Martha Mackenzie on community organising and staying accountable to communities Ratio Talks

In this episode, Michael talks to Martha Mackenzie, Executive Director of the UK-based Civic Power Fund. Martha describes what community organising is, how it creates power in communities, and what it means for democracy. Martha also talks about why community power seems to be in vogue in the UK right now. Along the way, Martha mentions:





The work of Jane Mcalevey, an organiser, scholar and author



The ideas of Ella Baker, a largely behind-the-scenes organiser who worked alongside the likes of Martin Luther King Jr.



And Neil Stott, now a professor at the University of Cambridge and previously a leader in the practice of community development




The epilogue between Michael and Pritpal reflects their views, not necessarily Martha's.




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Ratio Talks is produced with the help of sound designer Nik Paget-Tomlinson and creative director Richard De Angelis. The show’s theme song is by Luca Picardi. 






In this series, Michael is exploring community power — what it is, how it’s linked to better outcomes, such as health, and what its limitations are. The series is in collaboration with Pritpal S Tamber, a researcher and consultant on the link between community power and health, and a Non-Executive Director of Ratio.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisisratio.substack.com