Civic Science

In the rubble of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans and ultrarich "Puertopians" are locked in a pitched struggle over how to remake the island. In this vital and startling investigation, The New York Times best-selling author and activist Naomi Klein uncovers how the forces of shock politics and disaster capitalism seek to undermine the nation's radical, resilient vision for a just recovery.

10 Steps to Naturalization is a straightforward roadmap that explains how to become a U.S. citizen with confidence and clarity. The booklet walks you through every stage, beginning with confirming whether you may already be a citizen and determining your eligibility to apply. It outlines how to prepare and submit Form N-400, gather supporting documents, and navigate biometrics, background checks, and the naturalization interview.

Some acts of courage never make the news, yet they are the quiet force that keeps the world steady. Quiet Valor: Everyday Americans shines a light on the men and women whose small, decisive moments hold families, communities, and entire towns together when it matters most. These are the people who rarely seek attention but whose choices create real safety, comfort, and connection in the lives around them.

Family Leave by Sage Ellison offers a comprehensive guide to transforming how communities approach family and medical support through paid leave. It addresses the critical issue many face when balancing the demands of work with family needs, highlighting how the lack of supportive policies can lead to difficult choices between financial stability and personal well-being. The book is a resource for those struggling with family leave challenges, such as confusion about policies, lack of advocacy in the workplace, and the need for clearer support systems.

In "Fund Community Safety: Effective Strategies for Violence Intervention and Local Change," author Sage Ellison provides a valuable resource for communities seeking to enhance safety and prevent violence through grassroots initiatives. As communities face challenges like finding reliable funding sources, implementing effective strategies, and navigating complex safety programs, this guide offers actionable steps for creating safer, more connected environments.

"Empowering Workers: Unionization and Card-Check Neutrality for Fair Workplaces" by Sage Ellison is a vital guide for employees and community leaders seeking to advocate for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions. As workplaces evolve, understanding the potential of unionization and card-check neutrality becomes essential for creating positive change. The book addresses common challenges many workers face, such as lack of transparency regarding wages, feeling undervalued, and compromising safety in the workplace.

"Building Trust: Achieving Police Accountability Through Civilian Oversight" by Sage Ellison addresses the critical gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency to foster trust. The book offers a roadmap for overcoming challenges such as poor communication, inadequate understanding of civilian oversight, and difficulties in implementing police reform. Ellison presents essential strategies for developing effective civilian oversight committees and understanding the legal frameworks that govern public safety.

"Restoring Our Vote" by Sage Ellison is a compelling guide that empowers communities to reclaim the Voting Rights Act and enhance democratic engagement. Recognizing the disillusionment many feel toward the electoral system, the book presents actionable strategies to combat the erosion of voting rights.

Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea is a powerful call to action for Koreans and supporters everywhere to achieve a new nation, rooted in a common past. In this Centennial Edition, which debuted on several bestseller lists including the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, and Publishers Weekly, Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon presents an innovative way forward for the Korean Peninsula that at its heart is Korean led. Ultimately, Korean reunification is the only long-term solution to security, economic, and social problems created through a 70-year division of the Peninsula.

Is democracy in trouble, perhaps even dying? Pundits say so, and polls show that most Americans believe that their country's system of governance is being "tested" or is "under attack." But is the future of democracy necessarily so dire? In The Civic Bargain, Brook Manville and Josiah Ober push back against the prevailing pessimism about the fate of democracy around the world. Instead of an epitaph for democracy, they offer a guide for democratic renewal, calling on citizens to recommit to a "civic bargain" with one another to guarantee civic rights of freedom, equality, and dignity.

What if understanding one government form could open the door to U.S. citizenship—and transform your students’ confidence along the way? This guide, Understanding Key Concepts Found in Form N-400, is designed to help adult citizenship teachers explain the essential language, structures, and ideas embedded in the naturalization application. It breaks the form into eight core concept areas—naming conventions, addresses, family relationships, employment and schooling, duration of time, perfect-tense question structures (“have you ever”), memberships and associations, and promises and oaths.

Voting for Change by Sage Ellison is a crucial guide aimed at revamping the American voting system to better reflect the voices of its citizens. Many people feel disheartened by a political landscape where their votes seem insignificant and choices are limited. This book presents Ranked-Choice and Proportional Voting as transformative methods that empower communities and enhance democratic participation. Ellison addresses common issues like frustration over uneven representation and the lack of diverse candidates.

Social psychologist Peter T. Coleman explores how conflict resolution and complexity science provide guidance for dealing with seemingly intractable political differences. Deploying the concept of attractors in dynamical systems, he explains why we are stuck in this rut as well as the unexpected ways that deeply rooted oppositions can and do change.

Richard Dreyfuss is a forceful advocate for civic education. His latest work, One Thought Scares Me…, explains how the lack of civics education in American education for the last fifty years has led to the deterioration of all aspects of the lives of us, the people. And it shows us the path to reclaiming our American ideals.

In Nest City, Beth Sanders argues that our linear ways of thinking about, organizing, and planning our cities do not meet the true nature of cities as complex and messy systems. At a time when understanding the relationship between our physical, economic, and social habitats is essential, Sanders sets forth an approach to work with the disruptions of our times. Our work is what regenerates our cities. The city habitats we make for ourselves are as good as we choose to make them. If they’re not good enough, it’s up to us to improve them.

This is the ONLY study material you need for the current Citizenship interview exam.

Empathetic and excellent advice from one of our nation's leading Housing Authority experts, having served in leadership roles across eight major U.S. cities and one in Canada. In his book, Housing Humans- A Vicarious Memorandum, Gene first describes his early childhood and military life and details how his experiences led him to finding his ultimate calling in working to improve the lives of others via affordable housing. Gene later articulates his specific call-to-action for national housing reform.

Soul of a Citizen awakens within us the desire and the ability to make our voices heard and our actions count. We can lead lives worthy of our convictions. Soul of a Citizen is an antidote to the twin scourges of modern life - powerlessness and cynicism. In his evocative style, Paul Loeb tells moving stories of ordinary Americans who have found unexpected fulfillment in social involvement. Through their example and Loeb's own wise and powerful lessons, we are compelled to move from passivity to participation.

Before the Civil War, colonization schemes and black laws threatened to deport former slaves born in the United States. Birthright Citizens recovers the story of how African American activists remade national belonging through battles in legislatures, conventions, and courthouses.

In "Voting Access: Empowering Communities Through Local Civic Action," Sage Ellison addresses the significant barriers that hinder effective voter participation at the local level. This practical guide empowers communities to enhance democratic engagement and overcome obstacles such as inaccessible polling places, convoluted registration processes, and limited resources for organizing voter drives. Ellison provides essential strategies for grassroots activism, equipping listeners with the skills to identify voting barriers and create initiatives tailored to their communities.