Roots for Radicals: Organizing for Power, Action, and Justice [Hardcover]

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.

 Roots for Radicals is the sort of book you want desperately to like. And...it's not difficult. --Charles Bertsch, Tikkun, Nov/Dec 2004 Blurb from reviewer

 This resource for organizers presents a distillation of the Industrial Areas Foundation philosophy and its approach to community organizing.. --Reference & Research Book News, February 2004 Blurb from reviewer

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

Foreword: Studs Terkel
Introduction: The Industrial Areas Foundation: Social Knowledge, Power, and Politicians
1. The World As It Is and the World As It Should Be
2. The Relational Meeting
3. Broad-Baed Organizing: An Intentional Response to the Human Condition
4. Relationships: Private and the Public
5. The Practice of the Public Life: Research, Action, and Evaluation
6. Reflections of an Organizer
7. Broad-Based Organizing for the Twenty-First Century: United Power for Action and Justice
8. Thoughts on Twenty-First Century Challenges
Appendix
Notes