Jewel Allen

Soapbox Jewel Allen

What does it take for a community to rise up and say enough is enough?

For one-stoplight Grantsville, Utah, the prospect of a water-hogging state prison relocating into town galvanizes its residents into action. Former columnist and budding activist Jewel Allen can't opine this threat away. This is the real deal.

Armed with her media know-how, Jewel helps her neighbors wage a creative grassroots campaign of horseback protests, town halls, food truck rallies, and media appearances - anything to rebuff the prison. But with their county's reputation of accepting unwanted industries, they face an uphill battle. Against other citizens who say it's pointless to fight. Against powerful legislators backed by the Speaker of the House. And against the state's million-dollar public relations showdown before the legislature casts its irrevocable vote.

Timely in its subject and universal in its lessons, Soapbox is an inspiring case study of how regular citizens can develop and magnify their voices to mobilize change. Includes bonus sections: "How to run a winning grassroots campaign" and "A guide to political campaigning."