Roots for Radicals: Organizing for Power, Action, and Justice / Edition 1

by Edward T. Chambers

Overview

Roots for Radicals is a distillation of the IAF (Industrial Areas Foundation) philosophy and its unique approach to community organizing. The IAF is the oldest and largest institution for community organizing in the United States. For sixty years, its mission has been to train people to take responsibility for solving the problems in their own communities and to renew the interest of citizens in public life. The IAF, now headed by the author, Edward T. Chambers, has taken founder Saul Alinsky's original vision, refined it, and created a sophisticated national network of citizens' organizations. One of the key activities is its 10-day training sessions for community organizers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826414991
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/22/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Edward T. Chambers is the executive director of the Industrial Areas Foundation.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Studs TerkelIntroduction: The Industrial Areas Foundation: Social Knowledge, Power, and Politicians1. The World As It Is and the World As It Should Be2. The Relational Meeting3. Broad-Baed Organizing: An Intentional Response to the Human Condition4. Relationships: Private and the Public5. The Practice of the Public Life: Research, Action, and Evaluation6. Reflections of an Organizer7. Broad-Based Organizing for the Twenty-First Century: United Power for Action and Justice8. Thoughts on Twenty-First Century ChallengesAppendixNotes

Editorial Reviews

The fight against globalization and the war in Iraq has led to a revival of grassroots activism. But there are many other causes for which communities organize: lack of sewage in poor neighborhoods, the need to support public schools, and affordable housing, to name just a few. Chambers is executive director of the Industrial Areas Foundation; founded by the noted organizer Saul Alinsky, the foundation is dedicated to supporting community organizing. A "radical" for Chambers is "a person who searches for meaning and affirms community." Thus, this is not an easy-to-consult handbook, but a book encouraging reflection about public life and ideals; the gap between the world "as it is" and "as it should be"; self-interest vs. self-sacrifice and other polarities; and how to create actions that not only receive momentary press attention but that are effective. Readers looking for quick tactical tips won't find them here, but readers looking for a solid foundation on which to base political action will find much to think about within these pages. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Edward T. Chambers might know more about building democratic institutions than any man alive.
San Francisco Chronicle

Here is a how-to-book in the best sense: a primer in how to beat the dragons. It has been designed for community organizers: to know, to feel, and mostly to think creatively how, not so much to lead, as to incite the powerless to find the power and speak for themselves....Ed Chambers is something of a secular priest, with the community as his parish, teaching that the least of us have the right to lead decent lives.

From the Publisher