Commons Librarian

Portrait of Marshall Ganz with a quote that says - Movements have narratives. They tell stories, because they are not just about rearranging economics and politics. They also rearrange meaning. And they're not just about redistributing the goods. They're about figuring out what is good. By Marshall Ganz

Marshall Ganz Quotes and Wisdom about Leadership, Hope, Organizing and Narrative

Inspiring quotes from Marshall Ganz, an expert in leadership, organizing and narrative/story. He is a lecturer at Harvard University.

Picture of a women's face yelling and the word 'ENOUGH!' in red on a black background. Below the image text reads 'Did You March 4 Justice? Ideas for Your Next Steps from the Commons Library.

Did You March 4 Justice? Ideas for Your Next Steps

Ideas for next steps after the Women’s March 4 Justice – including action, skills development, videos, books and podcasts.

collage of screenshots of 3 websites featuring data and statistics

Guide to publicly available data sources

Through research you can get to know your issues in depth, find out where people stand on those issues, and make a strong evidence-based case for change. Use these Australian publicly available data sources to strengthen and inform your research.

the covers of 2 publications - on left is Glossary of civil resistance with images of people protesting holding rainbow flag. On right is Sharp's dictionary of Power and Struggle with an illustration of a hand punching the air

What does that mean? Dictionaries, Glossaries and Terminology for Civil Resistance

Are you looking for a dictionary, glossary and terminology related to civil resistance, activism and organising? Here is a list of resources.

Digital tools to support effective meetings, training and conferences

List of digital tools activists have used to support effective meetings, training and conferences that complement and/or integrate with Zoom.

Podcasts About Decolonisation, First Nations Justice and Invasion Day

People’s History of Australia-podcast and blog looking at Australian history from the perspective of ordinary people fighting together for a better life.

Ending the Activist Year Well

After a big year of effort it’s important to take time for reflection, evaluation, team-building, celebration, and planning. These resources will help.

koala sleeping on a log with a santa hat on his head

Activist Holiday Gift Guide

Wondering what to give the passionate changemaker in your life… including yourself?! Pay for a training session, look after their wellbeing, support the causes they are passionate about or buy them a book.

How to deal with racism at ‘that’ awkward Christmas dinner

Casual racism at family gatherings can be tricky to navigate! These resources help you prepare how you will respond.

Books to Read About Social Change in 2021

Looking for some inspiring reading for 2021 for yourself or as a gift? Here is a list of books on activism and organising to get you thinking.

Top 10 resources of 2020

The top 10 resources of 2020 from The Commons Social Change Library featuring resources on organising, activism, campaigning and more.

icon of Malala Yousafzai with her quote - There's a moment where you have to decide whether to be silent or stand up.

Inspiring Quotes from Women Leaders and Activists

Over 40 quotes by inspiring women leaders and activists from Australia and around the world about leadership, diversity and the environment.

Books about Women & Leadership

Five books recommended by participants and convenors of Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia. This list includes comprehensive discussions about women’s leadership, practical guides, and two memoirs from inspiring women leaders.

a collage of covers of films about women and social change

Films about Women and Social Justice and Change

An inspiring list of feature films and documentaries about women and social change including Women of Steel, Suffragette, Mission Blue, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry and more.

Learn About Organising from Marshall Ganz

Marshall Ganz is a key thinker and educator in the field of community organising. This article gathers two informative videos and details of other ways to learn from Marshall Ganz.

Photograph of a hand holding a wooden picture frame, with a cliff, beach and sea showing in the backgroun. 'COVID-19' is written inside the frame.

Tracking Covid-19 Laws and Human Rights

Three websites related to Covid-19 laws, policing and human rights in Australia and internationally. The coronavirus is a threat to public health; it does not need to be a threat to civic freedom.

Australian Black Lives Matter Rallies

Articles, videos and podcasts related to Black Lives Matter & Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody rallies in Australia, early June 2020.

Three covers of resources on disability justice including the movie covers for Crip Camp and Defiant Lives and the podcast Disability Visibility

Disability Justice Links

A crowdsourced list of disability justice resources from Virtual Progress 2020. Includes resources from the Lessons from the Disability Justice Movement plenary and Deconstructing Ableism in Progressive Movements workshop.

Protestors in a line with one protestor kneeling on knee (in honour of George Floyd) in front of line of police at protest in street in Washington, D.C, USA

Tracking Movement Moments: #BlackLivesMatter Case Study

Documenting and amplifying police brutality has been a crucial aspect of the Black Lives Matter movement, including during the May-June 2020 protests. These resources include examples of how people are documenting BLM as well as links to tips and articles to help you get started with documenting and archiving.

People at protest with signs saying 'black lives matter' and 'fire and jail terrorist cops #georgefloyd'

Resources About Police Violence and Racial Justice

The murder of George Floyd by police in the US has sparked a powerful response from the Black Lives Matter movement and communities of colour. The following resources give context to the US situation as well as related struggles in Australia.

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