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Biography
Paul Rogat Loeb has spent forty years researching and writing about citizen responsibility and empowerment—asking what makes some people choose lives of social commitment, while others abstain, and exploring how to find the hope to stay engaged despite all the frustrations and barriers. The Impossible Will Take a Little While: Perseverance and Hope in Troubled Times (Basic Books), was named the #3 political book of fall 2004 by the History Channel and American Book Association, won the Nautilus Award for best social change book, and was one of six books selected for the Sierra Club’s new common reading groups. The Impossible’s new edition was published May 2014. Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in Challenging Times (St Martin’s Press) has over 150,000 copies in print with a wholly revised edition published in April 2010. Paul is also the author of Generation at the Crossroads: Apathy & Action on the American Campus, Nuclear Culture, and Hope in Hard Times. He’s written for the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Psychology Today, Utne Reader, Mother Jones, The Nation, Redbook, Huffington Post, the International Herald Tribune and the Christian Science Monitor, been interviewed on CNN, NPR, C-SPAN, NBC news, CBC, and the BBC, and lectured at 400 colleges throughout the country and numerous national and international conferences. He founded and runs the national nonpartisan Campus Election Engagement Project, which helped 500 colleges and universities in engage their students in the election in 2008, 750 in 2012, and is now engaging students in mid-term elections. See http://www.paulloeb.org or http://www.campuselect.org
Loeb has spoken at over 400 colleges and universities.
Industry Expertise (6)
Political Organization
Environmental Services
Non-Profit/Charitable
Public Policy
Writing and Editing
Education/Learning
Areas of Expertise (10)
Citizen Activism
Community Involvement
Political Hope
Students
Youth Involvement
Democratic Participation
Political Participation
Social Movements
Protest Movements
Climate Change
Accomplishments (3)
Nautilus Award for Best Social Change Book (professional)
2010-01-01
Awarded for the revised edition of Soul of a Citizen
#3 Political Book of 2004 (professional)
2004-01-01
Awarded for The Impossible will Take a Little While by the American Book Association and the History Channel
Nautilus Award for Best Social Change Book (professional)
2004-01-01
Awarded for The Impossible Will Take a Little While
Education (1)
New School: BA, Social Research 1973
Affiliations (2)
- Campus Election Engagement Project
- Huffington Post
Links (6)
- “My Vote Doesn’t Matter”: Helping Students Surmount Political Cynicism
- Glued to The Weather Channel While the World Burns
- Three Cups of a Flawed Hero: The Limits of Greg Mortenson’s Model of Change
- Soul of a Citizen: Jesus and Climate Change—The Journey of Rich Cizik
- Ten Suggestions for Effective Activism
- From Drunken Party Girl to Climate Change Activist
Testimonials (2)
Millard Fuller, Founder | Habitat for Humanity
"Paul Loeb brings hope for a better world in a time when we so urgently need it."
Josette Sheeran, Former Executive Director | United Nations World Food Program
“When my daughter asked from college how to be an effective grassroots citizen, I gave her Paul's books.”
Event Appearances (22)
Election 2014—Getting Your Students Engaged
The National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE®) University of Oklahoma
2014-05-29
The Impossible Will Take a Little While: Finding Hope in Difficult Times
The National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE®) University of Oklahoma
2014-05-29
Keynote
NACAS (National Association College Auxiliary Services Orlando, FL
2011-10-01
Keynote
Colorado Conference on Volunteerism Denver, WA
2011-05-01
Keynote
Phi Theta Kappa National Conference Seattle, WA
2011-03-01
Keynote
Teens in Public Service Seattle, WA
2010-10-01
Keynote
International Association of Volunteer Administrators Portland, OR
2003-11-01
Featured Speaker
American Democracy Project Conference Louisville, KY
2014-06-01
Featured Speaker
National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in the Academy Indianapolis, IN
2014-05-01
Featured Speaker
Atlantic Conference for Learning Communities Hartford, KY
2013-10-01
Featured Speaker
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Seattle, WA
2009-03-01
Round Table Participant
US Department of Education, Higher Education Civic Engagement Round Table Washington, D.C.
2009-01-01
Keynote
Massachusetts Community Action Boston, MA
2008-11-01
Keynote
Phi Theta Kappa National Conference Memphis, TN
2008-10-01
Featured Speaker
American Association of Colleges & Universities Seattle, WA
2009-01-01
Keynote
League of Alaska Cities/Alaska Municipal League Fairbanks, AK
2007-11-01
Keynote
National Society of Experiential Learning Seattle, WA
2007-11-01
Keynote
League of Minnesota Cities Duluth, MN
2007-06-01
Featured Speaker
Unitarian General Assembly Portland, OR
2007-05-01
Keynote
American Bar Association Access to Justice Conference Denver, CO
2007-04-01
Keynote
National 4-H Clubs Conference Seattle, WA
2005-04-01
Keynote
Teach for America Regional Conference Los Angeles, CA
2003-04-01
Sample Talks (4)
Writing and Social Change
For journalism or writing classes, a discussion of Paul Loeb's evolution as a writer, the kinds of issues that arise when trying to write about social change movements, and the moral responsibility of writers when dealing with larger public issues.
Community Service and Change
Ways participants in service projects can balance their desires to help in concrete, one-on-one ways, while addressing root social structures that cause problems like hunger, illiteracy, and homelessness.
Leadership and Responsibility
Ways student government members and leaders of campus organizations can support greater student involvement and awareness.
Teaching For Engagement
How to teach social commitment to America’s future citizens.
Style
Availability
- Keynote