Journal of Community Advocacy and Activism, 1997, 2(1), pp. 83-93 by Nora Lester, Melissa Lamson and Neil Wollman
Activists put their hearts and souls into the work but often feel ineffective, undervalued, emotionally spent, and financially or professionally insecure. Some activists, “wounded” by the internal politics of social change organizations, have left social change work altogether. This seems deleterious not only to individuals and organizations, but to the cause of social change. Why are so many professional activists “burned” both by the inherent demands of social change work and by the organizations they work for?
