Praise for Civic Revolutionaries

"Laden with real-life examples of unconventional civic action now underway across the U.S.A., Civic Revolutionaries provides the intellectual ferment and operational framework for truly exciting advances in America’s metropolitan regions during the first decades of the 21st century. I know my friend and mentor John W. Gardner would be delighted by the appearance and likely strong impact of this book."

–Neal Peirce, syndicated columnist, Washington Post Writers Group and coauthor, Citistates

"As America faces the future there is no shortage of leaders, but what about stewards–those people who are change agents that act out of a sense of responsibility for the long-term future of their community? Civic Revolutionaries is the first book to tell us why and how to become one."

–John Parr, president and CEO, Alliance for Regional Stewardship

"The need for regional stewardship will become increasingly compelling as the footprint of our daily lives extends beyond traditional political boundaries. The book is filled with insights for those who want to look over the horizon at the future challenges to the leadership of every American political, business, and nonprofit institution created by this new phenomenon."

–George Vradenburg, vice chair, Alliance for Regional Stewardship

"This is a book you have to read if you are (or want to be) a community leader. The authors describe a new revolution of civic institution building that is transforming every corner of American life."

–Edward J. Blakely, dean, Robert J. Milano Graduate School, New School University and member of the board of directors, Regional Plan Association

Adopting the concept of civic stewardship advocated by John Gardner (founder of Common Cause and the Independent Sector and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare), the authors (principles in a company that "forges linkage between local governments, businesses, and nonprofits") describe successful civic leadership as a balancing act between competing positive values. They devote a chapter each to examining such competing pairs as individual and community, trust and accountability, economy and society, change and continuity, people and place, and idealism and pragmatism. Those leaders that manage to balance such values are civic "revolutionaries."
Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

x A book that shows how to lead community change in the true spirit of the American revolution.
x Offers a wealth of useful and proven strategies for leading community transformation.
x This book features in-depth case studies of communities across America that accomplished revolutionary change.

Why do some communities have the capacity to change direction, break from tradition, and in effect, reinvent themselves? Why are they able to capitalize on trends and opportunities while other communities cannot? The answer lies in a special kind of leadership, born from the American revolutionary tradition.

Civic Revolutionaries offers a practical guide for renewing the great American tradition of spirited, breakthrough community leadership. By their very nature, revolutionary leaders help their communities reconcile the competing values on which our nation was built: individualism and community, freedom and responsibility, trust and accountability, economy and society. Like the Founders, today’s civic revolutionaries are extraordinary leaders who are deeply committed to place, not just to specific issues or constituencies. They provide the vital spark, inspiring others who must ultimately own the revolution if it is to be successful.

Written for leaders in business, government, education, and community, Civic Revolutionaries features practical guidance and in-depth case studies from communities across the country. The book provides tested advice for both new and seasoned leaders and draws essential lessons from the American revolutionary tradition to demonstrate how to become an effective leader within the community.

Civic Revolutionaries can help meet the complex challenges of communities today by helping leaders act as regional stewards of the ongoing American Experiment. Using the guiding principles and practical role models outlined in this book, we can learn how to foster the passion for civic rebirth in every community.

Civic Revolutionariesoffers a practical guide for renewing the great American tradition of spirited, breakthrough community leadership. By their very nature, revolutionary leaders help their communities reconcile the competing values on which our nation was built: individualism and community, freedom and responsibility, trust and accountability, economy and society. Like the Founders, today's civic revolutionaries are extraordinary leaders who are deeply committed to place, not just to specific issues or constituencies. They provide the vital spark, inspiring others who must ultimately own the revolution if it is to be successful. Written for leaders in business, government, education, and community, Civic Revolutionariesfeatures practical guidance and in-depth case studies from communities across the country. The book provides tested advice to both new and seasoned leaders and draws essential lessons from the American revolutionary tradition to demonstrate how to become an effective leader within the community.

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Douglas Henton, John Melville, and Kim Walesh are principals in Collaborative Economics (http://www.coecon.com), a firm based in Mountain View, California, that forges linkage between local governments, businesses, and nonprofits to promote successful communities. They are also the authors of Grassroots Leaders for a New Economy, published by Jossey-Bass.

Dedication.

Foreword (Becky Morgan).

Acknowledgments.

The Authors.

Introduction: The Creative Tensions of the Continuing American Experiment.

1. Individual and Community: Creating Common Purpose.

2. Trust and Accountability: Building Webs of Responsibility.

3. Economy and Society: Strengthening the Vital Cycle.

4. People and Place: Making the Creative Connection.

5. Change and Continuity: Creating Vigilance for Renewal.

6. Idealism and Pragmatism: Building Resilience of Place.

7. The Rise of the New Civic Revolutionaries: Answering the Call to Stewardship.

References.

Index.