“Citizen Power” NJ Edition Published by Rutgers Press

This Citizen Leadership Manual provides the knowledge for all New Jersey residents to realize the full measure of their political power and take on significant, unelected leadership roles in their own communities and the nation.

The Citizens Campaign today announced the publication by Rutgers Press of  its NJ edition of Citizen Power; A Citizen Leadership Manual.  The book includes a practitioners’ guide for practical problem solving of government issues, equipping New Jersey citizens with the knowledge and skills they need to  apply the full measure of their political power to better their communities and nation. By teaching people how to lead  with pragmatic, evidence-based  solutions, it serves as a  powerful antidote to  today’s partisan polarization and finger pointing  in our politics and government.

Written by Harry Pozycki, the founder of The Citizens Campaign, the book is available for $19.95 at  https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/citizen-power/9781978824393

The book  teaches citizens  about their new legal rights to participate in government problem solving and decision making.  It also includes proven political techniques and a roadmap to powerful leadership positions that people can take without having to run for public office.  In short, it teaches regular citizens how to operate the power levers of local politics and government and  where to go to introduce their own solutions.

Citizen Power’s; Practical Problem Solving Guide,  developed in concert with successful practitioners of local government, puts citizens in the drivers’ seat with a step-by-step method on how to find policies that are working successfully in other communities and adapt them for adoption in their own towns. It also informs citizens  of a new  platform to leverage their local solutions for national impact.

“Anyone who believes in  personal civic responsibility can use this book to provide powerful leadership, both by example and by practical solutions in their own community  without having to run for public office ,” said Harry Pozycki.

“We no longer need to feel powerless and frustrated” added Pozycki. “We have the power to drive government from the bottom up.  And our example of unselfish service can restore  mutual respect and pragmatism to our political and governmental culture.”

Praising the new book, former Governor Tom Kean said, “By teaching citizens to be informed participants in government problem solving and giving all citizens the opportunity for public service, The Citizens Campaign is laying the foundation for a new chapter in American democracy.”

Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania and past President of the American Political Science Association Rogers Smith, said,  Citizen Power provides proven practical guidelines for how Americans from all backgrounds can work together on common problems. In this age of polarization that paralyzes us in facing our most severe challenges, nothing is needed more.”

This citizen leadership manual has proven its worth in Civic Trusts facilitated by The Citizens Campaign.  In Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Perth Amboy and Trenton,   service-driven, practical minded citizens serve as Civic Trustees.  They have used the know how gained from  Citizen Power to  bring critical solutions to their cities to beat COVID and create 21^st century policing practices.

Citizen Power; A Citizens Leadership Manual is also used as a text book at Rutgers, Newark School of Public Affairs, Middlesex County  College and serves as the main text for Power Civics, now being taught  to all high school students  in Newark, Trenton, Perth Amboy and Plainfield. Power Civics is a course module developed by The Citizens Campaign for use in university and college political science courses and high school social studies courses. It introduces students to the information and skills they need to be problem solvers and emerging leaders in their own communities.

Pozycki’s first civic book, published in 2002, resulted in regular citizens passing hundreds of local laws with a success rate of over ninety-percent.  He is also the author of a national edition of Citizen Power, published by Rutgers Press.

An accomplished attorney, who  is the founder and full-time volunteer leader of The Citizens Campaign, a community of citizens who with the help of experienced government practitioners is building a culture focused on practical problem solving.  Pozycki draws on the lessons he’s learned getting results, often against steep odds, as an elected official, policy advisor to Governors of both parties, county party chair, and civic innovator.