About the Author

John Atlas, a longtime public interest lawyer, writer, and organizer, is a founder and current president of the National Housing Institute, which publishes Shelterforce. His work has appeared in numerous publications including The Huffington Post, The Star Ledger, The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Tikkun, The Nation, Dissent, New Jersey Reporter, and Social Policy.

Reviews

" 'Community organizer' has become a household phrase--sometimes a commendation, sometimes a slur. But the public knows little about it, or about ACORN, that lightning rod for right-wing abuse. No one has written more informatively about this difficult, necessary work than John Atlas." --Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage "Long before the 2008 election made ACORN either famous or notorious, depending on your political point of view, John Atlas was closely following the group over its decades of community organizing throughout America. A knowledgeable and empathetic observer, but never an apologist, Atlas has now written the definitive work on ACORN." --Samuel G. Freedman, author of Letters to a Young Journalist "Seeds of Change is the definitive book on one of the most effective grass roots organizations of low income Americans. In an era when our President is a one-time community organizer, ACORN needs to be better understood and appreciated as a source of civic and political mobilization. John Atlas combines scholarship, political insight, and powerful narrative writing in this essential book." --Robert Kuttner, author, co-founder of The American Prospect magazine "Seeds of Change is an exceptionally important book--a vivid, honest, and gripping look at the front lines, warts and controversies and all. John Atlas's story of ACORN is also a broader story of critical importance to the nation at this moment of change and transition. He tells the tale of a new populist movement of ordinary citizens beginning to emerge, taking on everyday issues of housing, health care, wages, and schools, and also the broadest question, the future and fate of American democracy itself." --Harry C. Boyte, founder and co-director, Center for Democracy and Citizenship "Seeds of Change takes us inside the world of ACORN, perhaps the most complicated national progressive organization in America. By gaining access and trust where most reporters had failed, Atlas deploys his journalistic skills beautifully in this powerful portrait of people working to realize a vision of social prosperity." --Sudhir Venkatesh, Columbia University "This timely and engaging book about one of America's most important antipoverty organizations is a must read. Couched within the broader context of American culture and politics, John Atlas' riveting stories about ACORN as an organization and its activities accomplishes the following: The reader of Seeds of Change gains an understanding not only of ACORN's success in the fight for social justice, but also why its efforts to empower ordinary people are viewed with alarm and have come under attack by conservative and reactionary forces in our society." --William Julius Wilson, Harvard University

"...excellent history of ACORN's rise and fall..."
--The American Prospect

"..an impressively detailed, thougtful, and honest history of ACORN..."
--World Wide Work

"Seeds of Change not only provides a gripping look at ACORN's four decades of effective organizing, but also offers a hopeful analysis of the potential for a revival of real American democracy."
--thedeepening.com/greatnon-fiction/2010

"Atlas delivers a rare look into the machinery of a high-profile, controversial grassroots organization."
--Bostonia