Navigating Our Roles in Disrupting for Good

Over the years, I have signed up for the mailing lists of several organizations doing great work. I regularly receive thought-provoking and inspiring articles in my inbox. 

A few weeks ago, I received three emails highlighting three very different articles

• Calling People Forward Instead of Out: Ten Essential Steps in the Nonprofit Quarterly
• Direct Action As Strategy from Mob Lab
• Solidarity and strategy: the forgotten lessons of truly effective protest in the Guardian

Now, if you’ve been here long, you know I have a bit of an ongoing internal struggle with the tension between trying to engage decision makers in meaningful discussion and marching in the streets as changemaking strategies. 

Not that either are good or bad, right or wrong, effective or ineffective, but more a question of which style is more good/right/effective for me? If systems change requires the full spectrum from delegating at city hall to chaining ourselves to trees, where do I fit? What is my role and where do I bring the most value?

A small, committed group changes the world, yes, but what is the group DOING, Margaret Meed?? 

Read More