Raby was a member of the Teachers for Integrated Schools and helped form the Coordinating Council of Community Organizations (CCCO)[2] in 1962.
As a member of the Agenda Committee, Raby assisted in choosing open housing as the initial campaign for the movement.
Along with King in July 1966, he attended the initial meeting with Mayor Richard J. Daley where the demands of the movement were presented.
He was endorsed in the election by the Independent Voters of Illinois, and was not backed by the Cook County Democratic Party.
Located in the Garfield Park neighborhood, Al Raby High School for Community and Environment focuses on social justice issues as well as geographical information systems.