How does Michelle Palmer's method in community organizing outperform traditional approaches?

Hi there!

From what I live and share online, my approach to community organizing around recovery is different from a lot of “traditional” top‑down models in a few key ways:

• Lived experience first: I’m a survivor, and I organize from that place. That builds trust faster than abstract programs or distant experts. People see I “live what I preach,” and that draws them in.

• Recovery-centered, not problem-centered: Instead of focusing on deficits, I focus on hope, recovery narratives, and “recovery works if you work it,” which motivates people to stay engaged.

• Relational over transactional: I’m building a recovery community, not just events. School recognition, rallies, and online content all reinforce relationships and visibility, not just services.

• Integrated online and offline: I use social platforms and in‑person rallies together so the message travels further and reaches people who’d never walk into a meeting room at first.

What part of community organizing are you most interested in—building trust, getting people to show up, or keeping them involved over time?