Action In Montgomery is a multi-racial, multi-faith, strictly non-partisan, County-wide citizens’ organization, rooted in local congregations and associations. AIM is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the oldest and largest national, congregation-based, community organizing network in the United States. Founded more than 50 years ago by Saul Alinsky, the IAF works with more than 55 community organizations like AIM across the United States, and in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These organizations have produced impressive results in training thousands of ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse leaders to take action on community, city, and state issues.

What does AIM do?

  • AIM is building a base of power so citizens can influence the institutions that affect their lives.
  • AIM engages congregation and community leaders in developing an agenda around issues that directly impact their lives, i.e. public schools, housing, youth, day care and transportation.
  • AIM identifies and trains new leaders in the skills of public life, i.e., identification of issues, meeting facilitation, research skills, techniques to mobilize people, and negotiation.

What are AIM's Victories

  • $204 Million for Affordable Housing since 2001
  • 29.7 Million to renovate sorely neglected Community Centers in historic African-American neighborhoods.
  • All-day kindergarten in all Montgomery County public schools
  • Passage of the first major reform of the taxi industry in fifteen years
  • Won a half-mile sidewalk worth $306,000 that allows hundreds of families to safely access buses, work, shopping, doctors, school and church.
  • Increased voter participation by 28% in a low voting precinct in Gaithersburg over other low voting Gaithersburg precincts.
  • $400,000 for 0% interest loans to displaced tenants to use for down payments on new homes.
  • $320,000 for immediate improvements to community centers in historic African-American communities including the Good Hope, Scotland, Ross Boddy and Plum Gar Community Centers.

What do AIM leaders believe?

  • Democracy is not merely voting but actively engaging in the public arena to solve challenges in our communities.
  • The "Iron Rule": Never do for others what they can do for themselves.
  • Leaders are not born, but made.
  • We believe in meeting face to face and developing the public relationships that are the glue of our society.
  • We believe in building for power: power that is reciprocal, that is tempered by our religious traditions and power that creates a table that includes more people in the dynamics of public life.
     

What are the benefits to a congregation or organization?

  • AIM will work with the congregation to identify and develop new leaders.
  • AIM supports leaders in their efforts to effectively address the common, core issues that are impacting their lives and communities.
  • AIM will develop a diverse team of leaders to support the congregation's internal development.
  • All AIM member congregations are connected to a wide network of congregations that support one another in their local and countrywide campaigns.

How can a congregation join?

  • Congregation leaders will work with the organizer to build an AIM Action Team.
  • Each member congregation will pay membership dues to support the work of the organization. The dues also pay for trainings, and local and county-wide actions.

How is AIM Funded?

  • Dues: The majority of AIM’s funding is from dues from member congregations. This enables the organization to hire staff that are accountable to the AIM clergy and lay leadership.
  • Foundations
  • Private Donations: Each year AIM raises corporate funding and private donations.