{"product_id":"9780985222628","title":"The Power of One: Why we should pay attention to the disruptive ideas of everyday heroes changing America","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne person. One earth-shaking idea. Can ordinary people invent the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esolutions to major social problems like housing shortages or at-risk\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eyouth? New, compelling evidence says yes they can. Like the oil scout\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ewho created a thriving national housing repair program for the elderly\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand disadvantaged. And the mother troubled by a child abduction in\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethe news who crafted the nationwide Amber Alert child rescue plan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince the early 1980's, a quiet revolution has slowly evolved right under\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eour noses created by no one other than the average American citizen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmazingly, this news has evaded the mainstream media. Yet, every\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eday people, comprised of entrepreneurs, parents, athletes, the clergy,\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand even teens are saying, \"enough is enough\" to a fifty-year stretch of\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eless-than-effective government social programs. They've decided to\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etake on the Goliath-sized issues that were once deemed the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eresponsibility of large institutions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBased on 110 interviews across America, researcher and author, Debra\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBerg, reveals the stories behind 26 highly successful social cures\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003einvented by 35 citizen-heroes. Many of the inventors have sacrificed\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehigh -paying jobs, personal lives, and even physical safety to advance\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etheir initiatives. With the backing of volunteers, business, and donors\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethey've combined sweat equity with a heavy dose of compassion. The\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eend result? Transformed lives, more cohesive communities, and a\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esignificant savings to taxpayers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese everyday heroes have gleaned minimal press, but that hasn't\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ediscouraged them. They’re still able to successfully grow and finance\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etheir ideas without the aid of big bureaucracies or expensive PR\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecampaigns. And by applying entrepreneurial savvy to age-old social\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eproblems like poverty, they’re leaving even the most cynical skeptic\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003espeechless.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn short, the nation should be recognizing these innovative citizens and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etheir successes. These secular and faith-based initiatives are engaging\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethousands of volunteers and providing the social templates for\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmerica’ s 21st century cities. And as for any naysayers who’ve\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epredicted the demise of American civic culture? Well, they may be\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esurprised to learn that social innovation is now engaging millions of\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecitizens in democracies throughout the globe!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLearn more at: www.NICENetwork.org\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"National Institute for Civic Enterprise LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49988799791344,"sku":"9780985222628","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780985222628","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}