What can people do to be effective actors against the societal inertia that inevitably throws well-off, as tptacek put it, "engaged residents" (they're always i

What can people do to be effective actors against the societal inertia that inevitably throws well-off, as tptacek put it, "engaged residents" (they're always instant experts in the next arena of material advantage, eh?) against fair zoning due to fear of poor people/non-whites? What are historic models of activism? Book recommendations? I get the feeling zoning and housing is one of those unsexy problems less broadcast within mainstream liberal and left politics, like gerrymandering or campaign finance.