Citizen Power : Stories of America's New Civic Spirit - Softcover

Epstein, Robin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0966879503 ISBN 13: 9780966879506

Publisher: Democracy Resource Center, 2000

Synopsis

In nine true stories, Citizen Power tells the struggles, adventures, and life-changing experiences of ordinary citizens in rural Kentucky fighting to protect the health of their families and communities. To save the people and places they love, these grassroots leaders confront racism, stop waste dumps, challenge corruption, demand better from their children's schools, and fight to put the public back into public decision-making. The book features an introduction by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, 26 black and white photographs of the activists, and a nationwide resource guide to more than 300 citizens' groups across the country.

About this title

Review

"In Citizen Power, we meet citizens who know that the people are the solution. the citizens in this book are living and working in Kentucky, but their stories reflect the struggles and hopes for justice of all Americans. Their stories are human stories. In this book, we meet Emily Jones Hudson, an African-American writer and poet from Perry County who is working to empower the children in her community so they can shape their own lives and the world around them. Emily has found her citizen power. We read the story of Harlan County resident Joan Robinett, who pursued environmental justice for her family and neighbors when carcinogens were discovered in their drinking water. Joan and her neighbors have found their citizen power. Major change always comes this way -- not from the top down, but from the bottom up. This is the true story of our nation's progress. " -- Rev. Jesse L. Jackson

"Read about the folks in Citizen Power to give yourself the pleasure of absorbing -- through these stories -- the potential human beings have to transform ourselves through community engagement. Their stories cry, 'You can do this, too!'" -- Francis Moore Lappe, cofounder of the Center for Living Democracy and coauthor of The Quickening of America

Edition details

• Publisher: Democracy Resource Center
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0966879503
• ISBN 13: 9780966879506
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 148