Schutz and Sandy provide an engaging overview of community organizing in the Saul Alinsky tradition from an organizer's perspective.Clear and comprehensive, their book shows us how organizers develop skilled leaders, build powerful organizations, and help revitalize American democracy. - David Walls, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Sonoma State University
A commendable text that challenges students to look beyond the 'how to' of organizing to the far more difficult task of 'how to think' about organizing. Without such intellectual work, it is difficult to understand community organizing as anything more than a series of techniques equally usable by The Tea Party, President Obama, Tupperware, or anyone else who wants to effectively gain 'market share.' - Mike Miller, veteran community organizer and author of A Community Organizer's Tale: People and Power in San Francisco
In accessible language and with compelling examples, Schutz and Sandyexplain the why of organizing - why we recruit new leaders, why we build power, and why we pick fights. As new media technology expands the tools for organizing, clarity about the why is more critical than ever. A must-read for anyone interested in building an inclusive, compassionate, and equitable society. - Rinku Sen, President and Executive Director of the Applied Research Center (ARC) and publisher of ColorLines.com
