“Campaigns don’t win through the execution of one tactic, but through the implementation of many tactics that usually follow a certain order. Social change rarely happens through one tactic alone but it can happen when you launch a political campaign.”
The NHPPA regularly hears questions such as, “Why is it taking so long to change things?” and we came across an excellent article by Jessica Bell of Tools for Change which explains just how political change can happen.
The piece is a wide-ranging treasure chest of advice for activists with some fascinating infographics. If you ever get frustrated with the pace of progress, or the lack of engagement when you are trying to educate your networks, this piece is one to go back to time and again.
It explains why political campaigns work best in stages, tactic by tactic, why it pays to keep tight focus on a single aim and how people’s engagement with your issues tends to move incrementally.
Tools for Change run workshops in the Toronto area for groups and individuals who want to be more effective at what they do. They cover such topics as direct action, coalition building, group decision-making and more.
This is a website to watch!
READ Five Things I Wish I Knew When I First Became Politically Active
by Jessica Bell
Here is another great source of information on how to plan and execute an effective campaign. In The Art of Campaigning, veteran activist Des Wilson describes the principles of campaign planning; research, writing, target setting and preparation.
“Do it well. What you produce is your credibility.”
READ The Art of Campaigning
by Des Wilson
One more piece of inspiration…
In a thoughtful, encouraging and beautiful “Letter to a Young Activist in Troubled Times” Clarissa Pinkola Estes PhD reminds us that “we were made for these times” and that “we are the leaders we have been waiting for.”
READ Letter to a Young Activist in Troubled Times
by Clarissa Pinkola Estes PhD
