You’re Invited!
Join Miranda Spivack to explore local government corruption and the citizens fighting for accountability in their communities.
Date & Time: Thursday, March 12 | 5:00 PM
Location: TBD
Register Here!
Speaker:
Miranda Spivack, Award-Winning Journalist and Editor
Discussion:
Spivack will discuss her new book, Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities—and the Local Heroes Fighting Back (The New Press, May 6, 2025), in which she shines a light on corruption close to home, uncovering how local governors, mayors, town councils, school boards, police, and prosecutors sometimes fail the very communities they serve. Through five eye-opening U.S. case studies, she introduces “accidental activists” — ordinary citizens who demanded answers when government officials failed to protect them.
From car crashes and unsafe drinking water to faulty safety equipment, Spivack’s investigative reporting reveals the hidden deals, lies, and cover-ups that often keep communities in the dark — and celebrates the local heroes who stand up for accountability and transparency.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Spivack about the stories behind her book and the crucial work of citizen advocacy in safeguarding our neighborhoods.
Questions?
Contact Lauren Rosenthal at laurer7@uw.edu.