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Michael Ansara

@michaelansara.bsky.social
2.1K followers 1.4K following 38 posts

Long time activist & organizer, writer, poet. My memoir The Hard Work of Hope is being published by Cornell University Press summer of 2025. My book of poems,What Remains, is available from kelsaybooks.com/collections/all/mic…

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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
The former states of the Confederacy are rushing to make sure that there are no Black people elected to Congress. A reminder: 160 years ago, the democratic anti-slavery forces won the Civil War. We will overcome this too. Organize!
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Want to learn what is working to protect our democracy? Want to hear how to make sure we win the midterms? Want to hear the lessons of Minnesota? Tomorrow at 4 pm ET join the Volunteer Blue Zoom event www.mobilize.us/volunteerblu...
mobilize.us
Flipping Congress in 2026: What Works · Volunteer Blue/Together We Elect
**Flipping Congress in 2026: How Volunteers Are Flipping the House and Senate** Speakers * Yasmin Radjy, Executive Director, Swing Left and Vote Forward * Chuck Albrecht, Swing Left Maricopa County ...
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
The amazing Joe Posner has a compelling new video that is worth watching: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8k3...
youtube.com
This Top Secret Kindness Club Fights Poverty (It Works)
YouTube video by DREAM ON
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Volunteer Blue @volunteerblue.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Do Trump's priorities align with with the American people want as gas and grocery prices soar and are struggling to afford healthcare? Creating monuments to himself and building ballrooms to glorify his ego does not serve Americans. Turn the tides with Volunteer Blue for the midterms.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Thrilled to learn that the Hard Work of Hope has been long-listed in non-fiction by the Mass Book Awards
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
If you want to know more about the Constitution and the rule of law, this is worth your time: a free, six-part (30 minutes each) nonpartisan Harvard online course. www.edx.org/learn/govern... (Select “Audit” to access free version.)
edx.org
HarvardX: American Government: Constitutional Foundations | edX
Learn how early American politics informed the U.S. Constitution and why its promise of liberty and equality has yet to be fully realized.
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trlennon.bsky.social @trlennon.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
This is the first time I ever mentioned that I narrate audiobooks and I really recommend this book. It's a history of American Protest movements in the 60s and 70s. While in the number of lies per day Trump certainly holds the record by a wide margin, Johnson & Nixon were also pretty good at it.
The Hard Work of Hope by Michael Ansara cover photo.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Excited to announce that the audio book version of my memoir, The Hard Work of Hope, is now available from Audible www.audible.com/pd/The-Hard-...
audible.com
The Hard Work of Hope
Check out this great listen on Audible.com. The Hard Work of Hope takes you into the heady days of 1960s and 1970s activism, chronicling the hopes and strategies of the young people who created the mo...
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Part of the 1000 people participating in Ice Out for Good in Concord MA. Good turnout for 48 hour notice. But we will win only if we keep organizing and reaching new people.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
I was a guest on HubHistory - you can catch it here:• www.hubhistory.com/episodes/the...
hubhistory.com
The Hard Work of Hope, with Michael Ansara (episode 336) - HUB History: Boston history podcast
This week’s guest is Michael Ansara, author of a new volume of memoir called The Hard Work of Hope.  It is a personal story, but it’s also a history of Boston in the 1960s, and especially of anti-war ...
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
I was delighted to be on Terrence McNally's podcast Free Form, available now. aworldthatjustmightwork.com/2025/09/mich...
aworldthatjustmightwork.com
MICHAEL ANSARA-THE HARD WORK OF HOPE-a memoir of a lifetime of activism – Terrence McNally
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Joe Walsh @walshfreedom.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
I sat down with @MichaelAnsara.bsky.social, a leading activist & community organizer in the 1960’s & 70’s. We discussed his new book, “The Hard Work of Hope,” and lessons learned from the 60’s that can help to defeat fascism in America today. Have a listen.👇 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
Lessons For Today: A Conversation With A Leading Activist From The Turbulent 1960’s & 70’s
Podcast Episode · The Social Contract with Joe Walsh · 09/05/2025 · 50m
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JusticeWithJean @jeantrounstine.com · 08/09/2025
Went to a wonderful talk yesterday with @michaelansara.bsky.social and bought his book THE HARD WORK OF HOPE. For those of you who don't know him, instrumental in Vietnam War ant-war movement. For me, the title of his book evokes @prisonculture.bsky.social's "Hope is a Discipline"
google.com
The Hard Work of Hope
The Hard Work of Hope takes you into the heady days of 1960s and 1970s activism, chronicling the hopes and strategies of the young people who created the movements that rocked the country.Michael Ansa...
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Future Hindsight @futurehindsight.com · 17/09/2025
TOMORROW: LASTING change requires SUSTAINED action. Join us with veteran organizer @michaelansara.bsky.social to discover how communities can create the teams and groups needed to win real victories. Available tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts! 🎙️
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
I was so glad to talk with the great group of activists at I-RISE last night.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
I had fun talking history and its relevance with Lee Stabert on Explain Boston to Me. The podcast is now up at bleav.com/shows/explai...
bleav.com
Explain Boston to Me: The 1960s and its protest movements in Boston with Michael Ansara
Time is a flat circle. In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Ansara, author of the recently released memoir, The Hard Work of Hope, to talk about the 1960s and its mass protest movements in Boston....
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
A packed crowd at Politics and Prose in DC last night for a Hard Work of Hope event with the always wonderful Heather Booth. The store sold every copy they had & there were more people who wanted to buy the book. I think I have to find a way to convince stores to stock more copies. Good problem.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Packed launch of The Hard Work of Hope last night. More than 150 folks bought up every copy the book store had. #hardworkofhope
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Build Health International is an amazing organization building health facilities in the poorest societies. They are looking for a Chief Financial Officer. It is a great opportunity for the right person to use their financial skills to make a difference in the world. www.imsearch.com/open-searche...
imsearch.com
Chief Financial Officer | Isaacson, Miller
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Excited to be giving a talk to Boston Indivisible on the evening of July 10 at Old South Church. Boston folks you are welcome and please consider support the incredibly important work of Indivisible in Boston. www.eventbrite.com/e/michael-an...
eventbrite.com
Michael Ansara: The Hard Work of Hope
Join us for an inspiring talk by Michael Ansara on navigating social and political challenges with resilience and optimism.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Happy to have this op ed in today’s SF Chronicle. www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
sfchronicle.com
Protesting Trump’s authoritarianism is important, but it isn’t enough. Here's what else you can do
OPINION: “While today we remember those protests of the ’60s, people often ignore the intentional organizing that made them possible,” Michael Ansara writes.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Massive crowds for No Kings day in small Concord MA. Thousands. Great job @concordindivisible
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Andrew Berzanskis @aberzanskis.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Books take years to write. Peer review makes the process even longer. So it is uncanny how often university presses publish books that are so timely—like the forthcoming "The Hard Work of Hope" from @cornellupress.bsky.social Here is an interview with Michael Ansara by @derekkrissoff.bsky.social
derekkrissoff.substack.com
"The Hard Work of Hope," new from Cornell University Press
A Q&A with author Michael Ansara
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Trump is planning a military parade in DC on June 14, but the biggest story of that day will be the actions we take everywhere else. I'm rallying on No Kings Day to reject strongman politics and corruption. app.sosha.ai/s/nidVobxt
app.sosha.ai
Join me on June 14
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Look at what arrived today!!! #TheHardWorkofHope
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
open.substack.com/pub/derekkri...
open.substack.com
"The Hard Work of Hope," new from Cornell University Press
A Q&A with author Michael Ansara
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
My short essay on the need to both protest and organize if we are to beat Trump in the Boston Glove www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/04/o...
bostonglobe.com
Protesting against Trump is good. Organizing against him is better. - The Boston Globe
Michael Ansara has been an activist and organizer since the 1960s. His memoir, “The Hard Work of Hope,” will be published by Cornell University Press on July 15.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
If you are near Cambridge, Mass, on July 15th, I would love to have you join me for the launch of my memoir at the Harvard Book Store www.harvard.com/event/michae...
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
The final version of my memoir, The Hard Work of Hope arrived in the mail today! Started writing it exactly ten years ago. #hardwordofhope
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Join Heather Cox Richardson, MA AG Andrea Campbell & Cong.Jamie Raskin to find out how you can effectively oppose Trump. Wed. 4/16 at 4 PM ET Sign up at mobilize.us/s/UUOd6F
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Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Just based on crowd sizes we’re seeing so far and the shear number of protests, the total number of #handsoff demonstrators could reach into the millions. And more protests in non US countries than expected.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
I will be marching on Saturday This will be a critical show of strength for the opposition to Trump/Musk. Over 1000 protests across the country. Find the nearest one to you and join us handsoff2025.com?SQF_SOURCE=i...
handsoff2025.com
Hands Off!
Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They're taking everything they can get their hands on and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking to the stre...
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
The first real test of our ability to mobilize large numbers of people to oppose Trump/Musk will be April 5th. Find the demonstration nearest to you here act.indivisible.org/go/812156?t=...
act.indivisible.org
Hands Off! Join the National Mobilization to Fight Back · Hands Off on Mobilize
Find events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, fundraisers and more with Hands Off.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
You really could not make this up. The Defense Department in its zeal to remove any images in its database that might offend the new regime, has, according to AP, removed images of the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan, along with those of women and African Americans.
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Ezra Levin ❌👑 @ezralevin.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
From the all staff Indivisible meeting just now: 30 new local Indivisible groups have formed in March. It is March 4th. 🎉
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
"They were careless people.… They smashed up things and creatures and retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness." F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
I usually think it unwise to criticize Democrats when the country is being devastated by Trump/Musk. But if I get another email or text saying " We must fight back and stop Trump - donate to me", I will truly puke. In the hour of our greatest need, they see a fundraising opportunity?
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Gandalf the Curmudgeon @420gandalf.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
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Nick Knudsen @nickknudsenus.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
URGENT: The folks at Americans for Financial Reform are looking for stories from people who’ve been helped by CFPB. Please read this call to action and share far and wide! 🚨 Let’s save CFPB 🚨 Pass it on.
digitaldrumbeat.com
URGENT: Help Save the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
We need your stories about how CFPB has helped you and your family.
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Rick Neal @rickneal.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
#Tesla #Columbus protest - @indivcentraloh.bsky.social and Ohio @aflcio.org were there - we can’t trust #Musk - he’s leading a lawless takeover of our government by fascists and billionaires - we need him out!
Protestors outside the Easton Tesla store in Columbus, Ohio, on the afternoon of Feb. 9, 2025. Signs read, “Musk Must Go!,” “Delete Musk!,” and “Nobody Elected MuSSk!”Protestors outside the Easton Tesla store in Columbus, Ohio, on the afternoon of Feb. 9, 2025. Signs read, “GTFO Musk” and “Evil Elon Keep Your Mitts Off American’s $ … and Data!”Jason Perlman of the Ohio AFL-CIO and Gahanna school board member Dion Manley protesting with me outside the Easton Tesla store in Columbus, Ohio, on the afternoon of Feb. 9, 2025. Sign reads, “Stop the Chaos!”Protestor outside the Easton Tesla store in Columbus, Ohio, on the afternoon of Feb. 9, 2025. Sign reads, “Elon Hands Off Private Data Health Info & Tax $! We the People!”
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Shannon Watts @shannonrwatts.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
@indivisible.org is absolutely crushing it on activism right now — federal and state. Join them wherever you live to get engaged in advocacy for democracy.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Reading Douthat's interview with Marc Andreessen, it will not age well. Andreessen says the most important thing to him is to be "a good person." I am hugely doubtful that his support for Trump and Musk will allow him to claim that mantle in even a few months. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | How Democrats Drove Silicon Valley Into Trump’s Arms
Marc Andreessen explains the newest faction of conservatism.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Today, advanced reading copies arrived. I started writing this book in the fall of 2015, and after 9+ years, it was thrilling to actually hold a copy in my hands. Of course, the excitement soon gave way to author anxiety: Will anyone read it? Will it be of use to those fighting for our democracy?
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
The pub date is July 15th but @cornellupress.bsky.social is offering a 30% discount on pre-orders of my memoir, The Hard Work of Hope. Go to www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501... and use code 09BCARD
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Another milestone: the galleys for The Hard Work of Hope have been proofed, corrected and sent to the publisher. And a distant relative found the book listed for pre-order on a Swedish book seller's site- amazing!
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Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 27/12/2024
What can you do right now? Help us build the local power that will block Trump’s agenda: indivisibleproject.formstack.com/forms/organi...
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
This is hysterical. 1 part Kafka, 2 parts Orwell.
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
I am excited to see the cover design for my memoir being published next year by Cornell University Press
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Michael Ansara @michaelansara.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Bryce Canon. Definitely getting away and at least momentarily trying not to think of what is to come.
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