The Democratic Promise examines the history of community organizing - from the work of Saul Alinsky to the state of community organizing today - focusing on contemporary organizations in New York and Texas. Documenting community organizing through Alinsky's pioneering work and showing how these techniques are used today, the video offers a potential course of action to disenfranchised communities across the country.

The film has won many awards, including selection for the Council on Foundations' 2001-2002 Film & Video Festival and Best Documentary at the Philadelphia International Film Festival. Studs Terkel called The Democratic Promise, "A revelatory and powerful documentary about one of the pioneers of community organizing…never could be more timely than now."

The Democratic Promise runs one hour. It's written, directed, and produced by Bob Hercules and Bruce Orenstein and narrated by Alec Baldwin. Orenstein is a former community organizer who directs the Chicago Video Project, a nonprofit video production company that provides professional video communications to nonprofit advocacy and social change organizations. A copy of The Democratic Promise is available through the Chicago Video Project for $15, plus $3 postage. Send a check to CVP, 800 W. Huron, Suite 3 South, Chicago, IL 60622. For more information, call 312-666-0195 or email cvp@chicagovideo.com.