Commons Librarian

Books to Read About Social Change

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.

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.

Marshall Ganz delivering a lecture at a podium. He is wearing a yellow shirt, has glasses and has a mic attached to his shirt. Behind him is a poster taped to the wall that features a bicycle.

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.

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.

Australian Aboriginal hand painting in cave in Sydney

Aboriginal Memoirs as Social Activism

Activist memoirs can help people understand how people affected change in the past and how people can effect change now.

Tactics in a time of physical distancing: Examples from around the world

How can activists take action during the Covid-19 pandemic? This article collects examples of tactics from around the world that work during physical distancing.

Mug sitting on laptop that says 'Not all super heroes wear capes'

Activist Inspiration and Learning in Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic is keeping many of us at home. Without the usual forums, film nights, and other campaign activities how can we connect to inspiration and continue learning? Here are films, podcasts, webinars and online courses.

woman in protest carrying a sign saying #enough

Digital Campaigning: Start Here

Digital campaigning leverages technology to create change through emails, petitions, and platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and more. Here is a list of resources to get you started.

laptop and headphones outside in garden setting

Online Meeting Guides to Get Through COVID-19

Get the most out of your online meetings with these facilitation tips, how-to guides, help with tools, and tips for working from home.

Framing Issues for Social Justice Impact: Directory of Messaging Guides

Looking for research on how to frame an issue on a certain topic area? This collection of reports, articles, videos and podcasts on issues including climate, crime, equality, nature, poverty and health will help you develop powerful messages and narratives.

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