Grassroots Leaders for a New Economy
How Civic Entrepreneurs Are Building Prosperous Communities
J-B US non-Franchise Leadership
1. Edition March 1997
272 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
A seminal work in fleshing out the kind of leadership we need to
renew and prepare communities for the demands of democracy in the
coming era.
Ronald Heifetz, director, Leadership Education Project, John F.
Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Jolted by the economic downturn of the early 1990s and the rapid
globalization of the economy, a group of California business,
government, education, and community leaders formed Joint Venture:
Silicon Valley, a collaborative regional alliance that helped
create a strengthened economy and an improved quality of life in
their community. Now three of Joint Venture's advisers outline the
process that led to this dramatic turnaround, as well as success
stories in Florida, Ohio, Kansas, and Texas. They reveal the
powerful new concept of civic entrepreneurship, and they offer
practical, proven strategies that community leaders across the
country can employ to foster local economic development and
renewal.
Grassroots Leaders for a New Economy explains the unique
leadership qualities that set civic entrepreneurs apart, and
illustrates how these leaders can emerge from all levels of
private, public, social, and civic organizations. The book shows
how civic entrepreneurs forge powerfully productive linkages at the
intersection of business, government, education, and community, and
it demonstrates how they operate at the grassroots level to create
collaborative advantages that make it possible for their
economic communities to compete on the global stage.
Citing numerous real-life examples, authors Douglas Henton, John
Melville, and Kimberly Walesh illustrate the necessary steps to
build an economic community. They show how civic entrepreneurs
motivate and network to organize for action, set priorities, and
mobilize resources to get things done. Finally, they demonstrate
how to sustain cross-sector collaboration over the long haul for
the good of the community. An indispensable resource, Grassroots
Leaders for a New Economy offers step-by-step guidance and
practical advice equally useful to business executives, elected
officials and public managers, community development practitioners,
or concerned citizens who want to take an active role in shaping
the future of local economic development.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR THE INFORMATION AGE.
Communities Meet the New Economy.
Civic Entrepreneurs: Leaders at the Grassroots.
The Four Steps in Building Community.
HOW CIVIC ENTREPRENEURS BUILD COMMUNITY.
Initiation: Networking and Motivating Change.
Incubation: Setting Shared Priorities.
Implementation: Mobilizing Resources to Get Things Done.
Improvement and Renewal: Helping the Community Change
Continuously.
Conclusion: Renewing America One Community at a Time: Speeding
the Change Process.
renew and prepare our communities for the demands of democracy in
the coming era. This book is full of concrete and inspiring
examples of leadership partnerships, with and without authority, in
the service of community. A major contribution." (Dr. Ronald
Heifetz, Director, Leadership Education Project, John F. Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard University)
"This is an excellent resource guide for leaders who are working to
prepare their communities for 21st century competitiveness. It is
loaded with proven ideas and examples of collaboration which have
made a real difference in regions across America." (Lewis E. Platt,
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Hewlett-Packard
Company)
"Finally a book that recognizes and illuminates the vital
contribution of local leaders -- or civic entrepreneurs -- to
economic development. This book is must reading for anyone who
cares about creating and sustaining dynamic economic communities in
the twenty-first century." (AnnaLee Saxenian, Professor of Regional
Planning, University of California at Berkeley)
"Many foundations and nonprofit organizations have begun seriously
to turn their attention to the field of regional economic
development, on the understanding that a failed economy has broad
negative implications for the poor, and for the quality of life for
everyone in a community. This book helps us immensely to understand
how regional economies can be improved, and where philanthropic
support can be directed to help with that effort." (Nick Bollman,
Program Officer, The James Irvine Foundation)
"The role of Civic Entrepreneurs is critical in enhancing the
economic vitality of our communities. This book is a 'must' for
community and business leaders who are concerned about the future
of their communities." (Tapan Munroe, Chief Economist, Pacific Gas
& Electric Company)
"The handbook for leaders in the 21st century! With insight,
inspiration, and tons of examples, the authors show how the best
entrepreneurs take care of their own businesses and their
communities." (Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps, co-authors of
VIRTUAL TEAMS and THE AGE OF THE NETWORK)
"For community active boomers, X'ers and echo generations,civic
crisis has replaced civic duty as their personal call to action.
Closed door decision-making no longer works. They get results from
civic entrepreneurship." (Alan Hald, vice chairman, Micro Age
Computer)
"The energy for bringing about meaningful change in America lies in
the entrepreneurial spirit of our citizens. In my community, we
have unlocked this energy and have significantly improved the
quality of life in our neighborhoods. This book is required reading
for every civic leader." (GlAnda E. Hood, Mayor, City of
Orlando)
"Grassroots Leaders puts the focus where it should be today -- on
the new breed of civic activists who are renewing our nation
community by community." (Chris Gates, President, National Civic
League)
