"During my time building the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, one lesson became crystal clear: the path to winning statewide runs through strong local organizing. Bryan Kennedy has spent his career building that kind of grassroots capacity. It's All Local captures why local leadership, community engagement, and neighborhood-level organizing are the foundation of lasting political change."-Ben Wikler, former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
"Building strong Democratic infrastructure means investing in local leaders and community-based campaigns. Bryan Kennedy understands that local races are different from statewide or federal campaigns-they require deep listening, strong relationships, and a genuine connection to the community. It's All Local offers a thoughtful look at how grassroots campaigns can energize voters and build lasting political momentum."-Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, and former Florida agriculture commissioner
"Labor organizing teaches a simple lesson: real change happens when people come together to act collectively. My union brother Bryan Kennedy demonstrated that lesson while leading AFT-Wisconsin's effort to organize faculty and academic staff across the UW system, helping win eight collective bargaining elections in less than a year. In It's All Local, Kennedy takes us on a tour, across the nation, of what works to truly build local power and shows how those same principles of organizing, solidarity, and listening can help communities rebuild democracy from the ground up. Anyone looking to figure out what we should do in this moment should read this book."-Jon Shelton, PhD, professor of democracy and justice studies, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and president of the AFT-Wisconsin
"It's All Local points us toward community as the base for a different kind of politics that wins by persistently listening and building powerful relationships from the bottom up. As a former party chair and campaign manager, I learned about promising ways to organize electoral campaigns. As a social scientist, I found a strong alignment between this book's arguments and the emerging path of the democracy movement in the United States."-Ben Manski, PhD, JD, director of the Center for Next System Studies and assistant professor of sociology at George Mason University
"In local government, the most effective leaders start by listening. Throughout my career-from the State Assembly to the Los Angeles City Council-I've seen how meaningful engagement with residents leads to better policy and stronger communities. In It's All Local, Bryan Kennedy captures that truth, showing how campaigns and governance rooted in listening can reflect real community values and deliver lasting results."-Bob Blumenfield, president pro tempore of the Los Angeles City Council
"Bryan Kennedy has set the community dining room table, inviting everyone to pull up a chair in his thought-provoking book, It's All Local: Saving Democracy from the Ground Up. Basic ideals are the cornerstone to a political foundation, paving the way for building more intentional listening and trust-building relationships, and it starts at the local level-at home, in the neighborhood, at work. Kennedy effectively tackles these areas through riveting views, presenting real-world case studies that have shaped the political arena. It's All Local is an inspiring resource for those who may feel weary of politics yet hopeful about how to create a new layout in democracy."-Letitia E. Hart, author of Reach Out with Acts of Kindness: A Guide to Helping Others in Crisis
