Foreword ix
Peter Edelman
Preface: Why We Believe in Organizing and Building Power xiii
The Authors xvii
Introduction: The Power of Participation xix
The Story of Community Voices Heard xxxi
Part One Building Community Power 1
1. Taking It On: Starting to Build Power 3
2. Powering Up 23
Part Two Building a Base for Power 35
3. Recruiting Constituents for Collective Action 37
4. Involving Members in Building Their Own Organization 61
5. Developing Leaders from All Walks of Life 81
6. Uploading Technology 109
Part Three Developing and Running Campaigns 125
7. Identifying the Right Issue 129
8. Researching the Politics of an Issue 155
9. Developing a Winning Strategy 183
10. Planning a Comprehensive Campaign 209
11. Implementing an Effective Campaign 239
12. Running Kick-A** Actions! 261
13. Evaluating a Campaign from Beginning to End 301
Part Four Building a Movement 323
14. Forging Partnerships for Power 325
15. Moving from Self-Interest to Social Change: Movement-Building 345
Conclusion: Putting Your Principles into Practice 361
Resources Supporting the Work of Organizing 373
A. Organizing Lingo 375
B. Raising Money for Organizing 379
C. Power in the Voting Booth: Electoral Organizing 389
D. Training Tips 399
E. Approaches to Addressing Community Problems 407
F. Creating a Legal Community Power-Building Organization 411
G. For More Information 413
H. The Phases and Steps of a Campaign: An Annotated Case Example 415
Index 425

Joan Minieri and Paul Getsos are cofounders of Community Voices Heard, a leading social justice organization in New York City and the United States. They are experienced organizers, trainers, university lecturers, and recipients of the Ford Foundation’s Leadership for a Changing World Award.