Dangerous creatures hide and thrive in swamps. It isn’t easy to understand what goes on in swamps – real or political. Details are concealed. Motivations are masked. People have short attention spans. Memes and videos are often inadequate to explain an issue. What’s needed is an easy-to-use, affordable way to explain an issue and connect different threads on it into a simple narrative. Readers …
“Follow the money”, Deep Throat advised reporters investigating the Nixon Watergate scandal. The advice is still apt and applies to many issues including the opioid crisis. But it’s harder than ever to follow the people, connections and money supporting an issue. Political action committees (PACs) and the Citizens United ruling make it easier for corporations, lobbyists and politicians to hide things …
Organizing Native American communities is challenging. Tribal lands span hundreds of square miles often without internet or cell coverage. Community members often use mailboxes instead of a street address which makes outreach difficult. Western Native Voice is using KoboToolbox, a free app to innovate and increase participation in elections and the census. Background Montana is home to 60,000 Native Americans – 7% of …
Western Native Voice Uses Free App To Organize Native American Communities. Read More »
The 2020 census will be different. It’s counting on more people to complete census questionnaires online to reduce the need for field workers. This hurts communities without dependable internet access, those with language difficulties or have concerns about trust in the government. Many communities, as a result, may be under-counted by the census. The 2020 Hard to Count Map from the Mapping Service at …
New Map Highlights ‘Hard To Count’ Communities That May Be Left Out Of The Census. Read More »
Protestors in Hong Kong have shown that it is possible to organize in a tightly monitored and censored environment. They offer ten practical security tips a free online handbook. Taking photos & videos Use instant streaming photo and video taking apps to upload content immediately. This avoids the risk of your photos and videos being deleted if your phone …
Many rural communities suffer from a lack of connectivity. It’s harder to stay informed, benefit from online services, locate polling locations, vote and take part in the census. Organizers struggle to reach rural voters in remote rural areas without connectivity. Campaigns find it harder and more expensive to inform communities about election issues and the importance of the census. This reduces the voting power …
Ride-sharing services like Uber make it convenient to get a ride by quickly matching passengers with nearby drivers. Why is it so hard to match volunteers with non-profits? The challenge Non-profits need to clearly tell their stories to attract attention and support. They are continually dealing with staff shortages, limited funds, and tight deadlines. At the same time …
Lawmakers Vote to Effectively Ban Abortion in Alabama “These bills essentially ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected, usually about six weeks into pregnancy, a time when many women do not yet know they are pregnant”, explains the NY Times. “We want abortions to be safe, and we want them to be few, but it should …
Necessity is the mother of invention. So is lack of funding. Underfunded campaigns need new ways to compete against better funded opponents. Technology can level the playing field, but awareness and training for affordable apps is hard to come by. There is no money to be made in promoting free apps and training people on how to use them. Here is …
Get Your Message Heard Without Breaking The Bank. A Workshop For Underfunded Campaigns. Read More »
Grassroots organizing changes constantly with new tactics and apps. How can the lessons learned on one campaign be quickly shared with other progressive groups? Blueprints for Change converts know-how from campaign organiziners into free ‘how-to’ guides. A community of helpers creates and updates these online guides which are available here: A/B testing for sendouts Building networked coalitions Canvassing and door knocking Crowdsourcing ideas and content from supporters Digital …
Up your game with this library of free campaigning and organizing ‘how to’ guides. Read More »
