Activate
At some point, it’s time to take action, and the WACRN exists to support, inspire, and enable activism that seeks to address root causes of the systemic issues we face and to build transformational structures on which to build a sustainable future. OK, we know, that was a mouthful. To say it more plainly: the system is fixed and we need to break it and build something new.
What can be difficult for individuals, groups, or communities in Washington to navigate is how you actually go about confronting and changing such a formidable system. The great thing is that those same resources and relationships that the WACRN is able to provide through educational opportunities, are the same things that people and communities can use to generate ideas, connect to resources, and devise strategies for formulating and advancing community level efforts of resistance and resilience. You should see and use the WACRN as a resource for engaging in community level action.
Resources and Trainings
The WACRN is seeing a heightened need for organized actions that both maximize disruption of the existing dominant system (community resistance) along with the development and operationalization of alternative/parallel community practices and programs (community resilience).
What the WACRN can provide today (we are working towards doing even more) is the following:
Starting a Local Group
The WACRN believes that organized people can win out over organized money. Bringing people together, developing common skills and language, developing plans, and putting things into motion are all necessary for affecting deep change. Having a group and/or groups to inform, educate, and activate is vital. We can help advise and build out a community rights group in your community.
TRAINING
The WACRN has developed two trainings and is working on a third. The first is the How to Talk Community Rights training which is about providing effective walking around language to both describe what community rights is and to bring others in to learn for themselves. The How to Present Community Rights training puts an easy and short PowerPoint in peoples hands to present to others about the why and how of community rights and the WACRN. The last training in the three part series is How to Organize for Community Rights which will provide the means for those looking to go further in activating individuals and communities to engage in WACRN resistance and resilience efforts.
CONSULTATION ON SHORT + LONG TERM STRATEGIES
Though newish on the scene, the WACRN is linked to a long history of community rights nationally and in Washington state. That in house knowledge and access to community rights partners can provide new local community rights efforts with advice, guidance, and ideas on projects, tactics, and strategy.
ConnectionS to information + resources
As questions and needs arise the WACRN is at the ready to help individuals, organizations, and government get connected to information about community rights and rights of nature along with more specifics regarding community resistance + resilience. We are doing our best to make these things available through our website and other communications platforms but more often than not we have something that can be of help to you that will come with asking. So please, reach out to us.
Chapters + Affiliates
Regionally and nationally there are dozens of community rights groups and state level networks. These are a small collection of organized groups working for community rights and rights of nature: