Social Civics

The current school system churns out millions of illiterates and mental zombies—but here's how we're going to fix it, starting today. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents across the nation grapple with a new and horrifying understanding of just how bad our educational system has become. It all adds up to a system that seems hopelessly, terribly, and irrevocably broken.

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.

Mel Hurtig turns his attention to the devastating impact that the Stephen Harper government has had on Canada, radically altering the democratic, social, and economic fabric of the country. He shows how Stephen Harper's single-minded pursuit of big oil and the tar sands, at a time when the world must take dramatic action to arrest climate change, has inflicted enormous damage on our country and international reputation.

American Grace takes its findings from two of the largest, most comprehensive surveys ever conducted on religion and public life in America, plus in-depth studies of diverse congregations---among them a megachurch, a Mormon congregation, a Catholic parish, a reform Jewish synagogue, and an African American congregation.

Community shapes our identity, quenches our thirst for belonging, and bolsters our physical, mental, emotional, and economic health. But in the chaos of modern life, community ties have become unraveled, leaving many feeling afraid or alone in the crowd, grasping at shallow substitutes for true community. In this thoughtful and moving book, Paul Born describes the four pillars of deep community: sharing our stories, taking the time to enjoy one another, taking care of one another, and working together for a better world.

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.

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.

You are no doubt a busy individual with a lot of things going on! It can be challenging to find the time to study in preparation for the uscis civic exam. However, the truth is that the US Citizenship test is a challenging test. It is normal to have some anxiety about taking this test. Thorough preparation cannot be overlooked. That is why the author James Goldsmith developed the US Citizenship Test Study Guide! It contains hundreds of practice questions and reviews all essential concepts found on the exam from all categories of the exam.

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.

To have a thriving society, we need people and communities who are actively involved in civic life. For politicians, public servants, corporations, or planners to engage with communities in any positive way, they need to learn a new way of doing things.

Based on extensive research with organizations and companies that are boldly breaking out of business as usual, Beloved Economies offer listeners an imagination-expanding vision of what work could be. Authors Rimington and Cea explore possibilities for how we work, learning with more than sixty people from a wide array of enterprises. What these groups have in common is that they are generating forms of success that audaciously prioritize well-being, meaning, connection and resilience—alongside conventional metrics like quality and financial success.

In austerity Britain, disabled people have become the favourite target. From social care to the benefits system, politicians and media alike have made the case that Britain's 12 million disabled people are a drain on the public purse. In Crippled, leading commentator Frances Ryan exposes the disturbing reality, telling the story of those most affected by this devastating regime. This includes a paralysed man forced to crawl down the stairs because the council wouldn't provide accessible housing and the young girl with bipolar forced to turn to sex work to survive.

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.

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.

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.