How do we keep on working for change in tough political and economic times, and overcome the political demoralization and frustration that so many people are feeling these days? How can we engage with our neighbors to build community where we live? How are people living in cohousing neighborhoods becoming more active, making a difference, changing their schools and cities?

Paul Loeb, author of the bestselling books on citizen involvement Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in Challenging Times and The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear will explore how ordinary citizens can make their voices heard and actions count in a time when we're told neither matter. He’ll talk about how people get involved in larger community issues and what stops them from getting involved; how they burn out in exhaustion or maintain their commitment for the long haul; what we can learn from the citizen movements of the past.

Paul’s Soul of a Citizen now has 100,000 copies in print as an underground activist bestseller, and St Martin’s Press just published a wholly updated new edition. Paul has woven in powerful new stories to address our current political landscape, with its mix of political hope and disappointment, obstruction and opportunity, and the key role, more than ever of citizen action. He’s getting great responses to it and we hope you’ll come join us to hear him and continue the conversation at this event.

He's also speaking in Marin on the 30th, and we're working to see if we can get him to do an East Bay event.
Learn more about Paul on his website
If there's interest, we could grab a quick bite nearby beforehand.

“I stayed up half the night reading Soul of a Citizen, finding it a beautiful and morally transcendent work. Paul Loeb is a personal hero of mine who gives decency and generosity a political character, in the humblest of ways. The new edition is magnificent.”—Jonathan Kozol

“Soul has been a powerful inspiration to citizens acting for environmental sanity, showing how they can take committed stands, even if they don’t know every last answer. The new edition is even more inspirational.” –Bill McKibben

“Brims with stirring stories of everyday heroes who saw something wrong, heeded the voice of their conscience, gathered support and, acting in concert with others, changed things and made a difference.”—Philadelphia Inquirer

“Should be mandatory reading for anyone over the age of 12—especially every woman or man who has traded ‘I give a damn’ for ‘I give up.’”—San Francisco Chronicle
“When my daughter asked from college how to be an effective grassroots citizen, I gave her Paul's book. The new edition is even more powerful.”— Josette Sheeran, Executive Director, United Nations World Food Program

“To really, truly understand why it’s important for us all to stand up and act, and how to do it, read the new updated edition of Soul of a Citizen, an activist classic that belongs on the shelf right next to Saul Alinsky.”—Thom Hartmann

“Soul of a Citizen has inspired countless students, faculty, and other readers since its publication a decade ago. Amazing as that book was, this new version is even wiser, deeper, and more inspiring. Loeb has given even more soul to his wonderful work.” —Thomas Ehrlich, former president Indiana University