Social media has fundamentally changed the way we relate to other people. As our networks grow like never before, some researchers suggest there may be a limit on how many authentic relationships a person—and, importantly, an organizer—can truly sustain. How Many Relationships Can You Really Have? “Dunbar’s Number” is a term coined by anthropologist and psychologist Robin Dunbar that suggests humans max out their capability for connection at 150 individuals. While his research was originally based on face-to-face interactions, Dunbar has maintained that online social networking carries a similar limit, and that people with social networks larger than 150 “seem [...]

Building relationships creates commitment, the glue of an organization. Leadership begins with understanding yourself: your values, your motivation, your story. But leadership is about enabling others to achieve purpose. The foundation of this kind of leadership is the relationships built with others, most especially, others with whom we can share leadership. The Art of the One-On-One One way to initiate intentional relationships is the one-on-one meeting, a technique developed by organizers over many years. But while it sounds easy enough to ask someone out for coffee, how do you ensure you are actually, actively building relationship during that conversation? 1. [...]

Each of us has a story that can move others to action. Hesitant as you may be to talk about yourself, recruiting others to join you requires developing a personal connection and sharing what calls you to leadership. If you don’t author your own story, one will likely be assumed for you. Public narrative is a leadership practice developed by longtime organizer and Harvard professor Marshall Ganz that articulates a story of why you were called to lead, a story of those whom you hope to mobilize, and a story of action. Story of Self What calls you to lead—in [...]

Last year’s historic protests against racist police violence has brought more attention to the traditional Black holiday, Juneteenth. What’s the Story with Juneteenth? Celebrated on June 19th each year, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and informed the last remaining Black slaves that they were free—and that they had been for almost two years, since the Emancipation Proclamation. Since the late 1800s, Black Americans have used Juneteenth as an opportunity to honor past and current struggles, educating communities about Black history and culture, and highlighting the achievements of Black Americans, often in conjunction [...]

The Stonewall Riots, which occurred in June 1969 in New York City, were the initial spark for the modern LGBTQ+” rights movement. As one of the few gathering places accepting LGBTQ+ patrons at the time, the Stonewall Inn was a safe-haven. Faced with a spontaneous police raid, Stonewall patrons—many of them trans women of color—fought for their right to congregate in peace. There has certainly been progress in the 52 years since Stonewall (marriage equality, for example), but many challenges persist, including health disparities, violence against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, and the introduction of discriminatory legislation. 5 Ways to [...]