Clement Petitjean

Dec 19, 2023 | ssir.org | Clement Petitjean

Occupation: Organizer: A Critical History of Community Organizing in America Clément Petitjean340 pages, Haymarket Books, 2023Buy the book »It is now a commonly held belief that funding organizing work is the most effective way to bring about real, effective social change. But what is the history behind that belief? How have full-time organizers come to be regarded as discreet but crucial incubators of people power? And what role have philanthropic foundations played in that very American story?

Sep 21, 2023 | inthesetimes.com | Clement Petitjean

Before he became Chicago’s new mayor, Brandon Johnson worked for several years as an organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union. It was a label many media outlets were drawn to surrounding his election: ​“Brandon Johnson: Organizer. Anti-establishment. Servant-leader. From middle school teacher to Chicago mayor,” read a Chicago Tribune headline on April 9.

Apr 8, 2023 | haymarketbooks.org | Clement Petitjean |Joe Burns |David Palumbo-Liu |Robyn Maynard

"Occupation: Organizer sets out to be a comprehensive guide and assessment to the world of community organizing. For those interested in pursuing a career in community organizing, Occupation: Organizer is an essential read. It provides an in-depth understanding of the work involved and explores its historical and societal significance.

Mar 29, 2023 | jacobin.com | Clement Petitjean

One way of looking at this is through Alicia Garza’s memoir, where she recounts her involvement in creating the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag in 2013 and expounds her views on what movements are and should be. She hammers home the point that, even though social media and digital tools may make it seem like it’s easy to bring huge numbers into the streets to protest, movements are not built by hashtags and tweets: they’re built by people.