After being invited to Barcelona, Spain this fall for a chaotic tour of book talks, TV appearances, and radio interviews, I needed a place to recover from all the activity. And one of the greatest realizations of my life has … Continue reading
The Center for the Working Poor has been a leader in developing “non violent action”, or some people say “big ass protest” and a weird specialty in helping groups over the years that want to go on hunger strike for … Continue reading
This is an Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping the 21st Century By Paul Engler Praise for the Book: “Absorbing… Ambitious… Indispensable. A genuine gift to social movements everywhere.” –Naomi Klein “This is a landmark book. [It] puts a name … Continue reading
When the pillars fall — How social movements can win more victories like same-sex marriage Mark Engler and Paul Engler July 9, 2014 Originally appeared on Waging Nonviolence. Not long ago, same-sex marriage in America was not merely an unpopular … Continue reading
Should we fight the system or be the change? Mark Engler and Paul Engler June 3, 2014 Originally appeared on Waging Nonviolence. It is an old question in social movements: Should we fight the system or “be the change we … Continue reading
Can Frances Fox Piven’s theory of disruptive power create the next Occupy? Mark Engler and Paul Engler May 7, 2014 Originally appeared in Waging Nonviolence. Social movements can be fast, and they can be slow. Mostly, the work of social … Continue reading
Would Saul Alinsky break his own rules? Mark Engler and Paul Engler April 2, 2014 Originally appeared in Waging Nonviolence. Although Saul Alinsky, the founding father of modern community organizing in the United States, passed away in 1972, he is … Continue reading
Did nonviolence fail in Egypt? Mark Engler and Paul Engler February 21, 2014 Originally appeared in Waging Nonviolence. Three years ago this month, the 82-year-old president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, stepped down amid historic protests against his dictatorial rule. News … Continue reading
When Martin Luther King gave up his guns Mark Engler and Paul Engler January 15, 2014 Originally appeared on Waging Nonviolence. Few are aware that Martin Luther King, Jr. once applied for a permit to carry a concealed handgun. In … Continue reading
At the end of June, a threat arose in the Philadelphia school district of budget cuts that would eliminate many workers. I would like again to congratulate the parents, and staff, with UNITE HERE local 274, for their amazing 14 … Continue reading
You may find the original article in Yes! Magazine or read the full text below. It was also published on Truthout.org. Click Here to Kick Glenn Beck Off the Air: Web Activism’s Big Wins—and What to Do Next Monday, 24 … Continue reading
I wrote this article with my brother Mark Engler about strategy in the movement to combat climate change. It was published in Dissent magazine and Truthout.org. You can read the complete article below or read it on Truthout.org: Climate of … Continue reading
By Isabelle Nastasia The impact of the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission allowing unlimited and anonymous campaign spending has been profound and could yet be decisive in this election. With an estimated $9.8 billion … Continue reading
High school students staged a small sit-in to demand the bank reveal political expenditures BY NATASHA LENNARD The entire 60 floors of JPMorgan Chase’s downtown New York office building were temporarily blocked off Wednesday so that three high-schoolers could be … Continue reading
The Future of the #Occupy Movement: Solidarity and Escalation The movement can propel significant changes. But #OccupyWallStreet and its allied occupations still have a ways to go before realizing their potential. By Mark Engler Published on October 21, 2011. A … Continue reading
How the anti-corporate protests have evolved into the populist force now sweeping the nation. By Mark Engler Published on October 5, 2011. #OccupyWallStreet is evolving. Now in its third week, the protest movement not only continues to grow—it is maturing … Continue reading
#OccupyWallStreet protests are now well into their second week, and they are increasingly capturing the public spotlight. This is because, whatever limitations their occupation has, the protesters have done many things right. I will admit that I was skeptical about … Continue reading
We will All Become Pilgrims: 2022 Newsletter Summary
December 19th, 2022
By Paul Engler Whenever I write my newsletter, I am afraid a subtle or not-so-subtle repetition will be noticed—I fear I write the same thing over and over again! Generally the theme has something to do with change, uncertainty, and … Continue reading
Liminality is a Recipe for Navigating Winter: Becoming a Pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago
December 19th, 2022
Whether you’re in a midlife, quarter life, or general life crisis, the proverbial crap hits the wall. You break up with your girlfriend, your community starts falling apart, your movement dies, your organization goes bankrupt, you lose the political campaign. … Continue reading
December 19th, 2022
I’m happy to report that our community has stabilized at the Center for the Working Poor house. We haven’t had one person leave in the past year! A welcome contrast to 2021, when we had so many people come and … Continue reading
December 15th, 2021
There is a big debate among economists about a curious phenomenon unfolding right now called “The Great Resignation”. We have an immense labor shortage because people are not returning to work as the experts expected (common after a recession). There … Continue reading
2021 Center Update: Ring the Bell of Hope… Again, and Again
December 15th, 2021
This fall, in one of my first trips to visit my coworkers from the Ayni Institute in Boston, I stopped by New York City to visit one of my closest friends, Eric Stoner. And I was sitting on his couch, … Continue reading
December 15th, 2021
The Center for the Working Poor was founded in 2006, but we didn’t move into our large Victorian house until 2007. Therefore, we have been in the house for 14 years now; and throughout this time, only Paul Engler has … Continue reading
The Story of Community Counseling
December 15th, 2021
Over the last year, we have started beta groups for a new model of mutual aid counseling, called Community Counseling that has engaged dozens in weekly small group counseling practice and training. In November, I went to Boston to lead … Continue reading
2020 Center Update: Surrender and Become Attentive
December 17th, 2020
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die …” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 “Surrender to what is dying, and become attentive to what is emerging.” — … Continue reading
