The Commons Library newsletter keeps you up to date with social change resources posted on commonslibrary.org

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Feb 2022
Issue 32

Commons News

2022 is in full swing and we hope it's treating you well. The Commons team took some time in January to plan out the year and it's a full one! We have some exciting projects in the works including:

welcoming a new intake of volunteers (more info coming soon)
partnering with Australian Progress to research organising models in Australia & Aotearoa NZ, and
online events for our Commons community!

Coming soon: The Commons Library Guide to Elections & Activism. We're gathering perspectives on why and how people engage (or don't!) with elections as part of a social change strategy; case studies of past campaigns; guides to different tactics relevant to elections; and tips for maintaining morale and wellbeing on the campaign trail.

Resources from FWD + Organise 2021

Australian Progress hosted the FWD+Organise conference in December, bringing together hundreds of campaigners, organisers and other change makers. Commons staff and volunteers attended, gathering the following articles:

Women’s Stories of Environmental Activism

Read the stories of five women and what inspired them to become environmental activists. Robyn Gulliver interviewed each woman at Camp Binbee, where they were all staying to take action against the Carmichael coal mine development.

Yellow measuring tape across a black and white photo of blurred heads of protestors. Focus is on a sign being held up with the word Resist.

Campaign Monitoring and Evaluation: Measuring What Matters

Max Smith shares frameworks taught in the Community Organising Fellowship for effective monitoring and evaluation of campaigns, movement building and organising work. Read the article.

Leading Change Network
Resource Center

The Commons Library worked with the Leading Change Network to review and update their directory of organising resources from all around the world. The collaboration started when Marshall Ganz came across the Commons and appreciated the way we have set up a living library - well organised, constantly updated, and connected to movements.

It's exciting that what we've figured out about social change information management can help other groups and networks become smarter and stronger. Get in touch if we can help you!

Visit the LCN Resource Center. For a taste check out the Guide to Public Narrative Resources. NB some LCN resources are only available to members - Join.

Tending the Soil: Lessons for Organizing

Ricardo Levins Morales, an artist and organiser from the United States, shares his wisdom and lessons from over five decades of organising through eight lessons explained through videos and a zine featuring his beautiful artworks.

Text reads The use of Covid-19 marshals at public demonstrations. Text is framed by rubber gloves, face masks and sanitiser pumps.

What Else Is New

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The Commons pays respects to the traditional owners of the land in which we operate and wherever this site is accessed. We recognise the central importance of struggles for Indigenous self-determination and justice within the broad project of creating a progressive future.

Image credits
FWD+Organise 2021, Australian Progress
Commons Library
Commons Library
Leading Change Network
Ricardo Morales
Commons Library

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