Steve Burghardt is Emeritus Professor of Social Work at Silberman School of Social Work. He is an eight-time award winning professor of community organizing, political economy, and anti-oppression practice for over 50 years. Burghardt began organizing at age seventeen and has continued in his social justice work ever since.

• Introduction: Harsh truths, humble lessons, & steps toward radical hopePart one: Harsh truths· Chapter one: The more things change, the more things stay the same?· Chapter two: From 'deindustrialization' to 'globalization:' The lyrics may differ, but not the tune· Chapter three: It used to be a village: The 'community' crisis of grass roots organizing· Chapter four: The disquieting strategic smarts behind Christian nationalismPart two: Humble lessons· Chapter five: Why intersectionality is more-and less-than a seven syllable word· Chapter six: Can you keep building your base and win elections?Part three: Sometimes, the personal is political: A few tools for organizers· Chapter seven: Letting go of the exhausting urgency of the organizer's mindset· Chapter eight: Why walking on eggshells won't get us up the mountaintop· Chapter nine: Actions really do speak louder with words: An organizer's internal strategic visionRadical hope· Chapter ten: Humility, reciprocity, collectivity: Radical hope & the birth of the unimagined new

These are tough times and this one among the worst. Burghardt takes on the causes and the consequences of the Right but also the critical opportunities, alternatives, and challenging potentials for today's community organizers. Building on his classic The Other Side of Organizing, he's not afraid to address present-day limits, especially in radical theory, while still affirming activism underway in communities across the nation. Burghardt uses his broad depth of experience and teaching not only to detail our challenges but to present future strategic opportunities with humility and hope.