“An intimate, indispensable guide that helps every public servant become a hero.”

— Donald F. Kettl, professor emeritus and former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy

 
 

About Herocrats

Herocrats aren’t the result of a radioactive spider . . . they’re born from a hope for justice.

 The best public servants work to eliminate inequities in our systems of transportation, housing, education, and more. But transforming systems can be slow, tedious, and maddening.

 There’s hope for us all! Whether you’re working in local or state government, serving on the city council, or wrapping up your poli-sci major, this practical handbook celebrates the herocrat in every bureaucrat, and provides a framework for connecting with others to drive change together. 

 With twelve strategic missions, dozens of tactical moves, and exercises to practice them all, Herocrats helps readers own their origin story, use their superpowers, and keep flying through setbacks and obstacles.

 Justice is possible, and herocrats working in league with their communities can achieve it.

Join the herocrats community

About the Author

Allison Bell uses connection, courage, and creativity to embolden changemakers and build equitable communities. Her expertise is rooted in over twenty years of hard-won successes in every sector. As a scrappy Peace Corps volunteer, she learned that getting things done is a matter of bringing the right people together, and not just counting on fancy technology or a big grant.

As the founder and CEO of Bellwether Consulting, Allison has leveraged the power of cross-sector collaborations with partners including the Brookings Institution, the State of Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and GREATER MSP. She was named one of the Top 100 Influencers in Local Government by Engaging Local Government Leaders in 2021. Her other superpowers involve riding in a bike gang, and hanging out with her diabolically adorable family.

 
 
 

Praise for Herocrats

  • “[Allison] Bell sounds a call for government workers to use their ‘superpowers’ for workplace change. In her view, the front line of resistance to systems of oppression is perhaps an unlikely one: the rank-and-file government workers she refers to as ‘herocrats.’ This is a strong call to action that invariably makes said action seem like good, invigorating fun. A readable and wide-ranging playbook for government workers wanting to change the world.”

  • “Allison Bell encourages government employees to step up into their own ‘superpowers’ . . . [in this] step-by-step workbook on how to enact positive, ongoing change. Ideally, Herocrats will be part of any government worker's reading; included in all kinds of libraries interested in activism, change, and government processes; and, most of all, profiled in discussion groups interested in the nuts and bolts of enacting community- and then nation-wide change.”

  • “The foundation of government innovation lives within the frontline employees capable of recreating systems and restoring public trust. Herocrats offers insight into how to lead government with equity, grace, and love. It’s a guidepost into what government can be—and what it so often is when we choose to unearth the stories of our most dedicated public servants.”

  • "The popular narrative around government service in the United States—ineffectual, corrupt, inefficient—belies the critical work millions of public servants do every day that makes our communities healthier and stronger. How do they overcome the negativity, the bureaucracy, and the powerful forces of the status quo? Allison Bell has lived it and studied it, and Herocrats delivers compelling stories and a practical, fun playbook for unleashing the happy government warrior within all of us."

  • “As someone who has worked in and with many levels of government, I have witnessed the powerful potential of government workers when they join with community members to drive change. Herocrats arrives at a historical time for public investment, giving eager government changemakers the strategies, tactics, and encouraging stories they need to seize the day.”

  • “Herocrats celebrates the work of those closest to the ground, and inspires emerging public leaders to corral their own courage, connection, and creativity to make a difference. For too long, thought leaders have ignored public servants who work in state and local government. Allison Bell pushes back and reminds us how important those folks are to improving the lives of people in our neighborhoods, cities, and towns.”

  • “Conventional wisdom from the outside is that government officials only look out for themselves. From the inside, government officials too often struggle to get their jobs done. In this lively and engaging new book, Allison Bell provides a blueprint for how public officials can become heroes who fight against injustice—and deliver the government programs on which the people rely. Herocrats is an indispensable guide for connecting public officials with citizens and becoming the officials they’ve always wanted to be.”

  • “Allison Bell’s focus in finding and developing herocrats is pure genius. Her work spotlights the many heroes in the public sector who are often unknown and unsung. I hope this book creates a new pipeline of public servants and public professionals who believe in changing the livelihood of others. (Also, I am a little jealous she coined this phrase.) Allison is a once-in-a-generation leader!”

  • “Herocrats shines a spotlight on the many inspiring state and local officials across the country already doing critical change-making work. At the same time, Herocrats offers much-needed practical advice to public officials on the hard work of making change inside government systems and how to effectively organize alongside partners for more equitable and just communities.”

Herocrats Spotlights

Are you, or someone you know, a Herocrat? If so, we’d love to know you and possibly feature you on our blog and social media.

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