Introduction
Rural or small city organizing presents challenges and opportunities that are unique from urban or larger city environments.
This toolkit aims to support climate advocates and organizers in rural and remote communities in empowering their friends, families, and neighbours to unite and transform themselves and their communities into climate leaders.
The toolkit:
- is tailored to the specific needs and context of rural and remote climate action organizing.
- includes overview of local governance structures and community organizing best practices.
- has case studies that explore themes related to
- accessibility,
- language,
- collaboration and
- avenues for advocacy.
- is by the Climate Reality Project Canada and the Climate Justice Organizing Hub.
Purpose and Learning Objectives
This resource is intended for individual or group grassroots organizers/advocates in rural and remote communities. It intends to spark the following outcomes:
- Equip grassroots rural and remote organizers and advocates with actionable suggestions for mobilizing and organizing more effectively in rural and remote areas.
- Learn from the lived experiences of organizers/advocates living in rural and remote communities.
- (Bonus) Discuss new ideas to add to the roundup of suggestions currently listed in the toolkit!
Format and Delivery
This resource is currently presented in written guide format. Suggestions for reviewing and processing knowledge:
- Read the guide individually and take what is relevant back to a group or assign as group reading
- Draw ideas from the guide and hold a group brainstorming discussion
Estimated time: 1-2 hours to review. Group discussion time may vary.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Primers
- a. Local Governance Structure
- b. Organizing Tactic
- 3 Case Studies
- a. Accessibility Case Study
- b. Language Case Study
- c. Collaboration Case Study
- d. Avenues of Advocacy Case Study
- 4 Additional Resources
Sneak Peek into Toolkit
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About Authors
- The Climate Reality Project Canada’s mission is to connect networks of empowered individuals in communities across Canada by equipping them with the tools and knowledge to move towards a low-carbon, resilient, and just future. Through resources and tools, the Community Climate Hubs provide guidance and logistical support for resident-led advocacy in their city, town, village or regional municipality’s public policy on climate and collective wellbeing.
- 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.
About the Global Grassroots Support Network (GGSN)
The Global Grassroots Support Network (GGSN) is an initiative building upon the Blueprints for Change project. The GGSN is building a community of practice that brings together projects supporting grassroots, justice-oriented activist groups in multiple regions and continents to share knowledge, trainings, coaching and resource materials they created in their part of the world. The goal for the network is to compile collective knowledge on best practices for supporting the challenges faced by grassroots justice-oriented activist groups, to benefit from each others’ innovations, and ultimately improve support for grassroots movements around the world.
For more resources view the Global Grassroots Support Network collection on the Commons Library or visit the Blueprints for change site.
Explore Further
- How Rural Organizing can Build Power
This report outlines lessons, actions and recommendations for rural organizers and communities in organizing and building political power. - Empowering Leaderful Organizing: Competencies & Tools
Empower your groups and movements with an A – Z list of training tools for organizing and activist work by Leaderful Organizing. - Interactive, Self Paced Mini Courses on Organising: Global Organizing and Leadership Development GOLD
These online courses explore the foundations of organising, distributed leadership, social movements, and the concept of the Movement Cycle. - Organising: Start Here
Organising builds people power for change. Here is a list of resources in the Commons Library to get you started including introductions, different approaches, manuals, tactics, videos and more. - How to Mobilise in a Closed Country when you’re Working Remotely
This 350.org presentation shares reflections and lessons learned from organising and mobilising in China remotely from Taiwan.