Calling All Radicals (Nation Books, 2007)

Forty-seven million Americans without healthcare. Soaring economic inequality. Environmental racism. Slumlords and sweatshop owners. Every year, students leave high school and college eager to tackle the crises facing the United States. But how, exactly, does one go about building social justice movements and strengthening our democracy?

Calling All Radicals argues that we can reclaim our democracy in the old fashioned way—through grassroots organizing. Beyond campaign sound bites and the occasional election, democracy is about focusing on the development of leaders, taking collective action, and building power among groups usually ignored and abused. In essence, organizers are democracy “scouts” who recruit formerly inactive, sometimes cynical people to play their part in our unfolding democratic experiment.

Using the organizing activities of the author as a backdrop, Calling All Radicals examines the practice, philosophy and history or organizing, with interviews from veteran activists and chronicles of successful campaigns–like a group of inner-city teens who help push through a groundbreaking anti-lead poisoning law and immigrants who force local hospitals to provide life-saving translation services.

With inspiring stories, resources to connect readers with employment and training opportunities, and real-world advice, Calling All Radicals is the perfect book for anyone interested in stepping into the world of organizing and activism. You can read an excerpt of the book on this site, and purchase it through Powells, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or at your local independent bookstore.