Building Powerful Community Organizations is the perfect gift for any activist or person interested in the health of her or his community or already existing organization. It is an all-in-one, how-to for organizing. And by all-in-one, I really mean it. Recently, I recommended this book to a bookstore customer who was starting a new animal rights organization. A few days later he came back to thank me saying that the workbook exercises really helped him develop the mission, bylaws, and a plan for the first 6 months.
This book has a little bit of theory, a lot of worksheets (one, for example, to help you determine your organization's purpose), and practical advice on every step of the way. For instance, at one point the author says organizing is building an organization and building good leaders.
Here are examples of some of the chapters and subsections:
• Ch. 1. What Is Community Organizing, Anyway? (Subsection: Community Organizing: Power, Self-Interest, and Relationships)
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• Ch. 7 The Way to Develop Power Is to Develop Leaders (The Iron Rule of Organizing)
The book is very readable because it is laid out well with a lot of graphic variety. Every few pages there are very appropriate and motivational quotes and longer passages from other activists relating their experiences. And it's only $19.95 plus tax – a real deal considering that Michael Brown packed 30 years of experience and wisdom into one book.
Reviewed by Mark Cimino, Bus Boys and Poets Bookstore,
