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Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environmental Movement
For over twenty years, Patagonia has organized a Tools Conference, where experts provide practical training to help make activists more effective. Now Patagonia has captured Tools’ best wisdom and advice into a book, creating a resource for any organization hoping to hone core skills like campaign and communication strategy, grassroots organizing, and lobbying as well as working with business, fundraising in uncertain times and using new technologies. Patagonia hopes the book will be dog-eared and scribbled in; a solid, inspiring guide and reliable companion.
The book is organized in two Strategies, and Tools. Each chapter, written by a respected expert in the field, covers essential principals as well as best practices. A hands-on case study accompanies each chapter and demonstrates the principles in action.
Sprinkled throughout are inspirational thoughts from acclaimed activists, such as Jane Goodall, Bill McKibben, Wade Davis, Annie Leonard, and Terry Tempest Williams.
An activist's companion in the environmental movement.
The book is organized in two Strategies, and Tools. Each chapter, written by a respected expert in the field, covers essential principals as well as best practices. A hands-on case study accompanies each chapter and demonstrates the principles in action.
Sprinkled throughout are inspirational thoughts from acclaimed activists, such as Jane Goodall, Bill McKibben, Wade Davis, Annie Leonard, and Terry Tempest Williams.
An activist's companion in the environmental movement.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2015
90 people are currently reading
1137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 19, 2019
I live in suburban Chicago on the edge a very small nature park. Within walking distance in one direction are the village downtown and the train tracks, while in the other, just steps away, are a couple of large water retention ponds and a prairie re-creation that share space with an exercise trail, a disc golf course, and, just lately, a skate park. It's a wonderful mixed-use area that constantly gets used by residents getting a bit of outdoor time, including sledding in the winter, and, perhaps more importantly, by many species of animals and plants who otherwise would have no home in this region. By day, I see rabbits, large turtles, snakes, chipmunks, and many species of insects and birds (both land and water varieties). At night, I hear coyotes crying and owls hooting. Each month, it seems, a new wave of colorful plants rolls in; the prairie looks different almost on a daily basis. The joy this tiny spot brings me (and, I presume, the many others who use it daily) is way disproportionate to its size.
I mention all this to say that nature--abundant, wild nature-- is a necessary element of all people's happiness, whether they are conscious of this or not. Preserving, reclaiming, and expanding our wilderness spaces is, in my mind, one of the most important things the people on our planet should be focusing on at this point in time.
"Patagonia: Tools for Grassroots Activists" is brimming with helpful ideas for how everyone can, in some way, help this natural world that is currently struggling in so many ways. It has practical ideas about things like fundraising, partnering with businesses, and lobbying, and also lots of inspirational success stories from people who have been working around the globe, sometimes for decades, to keep our planet green and thriving with multitudinous, varied, and beautiful lifeforms!
Save the animals! Save the plants! Save nature! Read this book! :)
I mention all this to say that nature--abundant, wild nature-- is a necessary element of all people's happiness, whether they are conscious of this or not. Preserving, reclaiming, and expanding our wilderness spaces is, in my mind, one of the most important things the people on our planet should be focusing on at this point in time.
"Patagonia: Tools for Grassroots Activists" is brimming with helpful ideas for how everyone can, in some way, help this natural world that is currently struggling in so many ways. It has practical ideas about things like fundraising, partnering with businesses, and lobbying, and also lots of inspirational success stories from people who have been working around the globe, sometimes for decades, to keep our planet green and thriving with multitudinous, varied, and beautiful lifeforms!
Save the animals! Save the plants! Save nature! Read this book! :)
April 27, 2019
Don’t let it be said that I’m a closed-minded person, but, given all my constant reading, I’ve begun to get a better feel of what I’m likely to enjoy and those that set off my cynicism. And my apprehension was almost palpable when I first picked up Tools for Grassroots Activists. This isn’t to say that I was setting myself up to dislike it right off the bat; I just expected that I would. Thankfully, nobody’s perfect, certainly not me, anyway.
Patagonia, the outdoor clothing and gear company, regularly puts on Tools Conferences, providing practical information for activists with regards to putting together successful environmental initiatives. Tools for Grassroots Activists takes the concepts presented in these events and puts them together in a helpful resource. Experts in their respective fields present sensible concepts that can be employed into making initiatives more effective––such as strategic planning, organization, communicating, and lobbying––and immediately follow them up with real-world case studies showing how the concept helped make the campaign successful. The introduction and initial chapters very nearly scared me away due to the large number of sentences that struck me as incongruous and uninformed, such as the suggestion that working on marketing and communication skills seemed counterintuitive for an NGO, but I feel like this was purposeful. While such ideas serve to frighten me, they most likely help to draw in the target audience. If the authors of the first few chapters are to be believed, it seems as though it’s easy for inexperienced environmental activists to equate any business speak with disingenuous, selfish behaviour, and would have a high likelihood of disregarding any advice related to such topics. Taking a tentative, soft approach to the initial topics likely helps most readers overcome such a hurdle to get to the juicy information presented later.
And it’s really good information. Clear definitions are given for basic concepts, so there’s no misunderstanding as we move forward, and the case studies help to bring home that the advice given is functional, not theoretical. I highly recommend this book not only to environmental activists, but also those working within organizations of all stripes, looking to improve focus, grow, and help their initiatives succeed.
Patagonia, the outdoor clothing and gear company, regularly puts on Tools Conferences, providing practical information for activists with regards to putting together successful environmental initiatives. Tools for Grassroots Activists takes the concepts presented in these events and puts them together in a helpful resource. Experts in their respective fields present sensible concepts that can be employed into making initiatives more effective––such as strategic planning, organization, communicating, and lobbying––and immediately follow them up with real-world case studies showing how the concept helped make the campaign successful. The introduction and initial chapters very nearly scared me away due to the large number of sentences that struck me as incongruous and uninformed, such as the suggestion that working on marketing and communication skills seemed counterintuitive for an NGO, but I feel like this was purposeful. While such ideas serve to frighten me, they most likely help to draw in the target audience. If the authors of the first few chapters are to be believed, it seems as though it’s easy for inexperienced environmental activists to equate any business speak with disingenuous, selfish behaviour, and would have a high likelihood of disregarding any advice related to such topics. Taking a tentative, soft approach to the initial topics likely helps most readers overcome such a hurdle to get to the juicy information presented later.
And it’s really good information. Clear definitions are given for basic concepts, so there’s no misunderstanding as we move forward, and the case studies help to bring home that the advice given is functional, not theoretical. I highly recommend this book not only to environmental activists, but also those working within organizations of all stripes, looking to improve focus, grow, and help their initiatives succeed.
December 28, 2016
Excellent & enjoyable. More useful than 2 years in business school. The information could be applied to any business, but is of course specifically geared to environmental action groups. The formatting was appealing, with photographs and visuals and clearly organized information.
My favorite passage:
Language can also lead to the protection of wild lands, if only by providing an organizing principle, a beacon of hope around which environmental advocates and ordinary citizens can rally in defense of nature. Growing up in British Columbia, I flew over the midcoast on any number of occasions and always marveled at the continuous expanse of islands covered by rich, temperate rainforests, with few signs of the industrial logging that had devastated Vancouver Island and much of the Alaskan panhandle farther to the north. What I did not see, however, was the Great Bear Rainforest.
But twenty years later a young biologist, Ian McAllister, did see it, envisioning in his mind a place no one else had imagined. he made it real by drawing lines on a map, inventing a name, and defying anyone to challenge the designation. Who, after all, could deny that the largest single expanse of temperate rainforest in the world, home to the Kermode bear, among the most singular of creatures, had not been appropriately delineated and named? McAllister later invoked native lore to transform the Kermode into the Sprit Bear, further sparking the imagination of the public. What ultimately came of his dream was the protection of the largest tract of continuous temperate rainforest on Earth.
-p92
My favorite passage:
Language can also lead to the protection of wild lands, if only by providing an organizing principle, a beacon of hope around which environmental advocates and ordinary citizens can rally in defense of nature. Growing up in British Columbia, I flew over the midcoast on any number of occasions and always marveled at the continuous expanse of islands covered by rich, temperate rainforests, with few signs of the industrial logging that had devastated Vancouver Island and much of the Alaskan panhandle farther to the north. What I did not see, however, was the Great Bear Rainforest.
But twenty years later a young biologist, Ian McAllister, did see it, envisioning in his mind a place no one else had imagined. he made it real by drawing lines on a map, inventing a name, and defying anyone to challenge the designation. Who, after all, could deny that the largest single expanse of temperate rainforest in the world, home to the Kermode bear, among the most singular of creatures, had not been appropriately delineated and named? McAllister later invoked native lore to transform the Kermode into the Sprit Bear, further sparking the imagination of the public. What ultimately came of his dream was the protection of the largest tract of continuous temperate rainforest on Earth.
-p92
September 19, 2016
Activists are businesspeople. Or they should be. That thought kept recurring while I was reading Patagonia’s Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environmental Movement.
Perhaps if a greater number of people understood the business side of activism, we could accomplish more towards ensuring Earth remains habitable for us and other living creatures.
Read the whole review at http://greengroundswell.com/tools-for...
Perhaps if a greater number of people understood the business side of activism, we could accomplish more towards ensuring Earth remains habitable for us and other living creatures.
Read the whole review at http://greengroundswell.com/tools-for...
December 13, 2016
Excellent primer on business tactics and strategies written for environmental activists. There are a few boring/useless chapters and a couple of incongruous sections. For the most part though, there is good advice.
January 6, 2024
Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environmental Movement Edited by Nora Gallagher and Lisa Myers.
5/5 rating. 288 pages.
Book #74 of 2020. Read October 19, 2020.
This is an incredible book that should be everyone's first resource if you're thinking about starting a movement of any kind!
This book is a collection of talks and information gained from the Tools Conferences that Patagonia puts on. I wrote down so many important quotes for everything from looking at campaign strategy and organizing, all the way to how to keep the faith in your campaign. This book strikes the perfect balance between providing real nuts and bolts ideas that are necessary to run a successful campaign, and inspiring YOU to change the world.
Know that if you plan to do almost anything in this world, "Tools" would probably help you achieve it by giving you a better basis of where to start. I unequivocally endorse this book as your next read if you want to fix the world and save us all!
Here are a few of my favorite short quotes from the book.
"Hope is not a strategy."
"If we want to protect nature, this is no time for ineffective campaigns."
"It's time to stop scaring people with visions of an unavoidable apocalyptic future, and to start inspiring them with the conviction that, together, we can actually turn the corner on climate disruption. After all, we're not just here to fight climate change. We're here to win that fight."
Quotes:
"Marketing is just another word for self-presentation - and works to make as many friends as possible for your organization."
"To show who you are, you have to know who you are. To know who you are forces your organization to 'live an examined life.'"
"Hope is not a strategy."
"If we want to protect nature, this is no time for ineffective campaigns."
"Campaigners can articulate where they are now, and where they would like to be, but can in no way say how they are going to get to that desired outcome other than by 'working on the campaign,' 'raising the profile of the issue,' and 'hoping' that the campaign somehow reaches its goal."
"A campaign strategy...clearly articulates the way forward, and when challenged, can offer a convincing and realistic path to success."
"As a campaign leader, being able to develop and articulate a winning campaign strategy is your most important job. Nothing else is worth more of your time, your focus, or your energy."
"Now think about your particular campaign:
- Do you have a clear goal?
- Do you have a careful plan that, if followed and well implemented, will guarantee that you will achieve your goal?
- If I asked your colleagues, key volunteers, board members, and allies what your strategy is, would they all say the same thing?
- Can you tell me specifically when your campaign is going to win?"
"Make sure your organization is crystal clear about the goal your campaign is trying to achieve. If you don't have a very specific goal that everyone, and I mean everyone, in your campaign organization understands, you will struggle to develop a strategy for success."
"Ask, 'If this person is on my side, and enthused amd active for my cause, will that bring about success?' If the answer is yes, they are your primary targets and will be the focus of your campaign strategy."
"Tactics is doing things right. Strategy is doing the right things. You can win a campaign with a good strategy and mediocre tactics, but you will lose every time with mediocre strategy and good tactics."
"Remember, a strategy has a tangible, specific goal. It identifies a target (person) who can deliver on the goal, it articulates the method and forum by which success will be achieved, and it has a plan that, if implemented properly, will generate the necessary influence, support, and pressure to convince the target to attain the goal."
"Don't give in to those who urgently want to 'get going on the campaign' but cannot articulate a plan for long-term success."
"If it's not written down, it's not a plan." - Bob Bingaman
"Your time is too important to spend on an unstrategic campaign. Nature needs your talents on campaigns that can win."
"Dreaming big and bold not only gives us the best chance at a healthy, sustainable future, but it's also the best way to build our movement. Think about social movements in history: leaders didn't rally millions through compromised calls to action. The moment calls on us to be strong, be bold, and be courageous."
"If we can figure out how to communicate in a way that invites people to take part and be bold and courageous in what we aim for, and work together as engaged citizens, we really can build a diverse and powerful movement strong enough to turn things around. Together, we can build a sustainable, healthy, and just future for all."
"You must distill your reason for being down to a digestible chunk."
"- Who are we?
- What are we trying to accomplish?
- Why and for whom?
- What will be the result if we succeed or fail?
- Why should people care about that?
- What makes us unique?"
"Challenge yourself to make decisions. Make the core idea as clear and as concise as possible. No more than one sentence. Less if possible."
"All too often, environmental leaders and organizations act as though all that matters is that we are right - that we have the facts on our side. All too often, while our work represents the values of the communities we represent and work within, we do not spend the time and effort to effectively communicate with and engage these communities to help. Being right is not enough. To win, we must organize."
"The organizer takes the jargon-rich, and often alienating, technical language that a campaign's experts provide and translates this into messages that volunteers can use and act on. The organizer is listening as much as she is talking in order to make sure she understands what her volunteers need so they can meet the campaign's goals."
"People help because they are asked. And the most compelling way to ask for something is one-on-one. There is no substitute for one-on-one communication."
"It's time to stop scaring people with visions of an unavoidable apocalyptic future, and to start inspiring them with the conviction that, together, we can actually turn the corner on climate disruption. After all, we're not just here to fight climate change. We're here to win that fight."
"We certainly need leadership in state capitals and Washington, but it won't amount to much if we don't have lots of leaders on Main Street, at work, in churches, and in civic organizations. At either level, the hallmarks of leadership are rock-solid integrity, independent thinking, a refusal to accept injustice and indignities, and courage - all with a smile."
"It will instead come from people of relatively modest means who share your values and dreams. Seventy percent of Americans donate every year. Ninety-one percent of these folks make under $100,000."
"Everybody's list will look different, but most folks miss the most important reason that people give: Because they were asked."
"When you fundraise, what you're really doing is giving people an opportunity to accomplish things they can't do by themselves. If your community understands and appreciates what you're doing, then they will want to support your work. It's an equal exchange - you do good work in the community, and they support you with a donation."
Your job is to listen to what they see as an environmental problem and then talk to them about what your organization is doing to help solve that problem. If you are producing the change they want to see in the world, then they will invest their charitable dollars with you because they know they will get a good return."
"Gather, polish, and share your success stories, and you will give the gift of hope to your donors. Of course you need to acknowledge the problems, but environmental groups are having the most success when they move on to talk about the results of their hard work. We need to know we can create change, and we owe it to our supporters to share the stories of our victories - both large and small."
"Too often, we try to motivate with guilt, fear, and shame. There are a few problems with this approach. First, most people don't need more guilt in their lives. Also, fear and shame are disempowering emotions that make people less likely to act. Use emotions that empower like hope, pride, admiration, envy, and anger."
"Questions can put a cause in a different light - providing new perspective."
"When you spout data, audiences may question its source or its accuracy. An array of numbers, facts, and figures may not compel. However, stories elicit an entirely different response. Experts say that good stories lower people's defenses - especially if they believe the story is true. Stories can provide context for data. Stories help people identify with a cause."
"Use words that paint a picture."
"If your language is factual and grounded in data, but doesn't actually inspire your audience to do something, you may miss the mark."
"Is all of your smart thinking leading to successful engagement? If not, don't talk louder; change how you are saying your message."
"Communicate clearly. While you may live in a world of planners, scientists, and bureaucrats, try to stay away from the often mind-numbing lexicon and passive sentence constructions of enviro speak. Don't make your audience work too hard. Keep things moving. Say what you mean."
"Try to frame your issue and your work in a positive light. Speak of challenges and opportunities, not problems. Describe your successes - the acres preserved, roads removed, volunteers trained, growing membership."
"We 'preserve wilderness,' not 'engage in wilderness preservation.' Likewise, we remove roads, build trails, monitor water quality. Use action language to keep readers interested and help maintain a positive, conversational tone."
"Why is all of this important? Because people must understand that every victory, no matter how small, will add voices and power to change the climate of public opinion, and making certain actions unacceptable. Local victories in which citizens tackle a problem will improve the local environment, give people real experience in making democracy work, create connections between strangers, and seed the idea that the community should be planning ahead to take control of its own destiny."
"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." - MLK
"Taking risks is important. You can't win if you are too afraid of losing."
"Every one of us matters and has a role to play. Every one of us makes an impact on the world around us - every day. And we can choose what sort of impact we can make."
5/5 rating. 288 pages.
Book #74 of 2020. Read October 19, 2020.
This is an incredible book that should be everyone's first resource if you're thinking about starting a movement of any kind!
This book is a collection of talks and information gained from the Tools Conferences that Patagonia puts on. I wrote down so many important quotes for everything from looking at campaign strategy and organizing, all the way to how to keep the faith in your campaign. This book strikes the perfect balance between providing real nuts and bolts ideas that are necessary to run a successful campaign, and inspiring YOU to change the world.
Know that if you plan to do almost anything in this world, "Tools" would probably help you achieve it by giving you a better basis of where to start. I unequivocally endorse this book as your next read if you want to fix the world and save us all!
Here are a few of my favorite short quotes from the book.
"Hope is not a strategy."
"If we want to protect nature, this is no time for ineffective campaigns."
"It's time to stop scaring people with visions of an unavoidable apocalyptic future, and to start inspiring them with the conviction that, together, we can actually turn the corner on climate disruption. After all, we're not just here to fight climate change. We're here to win that fight."
Quotes:
"Marketing is just another word for self-presentation - and works to make as many friends as possible for your organization."
"To show who you are, you have to know who you are. To know who you are forces your organization to 'live an examined life.'"
"Hope is not a strategy."
"If we want to protect nature, this is no time for ineffective campaigns."
"Campaigners can articulate where they are now, and where they would like to be, but can in no way say how they are going to get to that desired outcome other than by 'working on the campaign,' 'raising the profile of the issue,' and 'hoping' that the campaign somehow reaches its goal."
"A campaign strategy...clearly articulates the way forward, and when challenged, can offer a convincing and realistic path to success."
"As a campaign leader, being able to develop and articulate a winning campaign strategy is your most important job. Nothing else is worth more of your time, your focus, or your energy."
"Now think about your particular campaign:
- Do you have a clear goal?
- Do you have a careful plan that, if followed and well implemented, will guarantee that you will achieve your goal?
- If I asked your colleagues, key volunteers, board members, and allies what your strategy is, would they all say the same thing?
- Can you tell me specifically when your campaign is going to win?"
"Make sure your organization is crystal clear about the goal your campaign is trying to achieve. If you don't have a very specific goal that everyone, and I mean everyone, in your campaign organization understands, you will struggle to develop a strategy for success."
"Ask, 'If this person is on my side, and enthused amd active for my cause, will that bring about success?' If the answer is yes, they are your primary targets and will be the focus of your campaign strategy."
"Tactics is doing things right. Strategy is doing the right things. You can win a campaign with a good strategy and mediocre tactics, but you will lose every time with mediocre strategy and good tactics."
"Remember, a strategy has a tangible, specific goal. It identifies a target (person) who can deliver on the goal, it articulates the method and forum by which success will be achieved, and it has a plan that, if implemented properly, will generate the necessary influence, support, and pressure to convince the target to attain the goal."
"Don't give in to those who urgently want to 'get going on the campaign' but cannot articulate a plan for long-term success."
"If it's not written down, it's not a plan." - Bob Bingaman
"Your time is too important to spend on an unstrategic campaign. Nature needs your talents on campaigns that can win."
"Dreaming big and bold not only gives us the best chance at a healthy, sustainable future, but it's also the best way to build our movement. Think about social movements in history: leaders didn't rally millions through compromised calls to action. The moment calls on us to be strong, be bold, and be courageous."
"If we can figure out how to communicate in a way that invites people to take part and be bold and courageous in what we aim for, and work together as engaged citizens, we really can build a diverse and powerful movement strong enough to turn things around. Together, we can build a sustainable, healthy, and just future for all."
"You must distill your reason for being down to a digestible chunk."
"- Who are we?
- What are we trying to accomplish?
- Why and for whom?
- What will be the result if we succeed or fail?
- Why should people care about that?
- What makes us unique?"
"Challenge yourself to make decisions. Make the core idea as clear and as concise as possible. No more than one sentence. Less if possible."
"All too often, environmental leaders and organizations act as though all that matters is that we are right - that we have the facts on our side. All too often, while our work represents the values of the communities we represent and work within, we do not spend the time and effort to effectively communicate with and engage these communities to help. Being right is not enough. To win, we must organize."
"The organizer takes the jargon-rich, and often alienating, technical language that a campaign's experts provide and translates this into messages that volunteers can use and act on. The organizer is listening as much as she is talking in order to make sure she understands what her volunteers need so they can meet the campaign's goals."
"People help because they are asked. And the most compelling way to ask for something is one-on-one. There is no substitute for one-on-one communication."
"It's time to stop scaring people with visions of an unavoidable apocalyptic future, and to start inspiring them with the conviction that, together, we can actually turn the corner on climate disruption. After all, we're not just here to fight climate change. We're here to win that fight."
"We certainly need leadership in state capitals and Washington, but it won't amount to much if we don't have lots of leaders on Main Street, at work, in churches, and in civic organizations. At either level, the hallmarks of leadership are rock-solid integrity, independent thinking, a refusal to accept injustice and indignities, and courage - all with a smile."
"It will instead come from people of relatively modest means who share your values and dreams. Seventy percent of Americans donate every year. Ninety-one percent of these folks make under $100,000."
"Everybody's list will look different, but most folks miss the most important reason that people give: Because they were asked."
"When you fundraise, what you're really doing is giving people an opportunity to accomplish things they can't do by themselves. If your community understands and appreciates what you're doing, then they will want to support your work. It's an equal exchange - you do good work in the community, and they support you with a donation."
Your job is to listen to what they see as an environmental problem and then talk to them about what your organization is doing to help solve that problem. If you are producing the change they want to see in the world, then they will invest their charitable dollars with you because they know they will get a good return."
"Gather, polish, and share your success stories, and you will give the gift of hope to your donors. Of course you need to acknowledge the problems, but environmental groups are having the most success when they move on to talk about the results of their hard work. We need to know we can create change, and we owe it to our supporters to share the stories of our victories - both large and small."
"Too often, we try to motivate with guilt, fear, and shame. There are a few problems with this approach. First, most people don't need more guilt in their lives. Also, fear and shame are disempowering emotions that make people less likely to act. Use emotions that empower like hope, pride, admiration, envy, and anger."
"Questions can put a cause in a different light - providing new perspective."
"When you spout data, audiences may question its source or its accuracy. An array of numbers, facts, and figures may not compel. However, stories elicit an entirely different response. Experts say that good stories lower people's defenses - especially if they believe the story is true. Stories can provide context for data. Stories help people identify with a cause."
"Use words that paint a picture."
"If your language is factual and grounded in data, but doesn't actually inspire your audience to do something, you may miss the mark."
"Is all of your smart thinking leading to successful engagement? If not, don't talk louder; change how you are saying your message."
"Communicate clearly. While you may live in a world of planners, scientists, and bureaucrats, try to stay away from the often mind-numbing lexicon and passive sentence constructions of enviro speak. Don't make your audience work too hard. Keep things moving. Say what you mean."
"Try to frame your issue and your work in a positive light. Speak of challenges and opportunities, not problems. Describe your successes - the acres preserved, roads removed, volunteers trained, growing membership."
"We 'preserve wilderness,' not 'engage in wilderness preservation.' Likewise, we remove roads, build trails, monitor water quality. Use action language to keep readers interested and help maintain a positive, conversational tone."
"Why is all of this important? Because people must understand that every victory, no matter how small, will add voices and power to change the climate of public opinion, and making certain actions unacceptable. Local victories in which citizens tackle a problem will improve the local environment, give people real experience in making democracy work, create connections between strangers, and seed the idea that the community should be planning ahead to take control of its own destiny."
"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." - MLK
"Taking risks is important. You can't win if you are too afraid of losing."
"Every one of us matters and has a role to play. Every one of us makes an impact on the world around us - every day. And we can choose what sort of impact we can make."
December 2, 2019
An excellent toolset for anyone interested in grassroots activism or organizing. This book clearly outlines how to utilize various skills like networking or social media platforms to achieve your organization's mission. It does an especially great job at illustrating these tools with real-world, tangible examples. Loved this book and will definitely be coming back to it for future work
May 24, 2021
After reading the Patagonia story from Yvon Chouinard through his book, Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, I was thrilled to continue learning more about the responsible company. With Tools for Grassroots, I was not disappointed.
Patagonia has captured the best wisdom and advice of 20 years of the renowned Tools Conference, creating a resource for any organization hoping to hone core skills for success in the environmental movement. More specifically has put together a set of best practices and tools to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. And this book is about this.
Here is how Paragonia describes it: Patagonia Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environmental Movement.
The 254-page book covers a lot of ground: How to protect your environment cause? What is a strategy, how to use the media, how to lobby, organize people, and what tools you can use to make this happen. And more specifically, how to start and how to use technology to your advantage.
After you finish this book, you will discover new ways to look at the challenges facing nature and approach them with patience and confidence.
You may be thinking to yourself, “I’m not an activist, so why would I want to read this book?” You don't need to be one. Maybe you work with an NGO or care for a specific cause that is outside the environment. You can apply the tactics and strategies described in this book practically in any field!
Enjoy.
Patagonia has captured the best wisdom and advice of 20 years of the renowned Tools Conference, creating a resource for any organization hoping to hone core skills for success in the environmental movement. More specifically has put together a set of best practices and tools to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. And this book is about this.
Here is how Paragonia describes it: Patagonia Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environmental Movement.
The 254-page book covers a lot of ground: How to protect your environment cause? What is a strategy, how to use the media, how to lobby, organize people, and what tools you can use to make this happen. And more specifically, how to start and how to use technology to your advantage.
After you finish this book, you will discover new ways to look at the challenges facing nature and approach them with patience and confidence.
You may be thinking to yourself, “I’m not an activist, so why would I want to read this book?” You don't need to be one. Maybe you work with an NGO or care for a specific cause that is outside the environment. You can apply the tactics and strategies described in this book practically in any field!
Enjoy.
February 19, 2018
I felt a little strange even cracking this one open since I'm not an activist and don't plan to be, but I wanted to understand more about the mindset and approach that these people have. While I didn't read all the sections word for word, especially the nitty gritty essays about networking, lobbying or social media campaigns, I thoroughly enjoyed the "testimonies" or whatever you want to call them of people who have spoken at Patagonia's activists meetings.
Wade Davis, Bruce Hill, Denis Hayes and the incomparable Jane Goodall had particularly touching essays that captured their motivations and love for nature along with reasons to be hopeful in a distressing world. Very glad I took the time to leaf through this.
Wade Davis, Bruce Hill, Denis Hayes and the incomparable Jane Goodall had particularly touching essays that captured their motivations and love for nature along with reasons to be hopeful in a distressing world. Very glad I took the time to leaf through this.
March 4, 2019
Patagonia's vision has always resonated with me. Because of that, I decided to purchase this book hoping that it might inspire me to become more active in positive causes. The book is filled with stories of environmental campaigns that activists have fought and the tools that they have used to fight them. Not being an activist myself, It's difficult for me to imagine putting any of the information in this book to practice. Despite that, I think there's plenty in this book for non-activists. I feel like I have a better understanding of identifying campaigns and movements that are being run with clear goals and have a higher probability of success.
November 8, 2017
Independientemente de por donde empezamos, el objetivo debería de ser el mismo:
Aquí dice que los activistas tienen que ser gente de negocios. Para mí, también los que hacemos negocio o podemos construir cualquier tipo de plataforma--tenemos que ser activistas.
Bastante inspirador (incluso dice que me tiene que empezar a gustar la política).
Aquí dice que los activistas tienen que ser gente de negocios. Para mí, también los que hacemos negocio o podemos construir cualquier tipo de plataforma--tenemos que ser activistas.
Bastante inspirador (incluso dice que me tiene que empezar a gustar la política).
April 14, 2020
The structure of the book is well-balanced with informative, tactical insights from experts of a variety of categories, with each category followed by a related case study and a relevant story. Photography and storytelling is done well. Overall I was enthralled throughout the entire book. Highly recommend.
December 20, 2020
Another equally informative but epic book produced by Patagonia. I’m not one for business books however this intertwined the necessity to understand both sides of a proposal in order to build a strategy to have environmental wins. Very motivating read for those passionate for protecting our wild lands.
May 16, 2020
Great textbook for navigating protecting our lands.
Enough technical information to keep veterans of these movements sharp & approachable enough for newcomers to learn and set themselves in the right direction.
Enough technical information to keep veterans of these movements sharp & approachable enough for newcomers to learn and set themselves in the right direction.
December 22, 2021
I was expecting a cheap book promoting Patagonia, but instead I got this amazing toolkit for how to make real change in the world. Plus, this book is just so beautifully printed, with amazing illustrations, photos, and design elements. Would recommend.
July 20, 2022
Great book to understand the procedures when stablishing a relationship between a Grassroot organization and private and public organizations. While I don't live in USA, is interesting how analogies could be done.
October 9, 2022
It's awesome what Patagonia is doing to protect the environment, and the lessons you learn in this book can be applied to your day to day work.
October 30, 2024
The book is a bit outdated in 2024 but there are plenty of inspiring stories and photos.
June 1, 2023
A lovely, detailed collection of practical examples for successful environmental campaigns around the world (although the majority of cases revolve around North America). Really well-structured and a nice blend between hard facts, methodologies and personal stories. The design of the paper copy of the book is also wonderful, it makes the reader feel like they're on a journey through the different aspects of a successful environmental campaign.
February 17, 2017
this is a fantastic book! there is a lot of inspiring big name speakers, and then practical how-to tips from people on the ground. I breezed through it, because I only read what was relevant to me, but I could see coming back to this book for advice in the future.
January 23, 2017
A crucial resource to return to.
Read
May 20, 2018Hopeful tales of environmental protection.
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