Publications

Si’s most recent book is Creative Community Organizing: A Guide for Rabble-Rousers, Activists and Quiet Lovers of Justice (Berrett-Koehler, 2010). The book features forewords by Angela Davis and Jim Hightower. Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman wrote about the book:

Democracy is not a gift bestowed by the powerful on the rest of us. If we want democracy now, we have to be willing to fight for it – and we need to know how. Si Kahn’s passionate new book, based on a lifetime of organizing for justice, offers hope for all of us who will not compromise the dream of democracy.

Si’s most recent book prior to Creative Community Organizing is The Fox in the Henhouse: How Privatization Threatens Democracy (Berrett-Koehler, 2006), co-authored with public/feminist philosopher Elizabeth Minnich, his long time partner and spouse. Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor of The Nation, wrote of this book:

Inspiring to read, this book will be of great value to organizers, activists and citizens of conscience . . . Nothing less than our democracy is at stake when extremists want to roll back our hard-earned rights. It offers a spirited blueprint for all citizens who care about renewing America’s best and most generous traditions.

Si is the author of two widely used organizing handbooks, How People Get Power and Organizing: A Guide for Grassroots Leaders, which together have sold over 80,000 copies. Both were published by McGraw-Hill, and later reissued by the National Association of Social Workers Press (NASW Press).

He is the author of the Si Kahn Songbook (Hal Leonard, Publishing, 1989), as well as of articles in such magazines and journals as The Nation, Liberal Education, Alternet, New York University Law Journal, The Journal of Community Practice, Social Policy, The Journal of Appalachian Studies, Southern Exposure, New South, South Today, Southern Patriot, Mountain Life and Work, People’s Appalachia, Old Time Music Magazine and Horizons, the magazine for Presbyterian women. He wrote the section on community organizing for the 19th edition of the Encyclopedia of Social Work, published by the National Association of Social Workers Press.

He is the author of Si Kahn Songbook (Hal Leonard, Publishing, 1989), as well as of articles in such magazines and journals as The Nation, Liberal Education, Alternet, New York University Law Journal, The Journal of Community Practice, Social Policy, Southern Exposure, New South, South Today, Southern Patriot, Mountain Life and Work, People’s Appalachia, Old Time Music Magazine and Horizons, the magazine for Presbyterian women. He wrote the section on community organizing for the 19th edition of the Encyclopedia of Social Work, published by the National Association of Social Workers Press.

April 14th will be a very special show.  My dear friend of over 50 years, Si Kahn, turns 80-years-old on April 23rd and I’m throwing a Si Kahn 80th Birthday Party.  Besides being a frequent partner-in-crime, Si and I co-wrote five consecutive Grammy-nominated albums, toured our Signs of the Times tour (with sign language artist, Susan Freundlich). Not incidentally, Si is the godfather of my son Peter.  I was the first person to record a Si Kahn song, even before his incredible debut album New Wood.  So, I’ll reprise that first song, along with lots more of his great music.  But, most wonderfully, there will be over a dozen artists, including Billy Bragg, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Tom Chapin, Jane Sapp, Holly Near, and Kathy Mattea, who’ll be chiming in with tales about Si and singing some of his classic songs.  This will be an incredible evening and a chance to not only hear some great music, but honor the guy I declared, “The best damn songwriter in the South…in his spare time!” back in 1975. 

Even if you’re not able to watch the celebration live, your ticket will allow you to view a recording of the full event for the next two weeks.

100% of ticket sales will go to support the official launch at the concert of the Si Kahn Living Legacy, a new non-profit project that will make available in perpetuity those of Si’s songs, stories, song cycles for children and adults, poems, unpublished books, musicals, and other creative works that have never before been available to the public, and ultimately keep them alive and easily accessible after he’s gone.