My Why
Growing up moving in and out of poverty, I experienced firsthand the resilience of families living on the margins of the economy. I can still tap into the shame I felt as a child using food stamps at the grocery store, receiving welfare, and losing our home to foreclosure. I clearly remember the day that personal shame transformed into righteous anger at injustice.
Witnessing my mother’s pain - and courage - planted the seeds that grew into my fierce determination to ensure that people have control over the decisions that affect their lives and my passion to uplift the dignity of the human spirit.
This shame, anger, and love - and the recognition that our humanity and our liberation are bound together - are foundational to who I am in the world and why community organizing is my practice and my calling.
It is a transformative experience for people to move out of their existing reality, share their stories, imagine new possibilities, and summon the anger, love, and courage needed to take action together to fight for justice and build a future in which we can all thrive.
Shame keeps us quiet, but the organizer “discovers the strength in wounds”.
Together we are transforming ourselves, our communities, our institutions, and our world. Our responsibility in this work is immeasurable.
About Caroline
Caroline Murray is a visionary and results-focused leader with over 30 years of experience on the frontlines as an organizer, strategist, trainer, and social entrepreneur across the movements for social, racial, and economic justice.
Caroline has led numerous local, state, and federal campaigns resulting in many key policy victories of our time - delivering real improvements to the lives of everyday people - as well as developing powerful movement organizations and tens of thousands of grassroots leaders organizing to create a just and equitable future. She has appeared on numerous national networks and local news programs, including NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Good Morning America, Fox News, and she was a regular guest on the O’Reilly Factor.
As founder and 20-year Executive Director of the Alliance to Develop Power (ADP), a multi-racial, low-income people’s organization, Caroline was in the vanguard of the New Economy movement, pioneering a synergistic model that combined the best practices of community organizing, community building, and cooperative economic development. She built a sustainable community-controlled economy valued at over $80 million that stopped capital flight, generated and redistributed community wealth, and built the beloved community.
Caroline also served with Van Jones as Rebuild the Dream's first National Organizing Director where she worked with renowned artist Prince to bring attention to growing economic and racial disparities while highlighting innovative solutions to the economic crisis.
Since founding Innovative Organizing, she has worked with an array of movement organizations, leaders, and campaigns seeking to build power and scale their impact.
Notable projects include:
Winning a nationally watched County School Board seat in Leesberg, VA, the hotbed of the culture wars
Designing an organization-wide restructuring and launch of a global faith-climate justice network
Building a bi-national faith-led program to meet, witness, & accompany asylum seekers at the US / MX border
Leading Cynthia Nixon’s historic primary challenge of former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo, expanding the electorate by integrating relational outreach with innovative digital communication
Launching the groundbreaking NYC Department of Education Family and Community Outreach Program, successfully recruiting and training tens of thousands of low-income parents as co-decision makers in hundreds of NYC Community Schools
Leading the People’s Climate March, the largest and most diverse climate mobilization in history
Training, mentoring, and coaching the next generation of organizers
Caroline lives in Western Massachusetts where she is a leader in her community working towards racial and economic justice, equity, and sustainability. She is also the proud mother of two daughters who speak truth to power through art and activism.
Building Sanctuary Caravan with immigrant leaders and asylum seekers, Tijuana MX 2019
GreenFaith leaders at Fire Drill Friday with Jane Fonda, Washington DC 2020
Parent leaders designing launch of NYC Community Schools, 2017
Sierra Club Resilient Communities Retreat, New Orleans, 2022
Grassroots leaders with Campaign for Community Values engaging with Presidential candidates, Iowa, 2008
Student leaders with USSA engaging in NVDA fighting to save financial aid, 2016
Yes on 5 campaign servers fighting for One Fair Wage, Boston, 2024
Cynthia for NY Pride Contingent, 2018
Prince and Rebuild the Dream on "The View", 2012
400,000 people at the People's Climate March, NYC, 2014
Alliance to Develop Power leaders negotiating with Gov. Deval Patrick and cabinet, MA, 2009
Spokesperson Prep at Peoples Summit, Chicago, 2016
NYC Parent Leadership Training, 2017
Asylum seekers trapped at the border hold press conference with Sanctuary Caravan, Tijuana, MX,2019
Arriba Las Vegas Worker Center Staff Retreat Altar, 2023
Training national student organizers with Vote Mob, 2016
Story sharing at Prince concerts with Rebuild the Dream Village, Chicago, 2012
GreenFaith strategic narrative small group discussion, 2021
Fighting the deportation of immigrant rights leader, Eduardo Samaniego, with U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Pioneer Valley Worker Center, 2019
Ethical Management community building holiday party with residents, 2023
Cynthia for NY candidate and volunteers demanding the shut down of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Peekskill, NY, 2018
Alliance to Develop Power leaders demanding immigrant justice at The White House, 2007
Receiving the Center for Community Change Champion Award, 2010
Caroline with her daughters, NYC