COMMUNITY WORKS

“While politicians in Washington are fighting partisan battles, we are finding common ground.”

Group of diverse people posing outside a building with white walls, wearing colorful t-shirts and some wearing hats, smiling for a photo.

Our Mission and Impact

The Community Works (CWorks) mission is to build relationships and trust across political differences by working together to address concrete local needs.

Local CWorks Chapters collaborate with civic, faith-based, school, and other community groups for hands-on projects that strengthen their rural and working class communities. So far CWorks has entered into over 800 local collaborations on close to 1,000 events.

Activities have included road & river clean-ups, home repair, food distribution, diaper drives, kids’ crafts activities, hurricane relief, smoke alarm installations, IT and Tax Prep assistance, an Easter Egg Hunt, and a STEM Summer Camp.

Colorful logo with a house, truck, and community supplies, surrounded by the text 'Community Works Together' and 'Community Works'.

Our Chapters

The Latest

  • A historic train depot building with a sign that reads "Emporia Train Depot," situated on train tracks in a rural Virginia setting under a partly cloudy sky.

    Nonpartisan Community Action Leads to Results

    "People in rural communities really want to work together, and we're tired of all the national division and nastiness. We are neighbors who've raised our kids together, and we just don't see each other as the devil. So anything that helps people in our community, we're ready to do it together."

    Listen here
  • A man in a beige t-shirt with a community work logo is opening a package at a table. Two women are visible in the background near a garage door, one walking outside and another standing inside.

    From the Daily Yonder

    “It’s not a matter of persuading people to our political point of view, it’s a matter of rebuilding trust with neighbors."

    Our National Director, Meredith Dean, and local leader, Shanelle Carr, talk to The Daily Yonder about how Community Works is collaborating with organizations on non-political efforts to address local needs.

    Read More
  • A group of five people, including two adults and three children, standing in a room filled with toys and decorations. One adult is holding a small black object, and another adult has a red bucket labeled "Firehouse Subs" and "Kosher Pickle Spear". The children are playing with toys, one holding a basketball. The room has a light green wall with patches, a patterned curtain, and a shelf filled with toys.

    CWorks in the News

    From the Cardinal News: Any way you look at it, Community Works is working.

    “Community Works is the best idea I’ve heard for how Democrats can gain traction in rural areas.” ~Rick Boucher, former Appalachian VA Congressman (of 28 years)

    Read More
  • Flyer for a community program titled 'Building Trust with Community Works' with Meredith Dean. The flyer features a woman smiling outdoors on the left, a community logo at the top right, a QR code, and event details including date, time, and registration link.

    Building Trust with Community Works

    Join our on-the-ground work to build trust and reach out across divides in our rural communities. Take the first step towards joining or starting a local chapter of your own.

    Register here
  • Group of people holding a community works banner with diaper boxes in front, standing in front of a stage with red, white, and blue decorations, at a patriotic event in Edgar County, Illinois.

    New Chapter Spotlight

    Our newest chapter in Edgar County, Illinois has gotten right to work with a much-needed Diaper Drive.

    More

  • RUBI Guardian Series, CWorks Impact

    I own six guns. Here’s how to talk to conservatives about firearms.

    In rural America, guns are a fact of life. But even conservatives agree that properly locking them up is crucial in preventing deaths

    Click Here

Meet the Team

  • A woman with glasses on her head, smiling, wearing a T-shirt with a colorful design, and a dark blazer.

    Meredith Dean

    NATIONAL DIRECTOR

  • A smiling person with dreadlocks wearing glasses and a yellow T-shirt that says 'Community Works Together.' They are indoors, standing near a black speaker.

    Leslie Tyus

    Shelby County, ALABAMA

  • Two smiling women wearing matching turquoise T-shirts with a community work logo, standing outdoors at a festival or fair under a canopy with tents and people in the background.

    Dea Bisley & Jan Koch

    Shawano-Menominee Counties, WISCONSIN

  • A smiling woman with shoulder-length red hair wearing a bright yellow shirt with a logo that says 'Community Work' and a graphic of a community center and a fire truck, sitting against a wooden background.

    Eleanor Adcock

    Garrett County, MARYLAND

  • Mike Morton

    South Central KANSAS

  • Two women smiling, standing inside a large indoor space. The woman on the left has shoulder-length brown hair and wears glasses and a light-colored t-shirt. The woman on the right has short, curly dark hair and wears a turquoise shirt with a logo. Both women are wearing large badges with colorful images and text. The background shows people and booths, suggesting a community event or gathering.

    Lindsey Bryant & Charlotte Rivers

    Morgan County, GEORGIA

  • Smiling woman with short gray hair wearing a blue T-shirt with a colorful logo representing community works, standing outdoors with trees and a blue sky in the background.

    Mary Jane Balicki

    Warren County, VIRGINIA

  • Two women wearing t-shirts with a 'Community Works Together' logo, smiling and standing side by side indoors, with artwork on the wall behind them.

    Terry Thompson & Rama Patel

    Oconee County, GEORGIA

  • An elderly man wearing glasses and a light purple T-shirt with a colorful logo that reads "Community Wucks", featuring a barn, tractor, and farm scene, standing indoors against a beige wall.

    Jamie Douglass

    Whatcom County, WASHINGTON

  • Margaret O'Neal

    Hart County, GEORGIA

  • A woman speaking, wearing a white T-shirt with a colorful logo and text that says 'Community, World, Together.' She has gray hair styled back, large hoop earrings, a gold chain necklace, and a brown sweater. Behind her are American flags and several banners, indicating an event or meeting setting.

    Heather Vaughn

    Scott County, VIRGINIA

  • Smiling woman with glasses, earrings, and dreadlocks, wearing a yellow t-shirt with a community work logo, indoors with a red and white background.

    Shanelle Carr

    Jenkins County, GEORGIA

  • A young woman with long hair wearing a pink Nike cap, glasses, small earrings, a white T-shirt, and smiling outdoors with a blue sky, green trees, and some structures in the background.

    Sara Finn

    Page County, VIRGINIA

  • Jerry Sauter

    LIttle River, VIRGINIA

  • Samantha Brinkerhoff

    Edgar County, ILLINOIS

  • Rayanne Lavery

    Cecil County, MARYLAND

Building Trust. Earning Goodwill. Engaging Volunteers. Launching Community Leaders.

Beyond casting my vote, I have never been a politically active person. Since getting involved  with Community Works, I’ve become friends with our CWorks Team and volunteers and,  because of that, have gotten involved with the local Democratic Committee.

Now I’m not only  attending Democratic meetings and events, I’m encouraging others to as well.

~Heather Vaughn, Scott County

Register for Information Session

The volunteer service I do through CWorks brings me in contact with neighbors of all political stripes, as we work together for the community. We are able to engage with each other to achieve a common goal and, at the same time, build a relationship that probably wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for CWorks.

For me, the value of CWorks is that it is bridging a political divide in this community that I didn’t think was bridgeable.

~Bob Richey, Page County

I was one of those people who sat on the couch and complained. Then I joined Community Works and, oh my goodness, everything changed for me. I started attending our School Board and Town Council meetings and began to realize the importance of local political positions. Now I pay attention, ask questions, and bring others along with me.

I never thought my opinion could make a difference, but it really can. Community Works set a fire inside of me to become more engaged and active in my community.

~Shanelle Carr, Jenkins County