The Commons Social Change Library Feed Items

Introduction

In 1978 counter-protesters met each stop of a tour of Australia by Mary Whitehouse, a self-styled “morals crusader” from the UK who was opposed to what she described as the “permissive society”. Whitehouse’s messages included instructing followers in Perth that “a woman was expected to entertain her husband to stop him from watching too much TV”.

On September 20 in Melbourne Whitehouse addressed what she described as a “disappointing” number of followers at Festival Hall while hundreds demonstrated outside against her campaign to restrict civil and human rights for women, lesbian and gay community members and others. The following day a rally by 30 members of the Christian far-right group Festival of Light (FOL) at the University of Sydney was outnumbered 25 to 1 by their opponents. A later FOL rally the same day was met by 350 counter-protesters who were watched closely by 150 police. Meetings in Perth were also met with counter-protests but it was in Queensland where the most disruptive action took place.

Introduction

A collection of templates, worksheets and checklists for changemakers collated by the Commons librarians on campaign strategy & planning, tactics and actions, organising, narrative, and more.

Download these templates, or make a copy of Google Docs, and fill them in with your own information. Use the checklists to work through processes or make sure you have what you need to progress. If you need more background before using a worksheet check out the topics in the Commons and our Start Here guides.

This is a living list so let us know what resources you are looking for or if you have one to share. Please note that some of the resources below could sit under multiple topic areas.

Introduction

This directory has been curated by the Democracy Resource Hub, an online library of resources for organizers, activists, peacebuilders, democracy practitioners, and trainers working to strengthen democracy. We foster interdisciplinary exchanges and innovation across diverse identities and skillsets.

The Democracy Resource Hub includes two sets of information: 

1. a collection of curated tools and information and 
2. a directory of networks, organizations and resources libraries that offer ways to get involved, trained and/or informed about various skills needed to support the renewal of democracy. 

The Democracy Resource Hub Directory is organized into three groups: 

Welcome to Democracy Resource Hub

The Democracy Resource Hub offers curated tools and connections for democracy practitioners worldwide. Access resources on civic engagement, nonviolent action, peacebuilding, and strategic planning.  Join a global community fostering democratic innovation and resilience through interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Supporting change makers who are building, strengthening and protecting democracy worldwide.

Introduction

The Democracy Resource Hub offers a careful curation of resources for organizers, activists, peacebuilders, democracy practitioners, and trainers working to strengthen democracy. We foster interdisciplinary exchanges and innovation across diverse identities and skill sets.

The Democracy Resource Hub includes two sets of information:

1) a collection of curated tools and information and
2) a directory of organizations and networks that offer ways to get involved in and/or trained on the various skills needed to support the renewal of democracy.

This page is the hub that will help you get to the information you need. The collection is organized into 5 approaches. Below you will find guides to help you find the information you need.

Introduction

Context

Introduction

A guide with resources, directories and media about peacebuilding collated by the Democracy Resource Hub.

• Explore conflict resolution techniques, mediation skills, and bridge-building strategies to transform conflicts into positive change.
• Learn dialogue facilitation, collaborative problem-solving, and inclusive decision-making processes for pluralistic democracy.
• Discover de-escalation strategies and trauma-informed peacebuilding approaches for community reconciliation.

What is peacebuilding and why is it important for democracy?

Peacebuilding transforms conflicts into opportunities for positive change. It strengthens democracy by:

Introduction

A guide with resources, directories and media about Narrative and Storytelling collated by the Democracy Resource Hub.

• Master strategic communication and public narrative techniques for shaping democratic discourse.
• Learn values-based messaging, counter-narrative development, and digital storytelling for advocacy.
• Explore inclusive narrative building and media engagement strategies to mobilize supporters and create a shared vision for democratic renewal.

What is narrative and storytelling? Why is it important for democracy?

Narrative & storytelling is the connective tissue that unites democratic renewal efforts. It:

Introduction

A guide with resources, directories and media about strategic planning collated by the Democracy Resource Hub.

• Access movement strategy development tools and campaign planning resources for democratic renewal.
• Learn to analyze political landscapes, set strategic goals, and build powerful coalitions.
• Discover adaptive management techniques and impact measurement strategies for long-term advocacy planning and effective resource allocation.

What is strategic planning and why is it important for democracy?

Strategic planning offers tools to chart the course for democratic renewal. It is a systematic process of setting clear objectives for strengthening democratic institutions and developing strategies to achieve them. Strategic planning helps:

Introduction

A guide with resources, directories and media about power-building and nonviolent action collated by the Democracy Resource Hub.

• Learn grassroots organizing techniques and nonviolent protest strategies to amplify marginalized voices and drive systemic change.
• Explore civil resistance methods, community mobilization tactics, and intersectional organizing approaches to challenge injustice and shape inclusive democratic processes through peaceful activism.

What are power-building and nonviolent action and why are they important for democracy?

Building power through nonviolent action and community organizing is a cornerstone of a thriving democracy. It:

• Amplifies marginalized voices
• Resists democratic backsliding
• Drives systemic change
• Creates pathways for citizens to shape decisions affecting their lives

In today’s complex political landscape, these skills are crucial for mobilizing people, challenging injustice, and creating pressure for sustainable solutions.

Introduction

Creating change requires engaging audiences, communicating messages, and inviting people to join in action. The resources here will help you get clearer on what communication channels to use and how, how to develop compelling framing and messages, and the skills required to engage media (traditional and new forms) effectively.

This guide will help you navigate the Communications and Media topic on the Commons Library. You may also like to check out our Story and Narrative topic, Digital Campaigning topic and Countering Disinformation project collection.

Learn to savour words and language because no matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world – Robin Williams

What’s your Goal?

A strategic goal should be clear and measurable.

Choosing your strategic goal is the most important choice we make in designing a campaign.

No one strategic goal can solve everything. In order to put our resources to work solving our problems, we have to decide where to focus.

We must ask ourselves: what goal can we work toward that may not solve the whole problem, but will get us well on the way to solving the problem?

Unless we choose a goal to focus on, we’ll risk wasting our precious resources in ways that just won’t add up.

Remember, strategy is nested; a campaign’s ultimate goal, or the “mountain top” goal, is likely not achievable in one attempt.

Introduction

Emergent Strategy is philosophy developed by adrienne maree brown, drawing on the teachings of Grace Lee Boggs, Octavia Butler, the natural world and complexity science. The book Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds was released by AK Press in 2017, and followed by several other books in the Emergent Strategy Series, as well as trainings through the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute (which has since sunset).

Emergent Strategy is an ideological amalgam that inspires and supports the development of social justice movement and transformation towards a world of dignity and wholeness. It is a set of principles and elements that continually turn us towards life in the midst of violence and devastation. Emergent Strategy is rooted in Black feminist, abolitionist and anti-capitalist thought with deep love for the earth and all life.