This free online course is designed to help grassroots groups understand the basics of  powerful storytelling to change hearts and minds and specifically to win over “moveable middle” audiences. It can support groups looking for skills on how to structure a story and how to connect a narrative to the emotions, values and life lessons of a group’s target audience. The course includes… the importance of story, how stories are structured, relatability of stories, identifying key story elements (conflict, choice, life lessons), choosing the right messenger, writing a story and delivering your story.

Estimated time to complete: The minimum expected learning time is 1 hour. An adequate review that includes engaging in the deep dive sections is expected to take approximately 2 hours.

*Note that the course can be started and paused and then picked up where it’s left off… it does not need to be completed all at once!

Register and access the course HERE

One-time registration is required to access the course. Registration is quick, easy and FREE! All that’s needed is your email, a username and password. Once you are registered, you can enrol for all other SOGI courses with a simple click!

About the author

SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities) campaigns is a global resource hub for creative campaigners, particularly those advocating for the rights of LGBTQIAS+ identities. The support structure aims to uplift, train and skill up grassroots activists around the world who identify as Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people, and all who don’t fit into mainstream representations of what “makes” a man or a woman, including Queers, Intersex people, and people labelled by their own cultural codes (Indian “Hijras”, Thai “Katoeys”, etc.). Also included are “straight” people who feel limited by rigid gender representations. The collective involves hundreds of activists worldwide.

The post Storytelling for deep impact course appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

This guide was developed to support activists in making their spaces, events, meetings and communications more accessible, in order to ensure that everyone is welcome and encouraged to join a movement for justice in whatever way they can!

This guide includes definitions of accessibility, considerations for accessible events, communication and content, creating an accessible culture and other suggestions related to creating a space that is inviting to all.

Access the guide HERE

About the author

The Climate Justice Organizing Hub is a support structure designed around the needs of grassroots social movement organizers in so-called Canada that respects organizers’ knowledge regarding their own challenges and priorities. Through responsive troubleshooting, skills and strategy sharing, and other capacity-building activities, its mission is to help organizers find their way to building a critical mass of engaged people who are working towards a just transition.

The post Making your activism accessible appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

This free course is designed to help grassroots groups to understand the basics of public communications for building a convincing, winning campaign. It can support groups looking for skills on crafting targeted messaging and framing to move people towards social change. You might want to campaign to fight your opponents, convince new audiences, or mobilize audiences that already support your cause. Each of these objectives requires specific communication strategies. The course includes defining public campaigning, communications basics, campaign objectives (neutralizing, informing, persuading and mobilizing), reaching your target group and storytelling.

Estimated time to complete: Approximately 5 hours to review.

*Note that the course can be started and paused and then picked up where it’s left off… it does not need to be completed all at once!

Register and access the course HERE

One-time registration is required to access the course. Registration is quick, easy and FREE! All that’s needed is your email, a username and password. Once you are registered, you can enrol for all other SOGI courses with a simple click!

About the author

SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities) campaigns is a global resource hub for creative campaigners, particularly those advocating for the rights of LGBTQIAS+ identities. The support structure aims to uplift, train and skill up grassroots activists around the world who identify as Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people, and all who don’t fit into mainstream representations of what “makes” a man or a woman, including Queers, Intersex people, and people labelled by their own cultural codes (Indian “Hijras”, Thai “Katoeys”, etc.). Also included are “straight” people who feel limited by rigid gender representations. The collective involves hundreds of activists worldwide.

The post Campaign communications course appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

A learning circle brings together a group of individuals with a common interest to learn from each other about a topic. Learning Circles are flexible, peer-directed learning experiences built on the idea that we all have knowledge to contribute and share to learn from each other. The HUB’s learning circle on student turnover was held virtually, and included some pre-developed questions to help guide the discussion. The circle was held for about 1.5-2 hours and included student organizers from across Canada.

Grassroots groups, especially student-led groups, face a high risk of dissolving because their members don’t stay on for long, which creates challenges in momentum building. This guide includes; challenges faced by student organizers, strategies to support and guide new members and building institutional memory, plus further insight on student organizing best practices, organizing in a pandemic, wellbeing and motivation and recruitment and retention strategies.

Access the guide HERE

About the author

The Climate Justice Organizing Hub is a support structure designed around the needs of grassroots social movement organizers in so-called Canada that respects organizers’ knowledge regarding their own challenges and priorities. Through responsive troubleshooting, skills and strategy sharing, and other capacity-building activities, its mission is to help organizers find their way to building a critical mass of engaged people who are working towards a just transition.

The post Navigating turnover in activist groups appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

This infographic describes different methods of working with other groups, and the requirements of each. It also includes suggested ingredients for success when working in a coalition.

Access the infographic HERE

About the author

The Climate Justice Organizing Hub is a support structure designed around the needs of grassroots social movement organizers in so-called Canada that respects organizers’ knowledge regarding their own challenges and priorities. Through responsive troubleshooting, skills and strategy sharing, and other capacity-building activities, its mission is to help organizers find their way to building a critical mass of engaged people who are working towards a just transition.

The post Working in coalitions infographic appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

This guide was developed for an event. It can be referenced as an example of a guide to educate attendees on the accessibility of a space, and what accommodations are being made.

Access the infographic HERE

About the author

The Climate Justice Organizing Hub is a support structure designed around the needs of grassroots social movement organizers in so-called Canada that respects organizers’ knowledge regarding their own challenges and priorities. Through responsive troubleshooting, skills and strategy sharing, and other capacity-building activities, its mission is to help organizers find their way to building a critical mass of engaged people who are working towards a just transition.

The post Event accessibility guide appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

This infographic describes 3 models of decision making, and includes suggested steps, tips, a ‘testing grid’ and key reflections. The latter half of the infographic gives some quick information on conflicts. The graphic was used as a take-home in addition to reviewing content found on the following wiki page on navigating in-group conflict, and content from the following decision making wiki pages:

Consensus decision making

Consensus decision making (suggestions for small groups)

Modified consensus decision making (suggestions for small and large groups)

Access the infographic HERE

About the author

The Climate Justice Organizing Hub is a support structure designed around the needs of grassroots social movement organizers in so-called Canada that respects organizers’ knowledge regarding their own challenges and priorities. Through responsive troubleshooting, skills and strategy sharing, and other capacity-building activities, its mission is to help organizers find their way to building a critical mass of engaged people who are working towards a just transition.

The post Decision making and conflict infographic appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

Access the guide HERE

Input and resources for this guide were provided by: 

Marty Kearns (NetCentric Campaigns / Halt the Harm Network), Steve Anderson (NewMode / Open Media), Darren Barefoot (Capulet / Mobilisation Lab), Esther Foreman (Social Change Agency), Annie Kia (Lock the Gate Alliance), Ari Sahagun Mary Alice Crim, Umme Hoque and Amanda Tattersall

This guide was prepared and reviewed by: 

Chris Alford, Amanda Tattersall, Alison Brzenchek, Umme Hoque, Mary Alice Crim and Tom Liacas

The post Building networked coalitions appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

Digital security practices help protect campaigners from malicious online attacks and intrusive surveillance efforts led either by groups that are hostile to your agenda or by repressive government agencies.

Access the guide HERE

Input and resources for this guide were provided by: 

Josh Levy from Digital Security Exchange, Sarah Lange and Holly Davis from Blue Pine Strategies, Dia Kayyali from Witness, Martin Shelton, Steve Anderson, Chris Alford from Amnesty International

This guide was prepared and reviewed by: 

Tania Mejia, Tom Liacas, Josh Levy, Chris Alford, Sarah Aoun, Steve Anderson

The post Digital security basics for campaigners appeared first on Blueprints for Change.

Access the guide HERE

Input and resources for this framework were provided by: 

Alison Brzenchek with Free Press, Sho Konno formerly with Restless Development, Juan Fernandez Ochoa with the Support. Don’t Punish campaign

This guide was prepared and reviewed by: 

Tom Liacas, Sho Konno, Cristina Calvillo-Rivera, Juan Fernandez Ochoa

The post Support and coaching techniques for remote groups appeared first on Blueprints for Change.