John Atlas

In 2004 while at Columbia University he began, Seeds of Change, The Story of ACORN, America’s Most Controversial Antipoverty Organizing Group about social movements, poverty, democracy, and politics. He drew on his 35 years working on the front lines of civil rights, anti-poverty and social justice efforts.

The book inspired a major theatrical documentary, ACORN and the Firestorm, funded by PBS and Sundance Institute, which is produced and co-directed by two award winner filmmakers, his son, Reuben Atlas and Sam Pollard.

Atlas helped produce the film. Its PBS debut is May 2018. https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/id1370724846

World Theatrical debut was April 2018. It was the official selection of numerous film festivals including Tribeca Film Festival and Michael Moore’s Traverse City Festival and Montclair Film Festival, where if won the Truth Telling Jury Prize. PBS debut May 2018. Funded in part by the Sundance Film Institute.

Atlas shared his early experiences and views through a bi-weekly radio program on WBAI, as well as in many TV and radio interviews, and in a book, Saving Affordable Housing. He contributed to several books and has written for Shelterforce, The Huffington Post, Newark Star Ledger, New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Tikkun, The Nation, Dissent, Social Policy.

During those 35 years he helped launch Shelterforce, a magazine for anti-poverty activists and practitioners engaged in housing and community development. He was the Executive Director of the award-winning Passaic County Legal Aid Society in NJ and a founding board member of NJ Citizen Action. His innovative legal services program helped empower community groups like Head Start and faith based groups and helped thousand of families threatened with losing their homes.