ACTION group hires lead organizer

Noden, a KSU grad, has worked in Chicago and England.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods, an alliance of 20 church congregations across the city and suburbs, has hired a new lead organizer, Kirk Noden, to assist in its mission of tackling social justice issues in the Mahoning Valley.
Noden, who came aboard in July, has worked as a professional organizer for the past nine years.
Pastor Eleanor Felder, president of ACTION, said, "We're excited about Kirk being our new organizer. We know that teamwork will bring us together and we will be able to do a lot of things in and outside of our city.
Noden said that "ACTION has tremendous potential to effect change, and I came here because the clergy have a tremendous vision and commitment to this area."
His background
A product of Northeast Ohio and a Kent State University graduate, Noden is best known for his work in Chicago and England. In Chicago, he played a leading role in starting and directing the Albany Park Neighborhood Council, a collaboration of 27 congregations and schools.
Under his leadership, the organization, located in one of the most diverse immigrant areas in the country, was recognized as the "Emerging Organization of the Year" in 2002 by six Chicago-area foundations including the MacArthur Foundation.
For the past three years, Noden has worked in England. There, he founded Birmingham Citizens, a coalition of 33 institutions ranging from churches to mosques to schools and unions. The organization was well known for work around issues such as a living wage, youth resources and affordable housing.
"It is good to be back home close to family and have the opportunity to be a part of making Ohio and Mahoning Valley a better place to live," Noden said.