The ways that social advocates organize to fight unaffordable housing and homelessness in Los Angeles, illuminated by a new conceptual framework for studying collective action How Civic Action Works renews the tradition of inquiry into collective, social problem solving. Paul Lichterman follows grassroots activists, nonprofit organization staff, and community service volunteers in three coalitions and twelve organizations in Los Angeles as they campaign for affordable housing, develop new housing, or address homelessness. Lichterman shows that to understand how social advocates build their campaigns, craft claims, and choose goals, we need to move beyond well-established thinking about what is strategic. Lichterman presents a pragmatist-inspired sociological framework that illuminates core tasks of social problem solving, both contentious and noncontentious, by grassroots and professional advocates alike. He reveals that advocates’ distinct styles of collective action produce different understandings of what is strategic, and generate different dilemmas for advocates because each style accommodates varying social and institutional pressures. We see, too, how patterns of interaction create a cultural filter that welcomes some claims about housing problems while subordinating or delegitimating others. These cultural patterns help solve conceptual and practical puzzles, such as why coalitions fragment when members agree on many things, and what makes advocacy campaigns separate housing from homelessness or affordability from environmental sustainability. Lichterman concludes by turning this action-centered framework toward improving dialogue between social advocates and researchers. Using extensive ethnography enriched by archival evidence, How Civic Action Works explains how advocates meet the relational and rhetorical challenges of collective action.

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER • The true story of one man so determined to take down two of the nation's largest corporations accused of killing children from water contamination that he risks losing everything. "The legal thriller of the decade." —Cleveland Plain Dealer Described as “a page-turner filled with greed, duplicity, heartache, and bare-knuckle legal brinksmanship" by The New York Times, A Civil Action is the searing, compelling tale of a legal system gone awry—one in which greed and power fight an unending struggle against justice. Yet it is also the story of how one man can ultimately make a difference. Representing the bereaved parents, the unlikeliest of heroes emerges: a young, flamboyant Porsche-driving lawyer who hopes to win millions of dollars and ends up nearly losing everything, including his sanity. With an unstoppable narrative power reminiscent of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, A Civil Action is an unforgettable reading experience that will leave the reader both shocked and enlightened. A Civil Action was made into a movie starring John Travolta and Robert Duvall.

This next generation of U.S. citizens has the opportunity to shape the nation and the world. With knowledge of the foundations of citizenship and society, readers can make informed decisions and actively participate in their community and wider government. This book teaches readers about the civics concept of taking civic action through engaging text and colorful photographs. In this book, readers will learn about taking action in the form of a vote. This nonfiction book is paired with the fiction book My Class Vote (ISBN: 9781538364840). The instructional guide on the inside front and back covers provides: Vocabulary, Background knowledge, Text-dependent questions, Whole class activities, and Independent activities.

Being a part of a community is a privilege. In this informative and inspiring text, readers will learn about the responsibilities and benefits of active citizenship. This volume covers ways to become an informed citizen, how to make your voice heard in the community, how to affect change, and the roles of public servants in the community. The direct language and appealing photographs will hold readers' attention, reinforcing concepts covered in elementary social studies curriculum.

This next generation of U.S. citizens has the opportunity to shape the nation and the world. With knowledge of the foundations of citizenship and society, readers can make informed decisions and actively participate in their community and wider government. This book teaches readers about the civics concept of taking civic action through engaging text and colorful photographs. In this book, readers will learn about civic action in the real-world setting of a town park. This nonfiction book is paired with the fiction book Kaya Cleans the Park (ISBN: 9781538364727). The instructional guide on the inside front and back covers provides: Vocabulary, Background knowledge, Text-dependent questions, Whole class activities, and Independent activities.