Making Policy Making Change: How Communities Are Taking Law into Their Own Hands

by Makani N. Themba

Throughout the country, activists are making change and getting it in writing. Read how community groups have successfully developed and promoted more than 1,000 local policies that By using case studies that focus on community organizing campaigns that created local policy, Themba provides an invaluable guidebook for activists. Written for social activists, community organizers, and students of social and public policy, she offers cogent and clear insights into how these successes can be translated to other social justice organizing.

177 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

Reviews

[Monte · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Making Policy, Making Change” is an energizer. Themba offers concrete tactics, examples, and tips for new and seasoned activists and advocates to make local changes in their communities.

Although published 23 years ago, Themba’s gems are useful now more than ever:

“This focus on changing individual behavior and defining public health problems from an individual perspective shifts blame and accountability away from corporate action (or inaction). Yet, corporate activity and government deregulation have had enormous impacts on the public’s health” (p. 14)

“Therefore, all activists working in the public interest share a common media goal: to counter the rhetoric of fear and isolation with that of institutional accountability and community-building” (p. 141).

This is a great book for anyone interested in social movements, public health, advocacy, policy making, or community organizing.