Community organizing is service work done in order to mobilize people for a common goal. These goals may be charitable (youth centers, food drives), political (voter registration), social (civil rights) and/or religious (boycotts aimed at certain media outlets). The subject of community organizing became an issue in the 2008 presidential election, with regard to Barack Obama's work in church-based community organizing in the 1980s.

Barack Obama's organizing work from 1985 to 1988 included pushing for inner city playgrounds and employment services.The Nation: Obama's Community Roots (April 3, 2007) In the 2008 presidential election, his years as a community organizer were touted by Democrats and belittled by Republicans.Courant.com: Community Organizers Are Jokes, Republicans Say (September 3, 2008) In her speech at the Republican Convention, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said, "a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."MSNBC: Palin's RNC Speech (Time: 36:38)