“...the eyes of the country are on you. And if Chevron can roll over you, they and their buddies will roll over every community in America. If you can stand up and beat them with all of their money, you’re going to give hope to people all over America that we can control our destinies.”

“I was born (in 1949) and raised in Richmond, as was my father, and loved growing up there. I loved the diversity and made long lasting friendships. I moved in 1970 to pursue my life and only returned on limited occasions. So, I didn’t see or experience the decline and challenges Gayle talks about - however I applaud her and her colleagues in taking on, not only Chevron, but the other ever changing situations. She seems to be positive and devoted to making not only Richmond, but the world we are impacted by, a better place. Thank you, Gayle.”

“Union or community activists hoping to capture city hall will find a good role model and much practical advice in Winning Richmond…a case study in working class leadership development, female empowerment, and grass-roots base building.”

“This book shows how much mobilized progressives can achieve against corporate domination. Important lessons for the big social changes we need to make.”

“…it took only 30 committed members of the RPA to rouse the people into action and take over the City Council…If you’re still doubtful, convince yourself by obtaining Gayle McLaughlin’s Winning Richmond for your neighborhood library and book circle.”

“They politically transformed a working-class rust-belt city from being a company town, owned and dominated by Chevron Corporation, to empower its residents like me to address decades of neglect and urban blight.”

“McLaughlin keeps true to her mission, chronicling in this book her own winding road through local politics…building an effective community coalition that learns to speak up for their concerns.”

“…there is a wealth of knowledge shared in these pages, and I think anyone who wants to engage in progressive electoral politics in this country would be remiss not to study both McLaughlin’s and Early’s books.”

“Optimistic but clear-eyed, it reminds us of the basics for building a grassroots movement for progressive change. Living in Ontario, where the NDP may have made some gains but all of us face Doug Ford as premier, stories of clear-eyed and patient political organizing have never been more relevant.”

“…one of the most successful grassroots municipal political insurgencies in any American city…detailing its nearly 20-year battle against Chevron for despoiling the environment, throttling local politics and cheating the city of billions in needed tax dollars….a template for how embattled communities can fight back and win.”