyond.

Furthermore, the CCC has programs and projects designed to empower low-income people especially in communities of color (i.e., African-Americans, Hispanics). These programs and projects are usually community-driven in the sense that their formulation, implementation, and evaluation involved the communities themselves.

The rationale: Those most affected by the injustices of society on the economic, political, and social levels have the best knowledge in identifying the crucial changes for their empowerment.