Progressive Community Organizing

Reviews / Votes

This edition of Progressive Community Organizing is far-ranging and timely. In a world of unprecedented and sustained social upheaval, Pyles provides necessary history, theory, practical wisdom, and case studies. This moment for climate, health, racial, and housing organizing represents the convergence of many organizing traditions. For a nuanced overview of a range of organizing traditions in the pursuit of justice, this book is definitive. It takes many hands to bend the moral arc of justice. After reading this book, you will add yours.

Alethia Jones, PhD, Director, Open Society Foundations

. . . Drawing on her considerable experience as a community organizer, Loretta Pyles has provided such a model for action. Her transformative approach to organizing, one that is embedded in the lessons of social movements and human rights campaigns, addresses the whys and hows of anti-oppressive mobilization with marginalized groups and communities . . . The result is a comprehensive and holistic framework that encompasses recruitment, consensus building, leadership development, issue framing, communication, power analyses, and more . . . Loretta Pyles guides us in what is necessary to transform our communities and in the process, transform ourselves.

Cheryl A. Hyde, PhD, MSW, Temple University School of Social Work, USA

In this latest addition of Progressive Community Organizing, Pyles expands and develops further her vision and model for a transformative approach to practice that addresses human rights and social justice. She carefully and clearly integrates a strong theoretical perspective with the tools for social change and action. This method integrates internal and individual healing and change with methods to build community and organizational change. It is a call to action for creating a more sustainable, just, and compassionate world.

Lorraine M. Gutierrez, PhD, Associate Dean for Educational Programs, Professor of Social Work, and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan School of Social Work, USA "This edition of Progressive Community Organizing is far-ranging and timely. In a world of unprecedented and sustained social upheaval, Pyles provides necessary history, theory, practical wisdom, and case studies. This moment for climate, health, racial, and housing organizing represents the convergence of many organizing traditions. For a nuanced overview of a range of organizing traditions in the pursuit of justice, this book is definitive. It takes many hands to bend the moral arc of justice. After reading this book, you will add yours.

Alethia Jones, PhD, Director, Open Society Foundations, USA

"... As countries and communities grapple with global pandemics and other public health crises, economic loss and rampant inequality, state brutality against people of color and everyday racial microaggressions, there is a critical need for strategic frameworks that offer sound tactics and authentic processes. The [book offers] a comprehensive and holistic framework that encompasses recruitment, consensus building, leadership development, issue framing, communication, power analyses, and more ... She deftly addresses the challenges of working cross-culturally and becoming authentic allies, and demands that each of us immerse ourselves in critically self-reflective work in order to engage in liberatory praxis. She guides us in what is necessary to transform our communities and in the process, transform ourselves."

Cheryl A. Hyde, PhD, MSW, Temple University School of Social Work, USA

"In this latest addition of Progressive Community Organizing, Pyles expands and develops further her vision and model for a transformative approach to practice that addresses human rights and social justice. She carefully and clearly integrates a strong theoretical perspective with the tools for social change and action. This method integrates internal and individual healing and change with methods to build community and organizational change. It is a call to action for creating a more sustainable, just, and compassionate world."

Lorraine M. Gutierrez, PhD, Associate Dean for Educational Programs, Professor of Social Work, and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan School of Social Work, USA