Going Public: An Organizer's Guide to Citizen Action

I heard Mike Gecan speak at a conference in the summer of 2014 and was impressed by his resolve and insights. I eventually picked up "Going Public" in 2015 - the book reads a lot like hearing him in person: good narrative, pragmatic, and imbued with a solid commitment to (what he calls) "relational culture."The 2004 edition of this book, page 32, gets to the heart of the matter: "In a culture of quick encounters and multiple contacts . . . there are fewer and fewer public relationships of depth and quality." Gecan claims that neither technology, wealth, nor charismatic leaders will necessarily change our societies for the better, but regular folks working together leveraging social power via relationships. That's the way it's always been, and it's not changing anytime soon - it's hard work, though. Gecan's book does an excellent job at showing how the nuts and bolts of this crucial work can be done.Also of worthwhile note is Gecan's refusal to be pigeon-holed politically. As an organizer and worker for social change, he shows that there is great freedom - to work alongside or to critique - while interacting with political partisans. While working for change in communities, there is no compulsion to wholesale endorse political party agendas - this work is local, specific, and truly grass-roots.Even though this book is more than ten years old, it yet is sharp and timely. Highly recommended.I heard Mike Gecan speak at a conference in the summer of 2014 and was impressed by his resolve and insights. I eventually picked up "Going Public" in 2015 - the book reads a lot like hearing him in person: good narrative, pragmatic, and imbued with a solid commitment to (what he calls) "relational culture."The 2004 edition of this book, page 32, gets to the heart of the matter: "In a culture of quick encounters and multiple contacts . . . there are fewer and fewer public relationships of depth and quality." Gecan claims that neither technology, wealth, nor charismatic leaders will necessarily change our societies for the better, but regular folks working together leveraging social power via relationships. That's the way it's always been, and it's not changing anytime soon - it's hard work, though. Gecan's book does an excellent job at showing how the nuts and bolts of this crucial work can be done.Also of worthwhile note is Gecan's refusal to be pigeon-holed politically. As an organizer and worker for social change, he shows that there is great freedom - to work alongside or to critique - while interacting with political partisans. While working for change in communities, there is no compulsion to wholesale endorse political party agendas - this work is local, specific, and truly grass-roots.Even though this book is more than ten years old, it yet is sharp and timely. Highly recommended.I heard Mike Gecan speak at a conference in the summer of 2014 and was impressed by his resolve and insights. I eventually picked up "Going Public" in 2015 - the book reads a lot like hearing him in person: good narrative, pragmatic, and imbued with a solid commitment to (what he calls) "relational culture."The 2004 edition of this book, page 32, gets to the heart of the matter: "In a culture of quick encounters and multiple contacts . . . there are fewer and fewer public relationships of depth and quality." Gecan claims that neither technology, wealth, nor charismatic leaders will necessarily change our societies for the better, but regular folks working together leveraging social power via relationships. That's the way it's always been, and it's not changing anytime soon - it's hard work, though. Gecan's book does an excellent job at showing how the nuts and bolts of this crucial work can be done.Also of worthwhile note is Gecan's refusal to be pigeon-holed politically. As an organizer and worker for social change, he shows that there is great freedom - to work alongside or to critique - while interacting with political partisans. While working for change in communities, there is no compulsion to wholesale endorse political party agendas - this work is local, specific, and truly grass-roots.Even though this book is more than ten years old, it yet is sharp and timely. Highly recommended.I heard Mike Gecan speak at a conference in the summer of 2014 and was impressed by his resolve and insights. I eventually picked up "Going Public" in 2015 - the book reads a lot like hearing him in person: good narrative, pragmatic, and imbued with a solid commitment to (what he calls) "relational culture."The 2004 edition of this book, page 32, gets to the heart of the matter: "In a culture of quick encounters and multiple contacts . . . there are fewer and fewer public relationships of depth and quality." Gecan claims that neither technology, wealth, nor charismatic leaders will necessarily change our societies for the better, but regular folks working together leveraging social power via relationships. That's the way it's always been, and it's not changing anytime soon - it's hard work, though. Gecan's book does an excellent job at showing how the nuts and bolts of this crucial work can be done.Also of worthwhile note is Gecan's refusal to be pigeon-holed politically. As an organizer and worker for social change, he shows that there is great freedom - to work alongside or to critique - while interacting with political partisans. While working for change in communities, there is no compulsion to wholesale endorse political party agendas - this work is local, specific, and truly grass-roots.Even though this book is more than ten years old, it yet is sharp and timely. Highly recommended.I heard Mike Gecan speak at a conference in the summer of 2014 and was impressed by his resolve and insights. I eventually picked up "Going Public" in 2015 - the book reads a lot like hearing him in person: good narrative, pragmatic, and imbued with a solid commitment to (what he calls) "relational culture."The 2004 edition of this book, page 32, gets to the heart of the matter: "In a culture of quick encounters and multiple contacts . . . there are fewer and fewer public relationships of depth and quality." Gecan claims that neither technology, wealth, nor charismatic leaders will necessarily change our societies for the better, but regular folks working together leveraging social power via relationships. That's the way it's always been, and it's not changing anytime soon - it's hard work, though. Gecan's book does an excellent job at showing how the nuts and bolts of this crucial work can be done.Also of worthwhile note is Gecan's refusal to be pigeon-holed politically. As an organizer and worker for social change, he shows that there is great freedom - to work alongside or to critique - while interacting with political partisans. While working for change in communities, there is no compulsion to wholesale endorse political party agendas - this work is local, specific, and truly grass-roots.Even though this book is more than ten years old, it yet is sharp and timely. Highly recommended.

I think this is a pretty well done resource for community developers and activists. It's a tricky thing to take your interests and concerns to enlist public support. In that regard I consider it a must read, understanding that you should take from it what fits your situation and culture, best.

I heard Mike Gecan speak at a conference in the summer of 2014 and was impressed by his resolve and insights. I eventually picked up "Going Public" in 2015 - the book reads a lot like hearing him in person: good narrative, pragmatic, and imbued with a solid commitment to (what he calls) "relational culture."The 2004 edition of this book, page 32, gets to the heart of the matter: "In a culture of quick encounters and multiple contacts . . . there are fewer and fewer public relationships of depth and quality." Gecan claims that neither technology, wealth, nor charismatic leaders will necessarily change our societies for the better, but regular folks working together leveraging social power via relationships. That's the way it's always been, and it's not changing anytime soon - it's hard work, though. Gecan's book does an excellent job at showing how the nuts and bolts of this crucial work can be done.Also of worthwhile note is Gecan's refusal to be pigeon-holed politically. As an organizer and worker for social change, he shows that there is great freedom - to work alongside or to critique - while interacting with political partisans. While working for change in communities, there is no compulsion to wholesale endorse political party agendas - this work is local, specific, and truly grass-roots.Even though this book is more than ten years old, it yet is sharp and timely. Highly recommended.

This book was a good and easy ready. I appreciated the author's intention on informing readers that including those who live in the community is the key to successful community development. Many times leading developers and/or nonprofit orgs have great plans that can tackle systemic hurdles and barriers, but it cannot be effective and longstanding without the voice and hands of the community. Great read!

This book is an excellent primer for community orgonizing. Gecan lays out the principles of relating, acting, orgonizing, and reflecting pretty well. He has some excellent stories in the relating and acting sections though the orgonizing and reflecting sections are pretty sparse. Overall well worth the read because of the inspiring stories of real success.

This is an excellent look at community organizing by a very expereinced organizer who uses stories of actual events to illistrate principles and key elements. John, Takoma Park MD

From a storytelling standpoint, the book engages. As a useful tool from which to make change - falls short. A bit too much chest thumping, a la Tarzan.

a

This book gives a good picture of what is community organising and why it is important. The writer articuted his journey and experience in community organising very well. I enjoyed reading real stroies and how ordinary people were courageous to make change in their neighbourhood.3 things I took away from this book are as follow:1) People Before programme- focus on developing people by building listening to their needs and desires, their worries and fears thier dreams, once people are developed they can go and change their community. (P9)Half of the stroies the writer shared was about 121 relational meetings he had with leaders. Showing the importance of investing on individuals instead of very facny 2 hours group meetings with an unstructured agenda.2) Develop a relational culture- The Market, The government or the 3rd sector, project or programme all start off from a conversation, from a relationship but some sectors stops halfway through, this is when an organisation stops growing as they don't focus on relationship, finding who is in the organisation, their skills, their talents, their abilities. This is when the organisation run by the same people and become fearful of new changes. (P160-65)Relationship needs some tention- the writer talks about his relationship with the city Mayor, there was tension. I guess the book aims to show how to deliver oneself in piblic sapces while there is a lot of tentions.I enjoyed Part3, as it focuses more on instituional development, role of core leaders and organisers. I found it very inspiring that a growth of an institution depends on leaders, and development of leaders depends on how their 121 conversation is taken into account, where they share their skills and dreams. How are they agitated by a core leader or organiser.121 conversation is an art that people become better the more they do.Overall, it's a good book with lots of stroies, winnings, agitation and reflection.

Amazing. Full of inspiring stories of communities organising for change.

This book helped me a lot in my reflective report

one of the most relevant books in community organizing