Overview

In a time where the fight for social justice can feel overwhelming, Gordon Whitman empowers readers to stand up with a purpose-driven mindset and effective strategy. Stand Up! is an antidote to the cynicism that keeps so many people on the sidelines. It's both an argument about how to solve the biggest problems facing our society, and a guide to engaging with others to change the world. People don't need more information about what's going wrong. They need to know that change is possible and that they have a meaningful role to play. They need to know that they can transform themselves from passive observers of politics and civic life to public leaders who can stare down bank presidents and politicians. The book provides a coherent framework, a set of principles and practices for confronting global issues like climate change as well as local ones like making our schools better and our streets safer. Stand Up! uses stories to cover everything from helping readers find their purpose, building teams with focused goals, and envisioning a world that is truly guided by self-governance. Based on nearly 20 years of community organizing, and tapping into nonpartisan PICO's network of 1000 member institutions including churches, state and municipal organizations, and professional community organizers, Gordon Whitman provides a blueprint for every concerned individual to fight for social justice.

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9781523094165

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Reviews

“A manual for a multiracial movement that combats racism and economic inequality as two sides of the same coin, Stand Up! is a road map for moving from resisting to governing.”  —Heather McGhee, President, Demos    “Stand Up! is just the kind of book we need right now. This is a guide for working people who want to make a difference.”  —Mary Kay Henry, International President, Service Employees International Union    “Gordon Whitman’s book is a summation of years of great organizing and an invaluable resource for anyone who is ready for action.”  —Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and author of The Age of Dignity   “Stand Up! is full of good sense about how people with the most on the line can use their leverage to create change.” —Carlos Saavedra Diaz, cofounder of Movimiento Cosecha and Lead Trainer, Ayni Institute   “Gordon Whitman has done what organizers almost never do: turned his years of practice into a valuable resource for engagement, learning, and action.” —Marshall Ganz, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government   “Who belongs?’ is the most important question of our time. Adopting this as a challenge, Stand Up! charts a way toward a more inclusive society through five necessary conversations. Part organizing strategy, part research, part biography, and part history lesson, Stand Up! is an important guide for our troubled times.” —Professor john a. powell, University of California, Berkeley, Director, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society   “Stand Up! presents a framework for change that is both practical and inspiring. Group-based, grassroots organizing is the most powerful way you can effect change, and Whitman provides a clear description and explanation of the organizing tools you need to stand up with others in your community.” —Ezra Levin, Co-Executive Director, Indivisible   “Stand Up! is a terrific guide for those who want to make this a more just world.” —Heather Booth, organizer and founder of Midwest Academy   “Upset about the state of the world? Unsure what you can do about it? Read this book! You will be a changed person and more prepared than ever to help change the world.” —George Goehl, Codirector, People’s Action   “Whitman’s book is a must-read antidote for anyone who is struggling to understand how to live a life of purpose or anyone who feels the calling but is not sure what to do.” —Professor Hahrie Han, University of California, Santa Barbara   “We need to bring everything we know about people-led social change to the table—that’s why Stand Up! is such an important book for this moment. It is a must-read for organizers working to develop leaders, build multiracial teams, and win campaigns.” —Saru Jayaraman, cofounder of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and Director, Food Labor Research Center, University of California, Berkeley   “If you believe now is the time to resist, then this book about organizing and building lasting power is for you. Stand Up! links our work across the issues of racism, economic inequality, and climate change. It gives me hope and the tools to build a society in which everyone belongs and can thrive.” —Lindsey Allen, Executive Director, Rainforest Action Network   “Equal part how-to and inspiration, Stand Up! shows how to build democratic multiracial organizations that are both humane and effective.” —Scott Reed, Executive Director, Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network)   “Gordon Whitman has given a gift to all of us who yearn to bring people together across lines of difference to redeem the soul of our nation. Stand Up! offers both a sacred call to action and a path forward.” —Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism   “For those interested in fighting for the social justice so desperately needed in our world today, Stand Up! teaches how to build power to make impactful change, combining examples of successful organizing efforts, specific steps to developing power, and a compassionate reflection on the real challenges to social change work.” —Professor Paul Speer, Vanderbilt University

A manual for a multiracial movement that combats racism and economic inequality as two sides of the same coin, Stand Up! is a road map for moving from resisting to governing. --Heather McGhee, President, Demos Stand Up! is just the kind of book we need right now. This is a guide for working people who want to make a difference. --Mary Kay Henry, International President, Service Employees International Union Gordon Whitman's book is a summation of years of great organizing and an invaluable resource for anyone who is ready for action. --Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and author of The Age of Dignity Stand Up! is full of good sense about how people with the most on the line can use their leverage to create change. --Carlos Saavedra Diaz, cofounder of Movimiento Cosecha and Lead Trainer, Ayni Institute Gordon Whitman has done what organizers almost never do: turned his years of practice into a valuable resource for engagement, learning, and action. --Marshall Ganz, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government Who belongs?' is the most important question of our time. Adopting this as a challenge, Stand Up! charts a way toward a more inclusive society through five necessary conversations. Part organizing strategy, part research, part biography, and part history lesson, Stand Up! is an important guide for our troubled times. --Professor john a. powell, University of California, Berkeley, Director, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society Stand Up! presents a framework for change that is both practical and inspiring. Group-based, grassroots organizing is the most powerful way you can effect change, and Whitman provides a clear description and explanation of the organizing tools you need to stand up with others in your community. --Ezra Levin, Co-Executive Director, Indivisible Stand Up! is a terrific guide for those who want to make this a more just world. --Heather Booth, organizer and founder of Midwest Academy Upset about the state of the world? Unsure what you can do about it? Read this book! You will be a changed person and more prepared than ever to help change the world. --George Goehl, Codirector, People's Action Whitman's book is a must-read antidote for anyone who is struggling to understand how to live a life of purpose or anyone who feels the calling but is not sure what to do. --Professor Hahrie Han, University of California, Santa Barbara We need to bring everything we know about people-led social change to the table--that's why Stand Up! is such an important book for this moment. It is a must-read for organizers working to develop leaders, build multiracial teams, and win campaigns. --Saru Jayaraman, cofounder of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United and Director, Food Labor Research Center, University of California, Berkeley If you believe now is the time to resist, then this book about organizing and building lasting power is for you. Stand Up! links our work across the issues of racism, economic inequality, and climate change. It gives me hope and the tools to build a society in which everyone belongs and can thrive. --Lindsey Allen, Executive Director, Rainforest Action Network Equal part how-to and inspiration, Stand Up! shows how to build democratic multiracial organizations that are both humane and effective. --Scott Reed, Executive Director, Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network) Gordon Whitman has given a gift to all of us who yearn to bring people together across lines of difference to redeem the soul of our nation. Stand Up! offers both a sacred call to action and a path forward. --Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism For those interested in fighting for the social justice so desperately needed in our world today, Stand Up! teaches how to build power to make impactful change, combining examples of successful organizing efforts, specific steps to developing power, and a compassionate reflection on the real challenges to social change work. --Professor Paul Speer, Vanderbilt University

Author Information

Gordon Whitman is Director of Policy for PICO National Network. As a community organizer, legal services lawyer and strategist, Gordon has helped working families build strong and effective community organizations for 18 years. A lawyer, he is the author of Making Accountability Work in the New York University Review of Law and Social Change (2003), Teaching Inequality- The Problem of Public School Tracking in Harvard Law Review (1987) and policy studies on U.S. school reform, urban credit markets, housing policy and international education reform. He has taught the History and Theory of Community Organizing as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania and has a BA in Urban Studies and History from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from Harvard Law School.

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