You already hold the power to influence, inspire, and create change. Let's harness it!
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
We’ve been thinking a lot about how fighting climate change should be about the awe, wonder, and general loveliness of this planet. We don't know about you, but we would do pretty much anything to protect the ones we care about. That extends to this Earth too. We really do think saving the world comes down to love. (Plus strategy, plus friends, plus luck. Just read a YA fantasy novel and you'll get the point.)
Since "love" can be a pretty fuzzy concept, let’s chat about strategy on how to influence and organize for change.
Here’s what we’ll cover step-by-step:
By understanding your own journey and the impact you have on others, you can root your changemaking in connection, empathy, and intention.
🎯 Action step 1 of 4: READ — Let's start by looking at a few articles together.
Change doesn’t start with perfection! It starts with awareness, courage, and showing up.
Here are four prompts to understand your role in changemaking:
Change can be rooted in connection and empathy. These are reminders that you already hold the power to influence, inspire, and create change. There is no doubt that you have already influenced countless people in your life.
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 1 of 4: READ.
🎯 Action step 2 of 4: LISTEN — we'll watch a short video or listen to a podcast to further expand on our topic.
At one of our community dinners in Seattle, we asked people to organize themselves in a spectrum around the room, showing how much they identify as an activist.
The room went something like this, if you imagine each stick figure is a cluster of people:
Not a single person in the room considered themselves strongly as an activist! The farthest identification was just slightly left of the center. This is a roomful of people that, if you asked us, fight tirelessly for positive change.
When we dissected this live, there were a variety of reasons that surfaced, from not wanting to be associated with the stereotype of an angry yelling activist, to feeling like we were not doing enough.
If this whole messy soupy gatekeepy activist identity thing is a challenge for you too, a) you're not alone, and b) great news, it's exactly what we're talking about in this Action Pack.
The most important takeaway: No matter your interests or personality style, you have a role to play in influencing and organizing.
You don't need to be an extrovert. You don't need to go to a protest. You don't need to argue with your bigoted uncle. But, you DO need to do something that works for you (with consistency, courage, and ideally, community).
We hope some of the frameworks and concepts here give you some comfort, courage, and motivation to claim your identity as a changemaker. Though, no labels needed babe, we can keep it casual. 😘
👉 Framework: 4 R's of Social Transformation by NCCJC's Jodi Lasseter
In the climate movement, there's often a lot of debate on the "best" approach to creating change. The 4 R's framework (resist, reform, re-imagine, re-create) shows us that it's not about one category of solutions being better than another; it's about "a deep and practical commitment to each R and linking between them."
One way to use it: Find your R and be proud of it! Then, find co-conspirators working within the other R's and see how you can work together.
👉 Video: How to topple a dictator (tips and tricks for nonviolent struggle)
Srdja Popovic wrote a brilliant book Blueprint for Revolution about how to do a revolution in a super fun and nonviolent way. Based on his experience toppling a dictator in Serbia, he summarizes some of the principles in his TEDx talk, including unity, planning, and maintaining nonviolent discipline.
👉 Video: Another TEDx talk from Erica Chenoweth
Erica showcases the success of nonviolent civil resistance (2x likely to succeed than violent insurgencies)! Also, just 3.5% of the population max is needed to succeed. Wowza.
👉 Action pack: How to talk about climate change
Many months ago, we covered this topic in our Changeletter! Creating change starts with using YOUR sphere of influence ✨
Happy internet rabbit hole-ing. Remember, every single person who loves this planet has a place in the movement to preserve it! "Activist" or not!
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 2 of 4: LISTEN.
🎯 Action step 3 of 4: ACT — Now it's time to do something. Let's go!
Courage is foundational to influencing and organizing change. It's a scary world out there! Even the small things can feel overwhelming: making a friend, going to an event, putting up a poster in your neighborhood… Don’t worry, you’re not alone! We’re sharing some resources that can support you as you think about wielding your own courage for planetary health.
Above, we went over the 4 R's of Social Transformation by NCCJC's Jodi Lasseter (Resist, Reform, Re-imagine, Re-create) to demonstrate that we all have a role to play for influencing change. Remember, choose one "R" to influence change.
1. Resist by joining a nonviolent direct action network like Extinction Rebellion.
You can also find local resistance groups through mutual aid networks near you! (Search "mutual aid" + "[your city]" on Ecosia, a non-Google search engine that plants trees and protects your privacy better).
2. Resist by making stickers for your favorite cause or slogan and putting them up in your neighborhood.
All you need is labels, laminate, and basic art supplies such as colored pencils or pens! Here's our Instagram post that shows you how we did it.
3. Reform by establishing a relationship with your local representative.
Use this tool in the United States to find your rep. If you're outside the US, search "who represents me" + [your city]" on Ecosia.
4. Reform by joining Citizens Climate Lobby.
If you live outside the USA, Canada, or Europe where CCL has chapters, there are very similar reform organizations in your country you can join. One of the best ways is to follow local climate justice influencers/organizers on social media/their newsletters.
5. Re-imagine by making your Better World Bingo board if you haven't yet!
See our instructions on how to create one at home.
6. Re-imagine your own influence by drawing/journaling the senses of courage?
What does courage look like? What does it sound like? What does it smell and taste like? What are the textures of courage?
7. Re-create by having a courageous conversation with someone about climate action.
This can be as simple as encouraging a friend to go on a walk with you instead of doomscrolling! It doesn't have to be a whole thing! If you want some help with how to structure this conversation, you can look into motivational interviewing or check out Soapbox's Action Pack on how to talk about climate change.
Pretty much everything good that's ever happened in your lifetime is because someone made it happen through their own influence, unless they were a property-owning white man in the 1700s.
Right to vote? Someone made it happen.
Right to marry interracially or same-sex? Someone made it happen.
Right to work in an air-conditioned office and not as a teeny weeny baby? Yup, someone made it happen.
Right to not drink tap water and instantly die because of the chemicals? Well, we're still working on it, but you get the point.
For better or for worse, we must fight for our rights, our public spaces, our well-being, and our very futures on Earth. We'll only win if we organize and do it together with courage. 🤗
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 3 of 4: ACT.
Before we go any further, it's time for you to pledge your commitment. It takes less than 30 seconds to pledge and we can bother you about it in a friendly way, so we can hold each other accountable. Pledge here!
🎯 Action step 4 of 4: REFLECT — what can you commit to? What fresh perspectives can we look at?
Amidst these actions, reflect on how you can incorporate your own creative expression into influencing and organizing for change.
We’re so honored to bring you a poem by our very own Soapbox member Drew Wilkinson, who wrote and performed a poem on courage at one of our Soapbox Seattle events.
What is a creation someone else has put into the world that's inspired me? What's the smallest version of that I can create for myself?
What do I want to do with my unique ability as a human who can access creativity, storytelling, and community?
How does my own courage take shape?
The future we deserve is possible and you have a place in the movement! You get to decide how your creativity and courage helps shape it. You’re not alone, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. 💜
🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 4 of 4: REFLECT.
Check out our membership community for more resources like free weekly events with social justice experts, sustainable product discounts, pre-written email templates, a social impact job board, and in-person hangouts with new friends. Thanks for taking action with Soapbox Project!
Get our free bite-sized climate action plans before you go!