Street Practice

Lori McNeil is Director of Research and Policy at the Homelessness Outreach and Prevention Project at the Urban Justice Center, New York, USA.

’Street Practice is an important scholarly intervention. It shows convincingly, even eloquently, that research and advocacy can and should work together more than they do now if both are to get better at what they are trying to achieve. If you are thinking, How can we get to speak truth to power so as to improve the lives of those on the bottom of the socio-economic system?, then you will benefit immeasurably from reading this excellent book.’ Sanford F. Schram, Bryn Mawr College, USA ’For those of us teaching social policy and social change this highly readable book fills a huge gap. I have looked for a book like this for years. Students will love it for the stories it tells of real people making real change. Teachers will love it for the lessons it teaches about how to bridge research and advocacy. Street Practice both inspires and edifies.’ Vicki Lens, Columbia University, USA ’Street Practice shatters the illusion that distance and objectivity produce the keenest insight. McNeil's singular achievement is to show how research comes alive in the hands and minds of community stakeholders. She recognizes that non-profit organizations don't just illustrate or implement scholarly research, but produce knowledge-in-action. It is a lesson that those of us in the academy need to learn if our work is to contribute to human survival and dignity.’ Virginia Eubanks, SUNY at Albany, USA

• Chapter 1 Exploring Research and Policy Advocacy on the Ground; Chapter 2 Creating Change in Coalition: The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Lori McNeil, Bich Pham; Chapter 3 Building Power for Low Income New Yorkers: Community Voices Heard, Lori McNeil, Sondra Youdelman; Chapter 4 Taking Advocacy to the People: Homelessness Outreach and Prevention Project; Chapter 5 Reframing the Politics of Hunger and Poverty: The New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Joel Berg, Kerry Birnbach, Theresa Hassler; Chapter 6 Don't Talk About Us, Talk With Us: Picture the Homeless, Lynn Lewis, Lori McNeil; Chapter 7 Toward a Social Change Framework;