Activity Module 2:
comms for the cause
Now that you have a story to tell, an issue to raise, or an action to organize, you’ll need to find ways to communicate your goals to the community. This module is all about the different ways you can raise awareness and increase engagement towards the change you want to see in the world. From rallies, calls to action, virtual campaigns, and more; we will explore the history and inner workings of communicating your cause to enact change for the better.
Friendly Reminder
Bringing awareness can come in many different forms.
From posting a sign in solidarity, starting a GSA at your school, or even putting together a national rally, all of these have a story to tell and a cause to support. Taking action is the first move, and how far you take your cause is up to you and the people you bring together for that cause.
Writing prompts & Templates
How to write a letter to the editor – aclu
Scheduling a Meeting with your Legislator During COVID19 – ACLU
Letter to a Legislator Template
This is a template that can be used whether you are writing to a legislator, superintendent, principal, etc. Format it in a way that feels comfortable to you. Remember: if you are writing to a legislator, it’s important to include an address so they know you reside in their district. If you are able to meet someone in person, or they have made a change with which you agree, write them a letter of thanks. Cultivating a relationship with those in positions of authority is vital to creating long-term change.
Call to action canva templates
Use these templates to tell others about an issue you are passionate about, an event around an issue you want them to attend, or bring virtual awareness to an issue of which you care deeply. There are all kinds of ways to engage the public. You can even utilize more than one around one or more issues. The possibilities are only limited by the parameters you set to create a movement.
Canva Storyboard Templates
Here are some storyboard templates that are also available to map out ways to connect your story to the change you want to see in your community. Whether putting together a short video, social media campaign, photography slide, or more, these templates may help guide you through the actions you need to take to see your project through to fruition.
You do have to have a Canva account, but it is free—you do not need premium to use these. Mobile app is available, but often Canva is easiest to use on tablet, laptop, or desktop computers.
The-Prism-Project-Report
Data points are often needed to drive a point home. Here is the latest data on 2SLGBTQ+ people right here in the state of Oklahoma. It was put together in 2019, and while most of the data centers NE OK, it is still helpful to get a snapshot of our experiences.
Prism Project Recommendations
This document has recommendations for different leaders based on the data from the Prism Project survey above. Whether a policy maker, educator, healthcare provider, or faith leader there are recommendations here on how to better serve 2SLGBTQ+ Oklahomans.
history of current issues
(CW: mention of discrimination, violence, prejudice against trans bodies, and women in particular) Many of the bills we have seen lately that are anti-2SLGBTQ+ have been targeting young trans people. Here is a brief history of how this has come to be here in the US.
This video brings together history with art. Academy award-winning actor and singer Billy Porter takes us on a journey through time to explore the more obscure political actions that have changed the course of LGBTQIA+ history. Before that fateful day at Stonewall in 1969, there were nearly 50 years worth of queer political actions that took place but today, they are still overlooked when regarding modern history and civil rights movements. (YouTube)
(CW: this video is made in collaboration with Ellen, and we want to name the harm this individual has had on POC communities and marginalized folks; also a mention of cr*zy and invalidation of names) Have you ever wondered about the beginnings of homosexuality? Get to know a little bit about the fight for equality as Wanda Sykes takes us on a journey all the way back to the Middle Ages. Now, we get to celebrate moments like Pride Month in June and Transgender Awareness Week in November.
From closet to community | Metro | Oklahoma City
This article, written by James Cooper, tells about some of the history of 2SLGBTQ+ people in the OKC area over the last several decades.
Examples of Comms for a Cause
Types of Social Change
There are so many ways to engage in making your world a better place for everyone. Here is a list (there are even more!) of things that can make you a part of the change you want to see.
This is an example of using video and virtual campaigns as a way to bring awareness to an issue. (The National Education Association)
GSA Network is a national Organization built to give youth and young adults the tools they need to make radical change in their communities. This video is an example of storytelling for a cause, demonstrating in this video community building, rallies, power of messaging, and safe/brave space. GSA Network tools will be linked in resources. (GSA Network)
Many of the anti-2LGBTQ+ bills we have seen have also targeted gender-affirming healthcare. This video is an example of how one’s story paired with the testimonial of an expert in a specialized field can create a powerful message for change. (USA Today)
Bringing awareness to a community can take many different forms. This video is an example of community building around a cause, and it shows high school students taking pride in who they are while showing those around them the importance of what they’re doing to make their school a better place. This can also be a take on pride parades that have historically been integral in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Walks, Marches, and Parades are all similar, yet different, ways to get a message to others about what it is you would like them to know/change/see.
Building Relationships with the Community – Project READY
This is a continuing resource toolkit if a community walk or something similar is of interest to you.
This podcast (found on Spotify) is a conversation with Hannah Royce from OKC Pride Alliance on organizing, messaging, and the community aspect of activism (specific content starts at 7:25). Not only is this a resource tool to learn from, but podcasts are also a way to inform your community of an issue and create a platform to enact change around that cause.
Starting Your Podcast: A Guide For Students – NPR
Here is an article with things you will need to have or consider in order to start your own podcast. It can be very simple to set up, and is a skill that you can continue to build on and perfect as you learn and go!
Resources
GSA Network
GSA Network was created by and for youth. This national organization has so many tools at your discretion from starting a GSA, a campaign, or simply getting all the information you need on a social justice issue you care about like racial or gender justice.
Recieve up-to-date information as well as specialized resources for your GSA (it can be school or community-based GSAs!)
Start a Campaign Tool
Want to take your voice and vision to the national level? Apply for TRUTH Council or Roses? Both of these youth councils center 2SLGBTQ+ youth of color and work to promote radical change in our society.
ACLU People Power
This website helps to track community organizing movements, as well as tools to help with community organizing led by you.
Communities Against Hate
This website was created as a landing place for people to tell their stories if they experience a hate incident no matter the identity. There is a way to share your story anonymously or with contact information. This is also a tool to see what other issues have been reported in your area to track patterns of discrimination or find people to reach out to with similar stories.
Campus Pride
Campus Pride is a website with resources for students on college campuses; everything you may need to enact change for a more inclusive college or university. Some of these resources may be helpful to high school students, as well!
Dream Action Oklahoma
DAOK is a community-based organization that aims to empower our local immigrant community through advocacy and education to ensure justice for all immigrants. DAOK uses many different platforms to enact change for our communities and they also center 2SLGBTQ+ people and their needs.
UNR Indian Territory We Feed Us
This mutual aid network uses social media as a tool to share out important information about change that needs to happen in the world while simultaneously doing the work to make those changes. They provide community care for those who are experiencing homelessness as well as re-imagining and decolonizing the way we care for our communities as a whole.
The Black Times
This is a Black, queer owned and operated media production company based in Oklahoma City, OK. It is a great resource for not only content, but a place to submit your thoughts and letters on issues that are important to you and the changes you’d like to see.
The Black Wall Street Times
This is a national news publication reporting on African American experiences and breaking news stories with a storefront located in Tulsa, OK. It is a great resource to get information that centers marginalized folks and the issues they face both locally and on the national level. This is also a place for content around social justice issues, as well as a place to submit items such as ‘letter to the editor’.
2022 ACLU National Advocacy Institute
The 2022 ACLU National Advocacy Institute is a summer program that is a week-long camp focused on advocacy and activism. Deadline to apply runs from March 20th- May 15th depending on your decision window. This is not a free event, however there are scholarships and financial support available through the ACLU if you are interested in applying to this event.
Know Your Rights, No Matter What
Rallies, Protests, and Calls to Action in a physical space can be an efficient tool of change, and they are not for everyone.
If you decide to participate in a live action, it is important for you to weigh the pros and cons of doing so and know what you may face in the worst case scenario. Here we have provided different Know Your Rights Resources depending on different live action situations. We encourage you to check out the ACLU Know Your Rights website (linked below) before attending an action.
Consider your bottom line before attending an in-person event, and negotiate what you are and are not willing to participate in before you find yourself in an unsafe situation. It is okay to ask the event planners what their intentions are for the live event. If you are the event planner, it is not unreasonable for others to ask what may occur during a call to action. No one knows your limits better than you; don’t forget to check in with yourself for clarity, and remember to let someone close to you know your plans before attending a live action.
This website offers a broad spectrum on how and where you may need to know your rights depending on the situation in which you find yourself. Bookmark this page, if you can, for all future needs and endeavors.
Friendly Reminder
You don’t have to be on the frontlines of a rally, protest, or similar event. There are tons of ways to support a call to action. You can share out the social media posts asking to get the message out. You could bring water and hand it out as people go by. You could plan to pick up trash during or after an event. You could get medic support training, and be available for those who need assistance. You could volunteer to help build social media around the event or help with logistics. There is no one right way to be a part of a social movement.
Videos & Resources
This video sums up what your rights are in regards to school. Whether you wear a shirt with a message or attend a school walk-out, this video will give you the highlights of what to consider when making the decision to participate in an action.
This is an in-depth interview about Rights in School. Video actually starts @ 5:16 and ends: 22:40, with questions from students making up the content after this time stamp.
ACLU has provided this video as it pertains to privacy when engaging in rallies and the like. Often, police will use tech and cell data to track and trace participants. It is important for you to consider the topics addressed in this video if you are attending an event that will be populated with a police presence or live in a place that has significantly higher rates of police involvement/violence.
Tips for protest
Here are some safety tips to consider when attending a rally, call to action, or a protest whether it’s your first time attending or a seasoned community organizer. (AbolitionJournal.org)