Chain Of Change
We are proud to announce our exciting statewide initiative in which we will (re)visit Mel King’s 1981 title, Chain of Change: Struggles For Black Community Development. Although it was originally published in 1981, the ideas and observations King complied from his experience as an activist, public servant and community builder in this book are timeless. Therefore, we can use Chain of Change as a field guide on how to effectively build community, solidarity, and coalitions.
Our goals are to:
- revisit King's thought leadership and legacy
- learn the history and context of community and economic development in Boston
- explore how we can integrate the concepts presented in the book to address issues we still face today
- build community through discussion and connection
We believe that hosting a series of book clubs across the state is a powerful strategy to learn and integrate, the concepts, strategies, and observations King presents in this book while simultaneously building community.
How to host a Chain of Change Book Club:
- Gather a few folks - colleagues, committees, coalitions, and community cohorts
- Sign up to host a club through our enrollment form
- Decide your book club format
- Secure copies of the book through
- Frugal Books
- your local library
- Mel King Institute will have some copies for those who need them donated by Eastern Bank Foundation
2024-2025 Chain of Change Book Club Timeline:
October 30-December 18, 2024: Enrollment period to establish your book club
November 18, 2024: Share Discussion Guide with Book Club Leaders
December 13, 2024: Chain of Change Webinar and Q&A
November 2024-February 2025: Reading Period
February 2025: Reflection Event (TBD)