Organizing Roundup

Every week, we see new volunteers asking for the best books, podcasts, and more on rural organizing. In the spirit of the holidays, here’s our top must-read books and must-listen-to podcasts for new organizers, volunteers, and activists working in our rural communities.

Books

• Harvest the Vote: How Democrats Can Win Again in Rural America – A book full of specific and inspiring ways the party can reconnect with rural voters to make our party and our country stronger
• You’re More Powerful than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen – A guide to understanding what citizen power truly is, how it flows, who has it, and how you can claim and exercise it
• Organizing for Social Change: Midwest Academy Manual for Activists – A handbook for grassroots activists seeking social, political, environmental and economic change at all levels of organization -local, state and national.
• Run for Something – A guide for young progressives looking to run for local office, complete with contributions from elected officials and political operatives.
• Dying of Whiteness – A physician reveals how right-wing backlash policies have mortal consequences — even for the white voters they promise to help.
• No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age – A look at exactly how progressives can go about rebuilding powerful movements at work, in our communities, and at the ballot box.

Podcasts

• What About Us? – A discussion about policies that impact rural Tennesseans.
• Majority 54 – A weekly primer that gives you the tools necessary to combat the latest in misinformation, propaganda, and whatever your right-wing co-worker saw on Facebook
• Trillbilly Worker’s Party – A podcast about a town called Whitesburg, Kentucky.
• Rural Roots Rising – A monthly podcast created by and for rural Oregonians who are creatively and courageously building stronger and more vibrant communities for a just democracy!
• Us & Them – A podcast that explores all sides of the cultural issues that too often divide us.

Your turn! What would you add to the list?