Hard for a Trainer, Great For a Movement

CSTI workshops are difficult to prepare for and a bear to lead, since the participants can't be easily lumped together. But what's difficult for me as a trainer is great for building a movement.

I got to lead "What Can the Web Do For My Organization" and started off the day with introductions. I've been to so many CSTIs over the years, and my favorite part is seeing the slice of the progressive movement.

The workshop included people from Wyoming, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and one far-flung participant from Boston (who, to her credit, is originally from the Northwest). They were working on queer politics, environmental justice, progressive movement-building, and ending poverty, among other issues. Some could remember what it was like to be active before the web, while others have never known the activist world without the Internet.

And that's the true power of the movement - not thousands of similar people doing the same thing, but thousands of people with distinct experiences and visions, doing different things.

It makes it hard to plan a workshop, and I was worn out at the end of the day trying to make it work for everyone in the room, but I wouldn't be part of a movement that was any other way.

A couple of folks were interested but not able to make it to my workshop. So I've posted some of my favorite resources for using the web for social change in my delicious bookmarks.