Strategies for Using Video in your Work for Social Change (guest blog)

By guest blogger Ali Pinschmidt who presented a Socializing for Justice "Skillshare: Video for Social Change" - download her PowerPoint. SoJust is a cross-cultural, cross-issue progressive community, network and movement based on the philosophy of abundance. Learn more and get connected at www.sojust.org. 

According to different statistics, the average American consumes 37 hours of live or taped TV a week, 9 hours of media on their mobile phones daily, and the average young person views over 3,000 ads per day.  For better or for worse, we as a society are swimming in visual media.

While the vast majority of contemporary media perpetuates and even creates the status quo, the good news is that there are so many people using video in inspiring, innovative, and powerful ways for strategic progressive change.

In the SoJust Skillshare we discussed a few different models.  The simplest suggestion was to take advantage of the fruits of this media age by utilizing some of the great documentaries, vlogs and innovative film projects that are already out there to shed light on or promote the cause you’re working on, (of course with the permission of and credit to the filmmakers whenever applicable).  As filmmaking can be so time intensive and expensive, resist reinventing the wheel when possible and support the many high quality works made by progressive filmmakers.  Hosting screenings and inviting the filmmakers and subjects in the films, incorporating these videos into your campaign, building online community dialogues around the films, or even selling the DVD to fundraise for your cause (again, all with permission), are ways to strengthen networks and take advantage of these amazing resources.  To access the wealth of videos out there, try a simple Google search, and check out films from distributors such as the Media Education Foundation and Women Make Movies.

8 Steps for Successful Networking

Presented by Robbie Samuels at a Socializing for Justice Skillshare. SoJust is a cross-cultural, cross-issue progressive community, network and movement based on the philosophy of abundance. Learn more and get connected at www.sojust.org. 

Forming and cultivating relationships is at the heart of any successful fundraising campaign, volunteer drive, committee effort or community building activity. Foster and grow new networks with these practical tips and best practices to engage someone in a conversation, keep it rolling, exchange information and wrap up. Attend my Art of the Schmooze training for an interactive fast-paced and fun tutorial.

1. Say hello. Shake hands, say your name and affiliation.

Has the following happened to you? You've done your homework and know a particular bigwig connector, funder, donor, etc. will be at a networking event. You see them and freeze. What had you planned to say? Were you thanking them? Soliciting them? As your brain tries to put together a coherent sentence, they move out of view and the opportunity has passed. Let's keep this simple. Just shake hands and say, "Hello, my name is (insert your name here)." The rest of your elevator pitch can come later, but to build a relationship, you need to start by making the connection.

2. Ask questions. People like to talk about themselves.

Now that you have their attention, follow up with an open-ended question. Why open-ended? You're looking for them to share a story, which won't happen if your question can be answered with a yes or no response. Follow Dale Carnegie's timeless advice in "How to Win Friends & Influence People" and "allow the other person to do a great deal of the talking." In other words, make fewer statements and ask more questions. For example, "How did you hear about this event?" or follow up with "How did you end up in your line of work?" 

Attendees Call the Shots at Progressive “Un-Conference”

It's this weekend - time to register! I'm proud to be the Lead Organizer of RootsCamp MA. It's been a great experience pulling it together with many others who stepped up 10 weeks ago to make this happen. Please share this press release and invite your network to join you...

RootsCamp MA - For Organizers, By Organizers 

Attendees Call the Shots at Progressive “Un-Conference” 

Calling all progressive organizers! RootsCamp MA (April 6-7, 2013 at 1199 SEIU in Dorchester) shakes up the traditional conference model. No need to submit workshop proposals in advance. Instead attendees decide an agenda together each morning of the conference. This allows participants to have meaningful and in-the-moment conversations about their work.

This is progressive cross-issue movement building, where all attendees bring what they know and what they are curious about. They establish lasting new partnerships with other organizers from all over the state. This model builds on the success of 2012 RootsCamp National, 2010 RootsCamp MA and “unconferences” dating back to 2006.

Make Your Voice Matter With Lawmakers: No Experience Necessary. (guest blog)

By Guest Blogger Miriam Stein, MSW, author of "Make Your Voice Matter with Lawmakers: No Experience Necessary". Presented a SoJust Skillshare on Monday, April 1, 2013.

Representative Jay Kaufman says: “Even one call, letter, or email expressing some caring about an issue can get my attention.” That quote on the cover of Make Your Voice Matter with Lawmakers: No Experience Necessary sums up the importance of sharing your opinions with your state house senator and representative.

In just a few minutes a month, regular people who care about social justice can influence lawmakers’ thinking and votes. Surprising but true. The key to overcoming misgivings about contacting lawmakers is to remember that they are “real people” like each of us, like our friends, relatives and neighbors.

Most of us already have the skills we need—the interpersonal skills we use in our daily life. We know how to get to know other people, discover what is important to them, make them feel comfortable in talking with us, tell them what we think.

6 Fundraising Truths

Fundraising: Getting Past the Fear of Asking was presented by Robbie Samuels as a Socializing for Justice Skillshare on March 4, 2013.

I always start my trainings by asking the audience to share a word or two response to the question, "How do you feel about soliciting - asking for money?". Invariably a majority of responses are along the lines of "hate it,” "nervous," "like I'm begging," and "it depends on the cause." This kind of angsty response is what you'd expect from a group that chose to attend a session called "Fundraising: Getting Past the Fear of Asking." 

But then I ask them, "How do you feel when you write a check to your favorite organization?". This is money they've set aside for charity - not their lunch money or fun money. The organization is one they've gotten to know and respect - and the cause is one they care deeply about. They're about to write the check, or more likely filling out a form on a website, how do they feel now? The room immediately lightens up and the responses include "great," "engaged," "making difference," "good," and "wish I could do more."

Interesting. Asking for money makes people feel anxious, but donating makes them feel awesome. Let's reflect on that for a moment. Asking = bad, giving = good.

What's the number one reason people don't give? They are not asked. That's right, people don't give if they're not asked, and they're more likely to give if someone they know and trust asks them. So if you don't get past your fear of asking you are denying your friends the ability to feel like they're making a difference - the ability to be truly engaged with a cause they care about. You are keeping your friends from feeling great. 

What is SoJust? Our Philosophy

At the core of it, Socializing for Justice has been a great big social experiment. In the early years, SoJust’s Co-Founders Robbie Samuels and Hilary Allen intentionally built it and got out of the way. While they had some sense of what was possible through SoJust, they didn’t focus on one end goal. This allowed everyone who attended events to bring with them new possibilities that expanded the sum total of what SoJust could achieve.

SoJust is not focused on a specific identity group, culture or issue. Their strength is their ability to bring together passionate progressives from different neighborhoods, countries and cultures. To accomplish this, SoJust hosts socials and skillshares that draw progressives of all stripes that share common values, but may work on different issues. In just over 6 years they’ve hosted 150 events. From the very first event, Robbie and Hilary were concerned about the group being quickly labeled “that” group - which would have limited who would feel welcome to attend events.

To counter this likelihood, they purposely hosted a wide range of events in venues across the Boston metro area. Bowling for Justice in Alewife, Roller Skating for Justice in Mattapan, Knitting for Justice in Forest Hills, Thrifting for Justice in Kendall Square, and Cocktails for Justice in Central Square are just a few examples of the range of events that were held twice a month during the first few years. As a result, event attendees have been all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, levels of activism and professions. Some just moved to Boston and others were born here. A few years in, “cross-cultural” was added to their mission statement to emphasize the importance of weaving diversity efforts into all that they do. Their goal is that you see someone like yourself at their events and meet someone you otherwise wouldn't have.

Calling All GLAD Alumni!

By Robbie Samuels, GLAD Senior Manager of Events and Donor Engagement

Did you intern, volunteer or work at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders sometime over the last 35 years? Thank you! You helped pave the way for GLAD to become the groundbreaking legal rights organization we are today.

Many of our earliest interns, staff and founding board members (e.g.UrvashiVaid, Richard Burns and CindyRizzo) went on to become leaders in the LGBT movement. Which made me wonder – where are all of our alumni now?