An intimate conversation with pioneer organizer Marshall Ganz

The Center for Human Rights and International Justice is offering Stanford students a special opportunity to engage in a small group conversation with one of the foremost experts on organizing methods, narrative story-telling, and movement-building strategy.

Marshall Ganz teaches, researches, and writes on leadership, narrative, strategy and organization in social movements, civic associations, and politics. He entered Harvard College in the fall of 1960 and left a year before graduating to volunteer with the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project. He found a “calling” as an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and, in the fall of 1965 joined Cesar Chavez in his effort to unionize California farm workers. During 16 years with the United Farm Workers he gained experience in union, political, and community organizing; became Director of Organizing; and was elected to the national executive board on which he served for 8 years.

During the 1980s he worked with grassroots groups to develop new organizing programs and designed innovative voter mobilization strategies for local, state, and national electoral campaigns. In 1991, in order to deepen his intellectual understanding of his work, he returned to Harvard College and after a 28-year "leave of absence" completed his undergraduate degree in history and government. He was awarded an MPA by the Kennedy School in 1993 and completed his PhD in sociology in 2000. He is currently the Rita E. Hauser Senior Lecturer in Leadership, Organizing and Civil Society at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

In order to foster a conversational, candid environment, this event will be limited to twenty (20) students, and those interested in participating in this discussion must complete a brief application. Any currently enrolled Stanford student of any level or program of study is welcome to apply.