It is a time when the average citizen taking action and working to get their voice is heard is becoming increasingly common, and more and more tools are being created that help organize and mobilize such actions.

This week’s Highlighted Site Of The Week is Change.org, a site launched in 2007 which offers an effective way that people can engage in social issues. Anyone with a cause can log in, create and sign petitions, mobilize support, and cause change.

The site’s founder, Ben Rattray, says that Change.org aims to

Transform social activism by serving as the central platform that connects likeminded people, whatever their interests, and enables them to exchange information, share ideas, and collectively act to address the issues they care about.

Once someone creates a petition for their cause, Change.org may connect these advocates with nonprofits that work towards a similar goal, and in doing that they are making a dialogue possible between the two groups, mobilizing communities in a way what was not before possible.

Change.org has already contributed to many victories such as Bank of America dropping their debit card fee, JCPenny compensating families of Bangladash worker’s who were killed in the 2011 fire, and countless other victories for a variety of different causes.

Lately it seems like causes born from a grassroots movement are achieving success every day, and Change.org has made this easier to achieve.

Have a great weekend and a Happy New Year!