Category Archives: Activism

Watch the Video – “Grassroots Campaigning 101”

***We need to win and govern for peace, justice, and equity!***

Hey, want to help stop a Right Wing White Supremacist Plutocracy from taking over America and completely pulverizing safety nets, public education, civil liberties, and other good stuff? The only solution is that people who stand for justice, peace, opportunity, and equity MUST run for local office and then GOVERN. Learn how to start down this path (or help others to do so) at our “Grassroots Campaigning 101” workshop. We had two amazing guests visit and drop knowledge – master campaigner Rebecca Reynolds Williams and Founder/CEO of My Block My Hood My City, Jahmal Cole. Click the image below to watch the video (1 hr. 43 min)>>>

“Civics 101” @ i c stars

I teach “Civics 101” for the awesome training and leadership development organization i c stars. The most current class, Cycle 47, sent me a wonderful set of images expressing how the class (four sessions) impacted them. I was deeply touched. Thank you. If you would like a civics workshop, please contact me at tom@civiclab.us. You can see the workshops I offer via the POWER Institute.

Tom Launches “Great Public Report” – First Episode on the Hoover Dam

I’ve been thinking about “public” and working to define, defend, and expand it for the past 12 years. Here is the first of a new series of webisodes I’m calling the “Great Public Report” as a way to talk about and stimulate dialog around the concept of “public.” Please watch it at our YouTube Channel and subscribe. Follow me at @tomstee and post using #MorePublic. If we don’t protect the Public, it will be taken from us.

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Tom Tresser here. I’m a civic educator and public defender based in Chicago. This is the first episode (5/2/20) of a series of webisodes called “The Great Public Report” which will about lifting up and advancing our public stuff, services, and values.

America Needs #MorePublic. Desperately.

Tom Tresser Urges “More Public!” for 2020
Tom Tresser of the CivicLab in Chicago (www.tresser.com – www.civiclab.us) had these prophetic words for activists gathering in Chicago in April of 2019 for the NewFounders conference. tom@tresser.com #MorePublic #tomstee (4 min, 49 sec) The simple URL for this clip = https://tinyurl.com/Tom-urges-MorePublic

4 minutes, 49 seconds

I gave these short remarks at the April 2019 NewFounders Conference in Chicago. If you agree, please follow me @tomstee!

My Take On Just Economic Development

“The key to spreading prosperity, justice and opportunity across Chicago requires turning the page on old neoliberal market-based and clout-driven economic development programs. This was true long before coronavirus fallout clouded the financial picture for not just the city but the nation.

The first program that needs to bite the planning dust is tax-increment financing districts, which the rich and powerful have used to siphon billions of dollars of property tax revenues from important public needs, such as schools, parks and libraries.” Read the entire op-ed from the April 6, 2020 issue of Crain’s. If you agree with us that TIFs need to be ABOLISHED, join the campaign here.

Why We Need A Robust “Public”!

The utter failure of the Trump Administration to deal with the global pandemic is a stark reminder of why we need a strong, competent, nimble, and service-oriented PUBLIC sector – ready to act powerfully for the public good. Take a look at Douglas Amy’s book “Government is Good – An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution.” If you want a great response to these times, then check out the movement for a Green New Deal and help make it happen!

Social Justice Needs a Home – The Case for the CivicLab

“Chicagoland’s civic health is on life support.”

That was the grim assessment from the 2010 report “Chicago Civic Health Index.” The report was prepared by the McCormick Foundation and the Citizen’s Advocacy Center. “The 2010 Chicago Civic Health Index demonstrates the failure of the region to prepare its youngest citizens for their adult civic responsibilities, along with the effects of endemic political corruption and the widespread cynicism and disengagement it spawns.” Ouch.

Fast forward to 2019. How are we doing?

Not so well.

Read the full essay…

Book Time With Tom

Use Square Appointments to secure a block of time with Tom to talk strategy, TIFs, civic engagement, innovation and social change or other matters.

http://tinyurl.com/Book-Tom-Tresser

Join The CivicLab!

I gave this speech at the CivicLab’s 2018 Civic Harambee. I sum up everything I’ve learned about fighting for justice in civics and public life in America. I call for MorePublic! and announce my second book and launch our first membership drive for the CivicLab! Whew!

Tom Tresser at 2018 Civic Harambee
Tom Tresser gave these remarks at the CivicLab’s second Civic Harambee on August 25, 2018 at the Lutheran School of Theology. If you are watching this video or have found any of Tom’s work useful or if you have ever attended a CivicLab event or public forum, then we are asking you to become a MEMBER today!

It’s Time To “Pull Together” For Justice!

Join us on August 25 at the Lutheran School of Theology for our second Civic Harambee!

Listen to this 8 minute interview with Tom Tresser on the need for progressives to come together from across the city…