Communities Organized for Public Service
Encyclopedia
Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) is a coalition of non-partisan, grassroots community pressure groups based in San Antonio, Texas
. It is an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation
(IAF), a group dedicated to grassroots
community organizing
that was developed by Saul Alinsky
in Chicago
during the 1930s. Founded in 1974, COPS’ mission is to secure specific, concrete standard of living
improvements for neighborhoods traditionally neglected by city leaders.
Though advocating primarily for the interests of lower-middle class
and working class
Mexican-Americans
on the city’s west and south sides, COPS avoids the label of
civil rights
organization, instead projecting itself as an agent for fair and equitable
distribution of city resources and services. COPS success in this endeavor to date is
remarkable, amounting to over one billion dollars in group-sponsored projects and
initiatives.
interest groups in the greater community that can lead to the realization of goals
defined within discrete neighborhoods. On the other hand, relational organizing leads
to initiatives that benefit the larger community, such as economic development
, aquifer
protection, infrastructure development, and improvement of educational opportunities.
Inherent in this process is the development of local leaders, who work to express the
values and interests of the membership. The role of IAF and COPS organizers is to
identify natural community leaders and stimulate their growth. In this sense, COPS
and the IAF represent an impulse for the practice of genuine democratic participation
in the American political system.
, professing deep
beliefs in family, community, and religion. However, their actions, especially in
the early days of the organization, were often confrontational. On numerous occasions,
they faced off with the city council, other politicians or functionaries, and business
leaders to demand that these mainly Anglo elites address the group’s concerns. C.O.P.S.
organizers carefully planned the actions for effect and insured that media was present
to witness the events.
As C.O.P.S. achieved success in its initiatives and gained access to political
power, it modified its tactics, preferring to approach city and business leaders
in a less dramatic fashion. However, one feature of C.O.P.S. methods that remains
is the accountability session, in which the group confronts local politicians and
holds them to account for their failure or success in keeping promises.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. It is an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation
Industrial Areas Foundation
The Industrial Areas Foundation is a national community organizing network established in 1940 by Saul Alinsky. IAF provides training and consultation, furnishes organizers, and develops national strategy for its affiliated broad-based community organizations. There are currently 57 IAF...
(IAF), a group dedicated to grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
community organizing
Community organizing
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence...
that was developed by Saul Alinsky
Saul Alinsky
Saul David Alinsky was a Jewish American community organizer and writer. He is generally considered to be the founder of modern community organizing, and has been compared in Playboy magazine to Thomas Paine as being "one of the great American leaders of the nonsocialist left." He is often noted...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
during the 1930s. Founded in 1974, COPS’ mission is to secure specific, concrete standard of living
Standard of living
Standard of living is generally measured by standards such as real income per person and poverty rate. Other measures such as access and quality of health care, income growth inequality and educational standards are also used. Examples are access to certain goods , or measures of health such as...
improvements for neighborhoods traditionally neglected by city leaders.
Though advocating primarily for the interests of lower-middle class
Lower middle class
In developed nations across the world, the lower middle class is a sub-division of the greater middle class. Universally the term refers to the group of middle class households or individuals who have not attained the status of the upper middle class associated with the higher realms of the middle...
and working class
Mexican-Americans
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
on the city’s west and south sides, COPS avoids the label of
civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
organization, instead projecting itself as an agent for fair and equitable
distribution of city resources and services. COPS success in this endeavor to date is
remarkable, amounting to over one billion dollars in group-sponsored projects and
initiatives.
Goals and Methods
One of its stated aims is to create give and take relationships between diverseinterest groups in the greater community that can lead to the realization of goals
defined within discrete neighborhoods. On the other hand, relational organizing leads
to initiatives that benefit the larger community, such as economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, aquifer
protection, infrastructure development, and improvement of educational opportunities.
Inherent in this process is the development of local leaders, who work to express the
values and interests of the membership. The role of IAF and COPS organizers is to
identify natural community leaders and stimulate their growth. In this sense, COPS
and the IAF represent an impulse for the practice of genuine democratic participation
in the American political system.
Membership and Tactics
C.O.P.S. members typically present as social conservativesSocial conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
, professing deep
beliefs in family, community, and religion. However, their actions, especially in
the early days of the organization, were often confrontational. On numerous occasions,
they faced off with the city council, other politicians or functionaries, and business
leaders to demand that these mainly Anglo elites address the group’s concerns. C.O.P.S.
organizers carefully planned the actions for effect and insured that media was present
to witness the events.
As C.O.P.S. achieved success in its initiatives and gained access to political
power, it modified its tactics, preferring to approach city and business leaders
in a less dramatic fashion. However, one feature of C.O.P.S. methods that remains
is the accountability session, in which the group confronts local politicians and
holds them to account for their failure or success in keeping promises.