Synopses & Reviews
Recent waves of social activism like the Occupy movement and Black Lives Matter show that you can fight city hall—or any other powerful entity for that matter. Now comes the playbook for citizen activists wanting to improve the world around them from Nick Licata, admired Seattle city council member and one of the city’s most effective leaders of political and social change since the 1960s. In this smart and powerful book, Licata explains how to get organized, congregate power, and master the tactics for change. He is insightful in comparing effective communication with methods that just don’t work. Licata’s observations on the intricacies of power will empower any activist who wants to make a difference in today’s world.
Review
"Nick Licata has delivered a powerful book about becoming a citizen activist. As someone who spent most of my adult life in elected office, it is refreshing to see someone from the ‘inside’ opening the playbook for those seeking civic change and social justice. Too many times we want the home run, when getting solid hits is the most effective way of enacting change. Nick has been extremely effective over his career by building coalitions and doing the background work that produces results. Sharing his wisdom is not likely to win friends within the halls of government, but I think it will help balance the scale for those working in the trenches." Jim Hunt, former president of the National League of Cities and founder of Amazing Cities
Review
"With plenty of real-life examples, analyses on other movements, and personal stories from Licata’s time on the Seattle City Council, Becoming a Citizen Activist is a thorough book that provides an excellent crash course in political activism." The Epoch Times
Review
"Nick Licata is a rare combination of things: a thinker who knows grassroots activism, an idealist who can pragmatically wield power, and a politician who knows how to change culture. His compact book distills a career of great citizenship into simple lessons and memorable stories. I hope it inspires a new generation to become activists, in and out of office." Eric Liu, founder and CEO of Citizen University
Synopsis
From post-inauguration rallies to #NoDAPL and the Black Lives Matter movement to the global Women's March on Washington, the people are exercising their power through protest and community organizing in a way that hasn't been seen in years. For those looking to organize for the first time or for seasoned activists looking to update their repertoire, the time is ripe for a playbook like Becoming a Citizen Activist. A longtime Seattle city councilmember and one of the city's most effective and inspiring leaders of progressive political and social change since the 1960s, Nick Licata outlines how to get organized and master the tactics to create change by leveraging effective communication strategies (such as creating community through online channels like Facebook and Twitter), how to effectively engage traditional media channels, and how to congregate local and national people power. Licata demonstrates by example that we can fight city hall. Balancing an idealistic vision of a better world with the clear-eyed pragmatism necessary to build it from the ground up, this smart and powerful book will empower any activist with the tools they need to effect change.
Synopsis
A bipartisan self-help guide to political activism for citizens wanting to improve the world around them--with real-life examples and practical tips--from one of Seattle's most celebrated leaders From post-inauguration rallies to #NoDAPL and the Black Lives Matter movement to the global Women's March on Washington, the people are exercising their power through protest and community organizing in a way that hasn't been seen in years. For those looking to organize for the first time or for seasoned activists looking to update their repertoire, the time is ripe for a playbook like Becoming a Citizen Activist.
A longtime Seattle city councilmember and one of the city's most effective and inspiring leaders of progressive political and social change since the 1960s, Nick Licata outlines how to get organized and master the tactics to create change by leveraging effective communication strategies (such as creating community through online channels like Facebook and Twitter), how to effectively engage traditional media channels, and how to congregate local and national people power. Licata demonstrates by example that we can fight city hall.
Balancing an idealistic vision of a better world with the clear-eyed pragmatism necessary to build it from the ground up, this smart and powerful book will empower any activist with the tools they need to effect change.
About the Author
Nick Licata was an 18-year Seattle city council member. His election in 2013 broke all previous records for the highest votes received citywide for a city councilmember in a contested race.