Expert consulting for success in community mobilization through a grassroots organizing network, focusing on local leadership development.
Expert consulting for success in community mobilization through a grassroots organizing network, focusing on local leadership development.
Grassroots organizing is a community-driven approach to creating change by empowering everyday people rather than relying on institutions or top-down leadership. It begins at the local level, where individuals and small groups come together around shared concerns and mobilize to influence public policy, raise awareness, or demand justice.
Grassroots organizing has historically played a vital role in civil rights, housing justice, labor movements, environmental campaigns, and more.
Through Community Development and Grassroots Organizing, Unity in Action Upstate will partner with the communities to promote the 5 stages of Community Development.
Phase 1 – Get Started. Communities prepare for action by working to identify and recruit relevant community stakeholders and key decision-makers to the Communities That Care process.
Phase 2 – Get Organized.
Phase 3 – Develop a Profile.
Phase 4 – Create a Plan.
Phase 5 – Implement and Evaluate.
Let’s build stronger communities together. Contact us today to explore how we can collaborate on grassroots initiatives that uplift and empower residents.
At Unity In Action Upstate, our story begins with a woman driven by resilience, vision, and a deep commitment to justice. Ms. Sheila Dogan, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in the early 1960s and raised by her grandparents, experienced firsthand the injustices, inequalities, and barriers that shaped life for many economically disadvantaged families during that era. Rather than being deterred by the systemic inequities around her, she used those experiences as a catalyst for transformation. Ms. Dogan's personal journey from navigating life in a segregated South to becoming a bold leader in community mobilization has informed every step of her work. Her lived experience serves as the foundation for a lifelong commitment to equity, empowerment, and grassroots organizing network development.
Her organizing work began in Spartanburg’s Northside community, where she started her first organizing job with the Stop the Violence initiative. There, she built trust among residents and brought visibility to critical issues of crime, disinvestment, and neglect. To strengthen her skills, Ms. Dogan trained at the Midwest Academy in Chicago, a national leader in strategic grassroots training. She returned home with a renewed sense of purpose and a powerful toolkit for community transformation that laid the foundation for the City of Spartanburg’s largest-ever community revitalization.
(Spartanburg News Article Link Below)
With over 20 years of leadership experience, Ms. Dogan has made her mark across sectors including nonprofit administration, community development, political strategy, business management, and public safety. But her heart remains with the people. She is passionate about helping individuals think creatively, reclaim their power, and take control of their lives.
Ms. Dogan is a true testament to the power of collective action. Her leadership proves that when communities are informed, organized, and resourced, they can shape their own futures. Through Unity In Action Upstate, she continues to invest in local leadership development for the next generation of neighborhood leaders—offering tools, training, and support to help them thrive.
At Unity In Action Upstate, we believe that lasting change begins at the grassroots, and we are proud to have a founder who not only believes that truth but lives it every day.
2008 – North Carolina General Election: Successfully coordinated the largest community mobilization effort in North Carolina, contributing to the historic victory of Democratic nominee Barack Obama. This marked the first time since 1976 that North Carolina voted Democratic in a presidential election, with Obama winning by a margin of 0.32%.
2009 – Charlotte Mayoral Election: Led the grassroots organizing network strategy for Anthony Foxx, who became Charlotte’s youngest mayor and the city's second African American mayor. His win also marked the first Democratic mayoral victory since Harvey Gantt. In 2013, Foxx was nominated by President Obama to serve as U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
2010 – Florida Public Service Union School Board Race: Spearheaded the GOTV effort for key school board races, resulting in the election of union-supported candidates. This campaign also made history by achieving union recognition without an election—a groundbreaking achievement in labor organizing.
2012 – North Carolina General Election: Once again coordinated the largest GOTV campaign in the state, mobilizing tens of thousands of voters. Despite a narrow loss—Mitt Romney won North Carolina by 2.04%—the campaign set new benchmarks for grassroots voter engagement and turnout infrastructure.
2009 – Political Action Contributions: Successfully increased member contributions to Political Action Committees (PACs) by over 30%, significantly enhancing the organization’s political influence and local leadership development capacity.
From leading door-to-door outreach to coordinating large-scale mobilizations, our founder’s strategies have been recognized as a replicable model for communities seeking real, sustainable solutions. Her approach has not only addressed immediate public safety concerns but has also laid the foundation for long-term community development and civic engagement.
Greenville, S.C., USA
unityinactionupstate@mail.com sheila@unityinactionupstate.org
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.