Community organising is a way of building people power that focuses on building the capacity, skills and leadership of the people involved in making change. This article explains community organising and its history.
Activity: Read
Read
Looking for articles, books, case studies, tips about social change and activism? You’ve found the right place – The Commons Social Change Library.
Defending Democracy and Human Rights
Gillian Triggs, the now Former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, launched the Defending Democracy report at Progress 2017. She argued that advocacy is fundamental to our society but under threat with it increasingly difficult for people to speak up when they disagree.
Three Open Source Tech Tools for your Campaigning
The right tech tools can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of a campaign or organising project. Check out Tijuana (campaign CRM), Neighbourly (doorknocking walk-list tool) and Spoke (p2p text tool).
Moving the Rock: Shifting Power for Sustained Change
This article explores the ‘moving the rock’ concept put forward by Daniel Hunter in his book Strategy and Soul. The concept has been valuable for campaigners and organisations reassessing their theory of change and particularly how they engage politicians and supporters.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The AIDEX ’91 Story
In 1991 over 1000 protesters blockaded the National Exhibition Centre in Canberra with the goal of shutting down the Australia International Defence Exhibition. This book includes a detailed account of the blockade, the context of the growth of the Australian arms industry, and the words of the protesters themselves.
Critical Path Analysis Process Guide
A process guide to be used in training workshops and planning sessions to develop campaign strategy. Critical path analysis can shift focus to outcomes rather than tactics and provide experience and skill in defining clear objectives. The process also deepens understanding about how change happens and clarifies key threads running through a campaign.
Strategic Questioning Manual: A Powerful Tool for Personal and Social Change
Strategic questioning is a powerful tool for social change which helps people discover their own strategies and ideas for change.
Being Purpose Driven
Nothing precedes purpose. The starting point for every organisation or movement should be the question ‘Why do we exist’? A number of tips for focusing an organisation on vision and purpose. An excerpt from Purpose Driven Campaigning, based on Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church.
Levels of Commitment from Community to Core
Learn lessons on how to build sustainable non-profit organisations and communities from Rick Warren’s 5 ‘circles of commitment’.
Time to Move the Rock: Activating Social Values to Bring About Change
Learn about Daniel Hunter’s metaphor of moving the rock to bring about social change through activating people’s social values.
So, What is Community Organising?
Community organising is a way of building people power that focuses on building the capacity, skills and leadership of the people involved in making change. This article explains community organising and its history.
Defending Democracy and Human Rights
Gillian Triggs, the now Former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, launched the Defending Democracy report at Progress 2017. She argued that advocacy is fundamental to our society but under threat with it increasingly difficult for people to speak up when they disagree.
Three Open Source Tech Tools for your Campaigning
The right tech tools can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of a campaign or organising project. Check out Tijuana (campaign CRM), Neighbourly (doorknocking walk-list tool) and Spoke (p2p text tool).
Moving the Rock: Shifting Power for Sustained Change
This article explores the ‘moving the rock’ concept put forward by Daniel Hunter in his book Strategy and Soul. The concept has been valuable for campaigners and organisations reassessing their theory of change and particularly how they engage politicians and supporters.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The AIDEX ’91 Story
In 1991 over 1000 protesters blockaded the National Exhibition Centre in Canberra with the goal of shutting down the Australia International Defence Exhibition. This book includes a detailed account of the blockade, the context of the growth of the Australian arms industry, and the words of the protesters themselves.
Critical Path Analysis Process Guide
A process guide to be used in training workshops and planning sessions to develop campaign strategy. Critical path analysis can shift focus to outcomes rather than tactics and provide experience and skill in defining clear objectives. The process also deepens understanding about how change happens and clarifies key threads running through a campaign.
Strategic Questioning Manual: A Powerful Tool for Personal and Social Change
Strategic questioning is a powerful tool for social change which helps people discover their own strategies and ideas for change.
Being Purpose Driven
Nothing precedes purpose. The starting point for every organisation or movement should be the question ‘Why do we exist’? A number of tips for focusing an organisation on vision and purpose. An excerpt from Purpose Driven Campaigning, based on Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church.
Levels of Commitment from Community to Core
Learn lessons on how to build sustainable non-profit organisations and communities from Rick Warren’s 5 ‘circles of commitment’.
Time to Move the Rock: Activating Social Values to Bring About Change
Learn about Daniel Hunter’s metaphor of moving the rock to bring about social change through activating people’s social values.