Many Hands, Light Work

Overview

Written in 2024, Many Hands, Light Work reflects on the period from 2015 to 2024—a decade of transformation. It tells the story of our evolution from Urban Tree Connection, a traditional food and land access nonprofit, to Neighborhood Land Power Project: a political initiative committed to cultivating protagonistic leadership through food sovereignty and land justice work.

This work stands as a testament to the possibility of transformation when organizations are guided by what Mao describes as “correct ideas” and a deep commitment to practice. Such practice is not fixed; it is forged over time through a willingness to fail, learn, and try again amid ever-changing and complex conditions.

Reviews 

“At a time of deep uncertainty and instability, the primary task for the US Left is to develop clear and effective models for how to build real power in Black and Brown, working-class communities. Many Hands, Light Work is a vulnerable, rigorous, and detailed accounting of how NLPP has done exactly that. The experiences highlighted in the book show time and time again how to try new and hard things, draw critical lessons from our failures, and transform ourselves in the process. Perhaps even more importantly, it shows what it takes to transform a charity-based nonprofit into a power-building community institution.”

-Andres Celin, Political Worker & Nonprofit Consultant

“Many Hands, Light Work is a refreshing work that spotlights many of the important challenges and reflections that arise in the process of Organization Building. At a time when robust and transparent Organizational Assessments aren’t always prioritized, the team at NLPP makes a unique contribution that provides space for reflection and inspiration to political workers who face the challenges of building working-class organizations in this tumultuous political period.” 

 -James Lopez, Executive Director, Power U Center For Social Change

“During a time of heightened intersecting crises and breakdown of our climate, governing institutions, global racial capitalism, resulting in many living species’ inability and refusal to pretend this is all 'normal,' comes Many Hands, Light Work. It is a recounting of the heart of organizing—what it means to reconnect to the power of the land and each other through rigorous inquiry and courageous discipline to try/fail/learn and pivot. Especially now, more of us can learn from NLPP and the hard work of turning towards each other to preserve the very neighborhoods, communities, and land that sustain us. ”

-Christine Cordero Co-Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network 

“NLPP is a gift to Philadelphia, and Many Hands, Light Work is their gift to all people and movements working toward social change. Few organizations are willing to stretch themselves past the confines of nonprofit work to advance a genuine political project, and even fewer are willing to share the practical insights of such a process in this generous and generative way.”

-Ryan Gittler-Muñiz, Land Security Organizer, Iglesias Gardens