There are three critical ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change in America: good public policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics.
What makes community organizing especially attractive is the faith it places in the ability of the poor to make decisions for themselves.
When too many Americans don't vote or participate, some see apathy and despair. I see disappointment and even outrage. And I believe that out of this frustration can come hope and action.
The people of this country, not special interest big money, should be the source of all political power.
I saw as a teacher how, if you take that spark of learning that those children have, and you ignite it, you can take a child from any background to a lifetime of creativity and accomplishment.
I emphasize self-esteem, self-confidence, and dignity, not as an ideal, but as a real test of community organization. Without leadership development, community organizations do not have staying power.
The first task in teaching is to bring to consciousness what the students already believe by virtue of their personal experiences about themselves and society.
The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses, a power which is the principal threat to our democracy.