As organizers and activists, it’s not always easy to stay abreast of the latest thinking and writing about movement-building. Yet it’s vital to bringing more wisdom, creativity and inspiration to this work! And connecting to others deeply committed to movement-building can help us re-charge.
These are author talks for some of the books listed here: Great Reads for Organizers. We hope you enjoy them. If you want to be notified of the next series of live author talks, make sure you're on SMT's email list or sign up.
by Doyle Canning and Patrick Reinsborough
As the resistance fights back in the era of “alternative facts,” making meaning through effective framing has never been more important. Progressive movements face threats in every arena, and we must remember that while the facts may be on our side, we need to tell our stories in ways that are strategic, compelling, and actionable.
Watch this Author Talk to:
Doyle Canning and Patrick Reinsborough are co-founders of the Center for Story-based Strategy and have several decades of combined experience supporting movements for racial, economic, and ecological justice.
Erin Malone, Communications Director for Forward Together and long-time online/offline organizer, MCs this talk.
More information on this book. To order this book at half the cost, use coupon "change" here.
by Midwest Academy.
If you want to change the world, you need to organize.
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Heather Booth has been an organizer since the early civil rights and women's movement. She has directed or advised such major campaigns as financial reform (CFPB), immigration reform, marriage equality, tax fairness, health care reform and founded the Midwest Academy organizer training center.
Carmen Berkley intersects the issues of communities of color and women into campaigns that improve peoples lives. She serves as the Managing Director for Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
More information on this book.
by Becky Bond and Zack Exley
The most innovative thing to talk about here is decoupling paid staff from the organizing process, which allows virtually unlimited scaling in a movement, because of the vast ocean of volunteers to draw from. Watch this Author Talk to:
Zack Exley has been a leader in online fundraising and engagement for nearly 20 years. Most recently, Zack served as a full-time senior adviser on the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign and was an architect of the campaign's national, volunteer-driven grassroots campaign.
Christine Miranda, organizer with Movimiento Cosecha and SMT Staff Partner, comments.
More information on this book.
A handful of rank-and-file teachers organized themselves, ran for office, charted a new direction for the 27,000-member Chicago Teachers Union, and led a citywide strike that became a model for unions across the country.
Watch this Author Talk to learn how they did it! Discover the steps CTU leaders are still using to:
Kim Goldaum is a Teacher, Elementary Functional VP of Chicago Teachers Union (CTU1), and Member of Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE)
Samantha Winslow is the Co-Director of Labor Notes and is a former union organizer.
More information on this book.
by Alexandra Bradbury, Mark Brenner, and Jane Slaughter
This session will show you how to fight back where you work and win. The book and free, downloadable training materials can help.
Watch this Author Talk to:
Samantha Winslow is the Co-Director of Labor Notes and is a former union organizer.
Bianca Cunningham is a union activist and organizer for CWA District 1.
More information on this book.