Global Changemakers Come Together at Annual Community Meet 2024 to Honor the Power of Collective Action and Organizing

The Leading Change Network’s (LCN) Annual Community Meet 2024 concluded recently, leaving a powerful resonance of hope, resilience, and collective action. The two events, filled with inspiring stories, insightful discussions, and powerful calls to action, united changemakers from around the globe, reaffirming the importance of community organizing in today’s complex world.

From the powerful discussion to the diverse and impactful stories shared by speakers like Marshall Ganz, Sreejani Malakar, Neha Saigal, Marvi Latifi, Reem Manaa, Shingai Mushayabasa, Erin Filby, the gathering gave many who attended energy and purpose. Participants also highlighted the events’ ability to foster connection, with breakout sessions, sparking rich conversations and fostering deep reflection.

“I think that we’re people who feel a sense of responsibility and connection to community…and have a strong sense of self and power.”

The heart of the events lay in the sharing of personal stories and reflections on the courageous choices made by individuals working tirelessly for social change throughout the last year. Participants drew strength from each other’s journeys, recognizing the shared challenges and triumphs inherent in their work.

A common thread emerged as participants delved into the concept of agency and taking initiative. One participant reflected, “I think that we’re people who feel a sense of responsibility and connection to community…and have a strong sense of self and power.” This sentiment echoed throughout the events, highlighting the empowering nature of community organizing.

The events emphasized the importance of vulnerability, risk-taking, and building resilience. Another participant shared, “For us, the common thread was about taking risks…or dropping everything to attend to something urgent.” This willingness to embrace uncertainty and step outside comfort zones resonated deeply, showcasing the strength found in collective vulnerability of the Leading Change Network community.

As the events concluded, a powerful question emerged: “Who are we?” The response, a cascade of words flooding the chat, painted a vibrant picture of the community: brave, powerful, resilient, unstoppable, one. This collective affirmation served as a potent reminder of the strength found in unity and shared purpose.

The LCN Annual Community Meet serves as a yearly wellspring of inspiration, reminding us that while the challenges we face are complex, our collective strength, rooted in shared values and courageous choices, empowers us to create a more just and equitable world.

See the Recording from the Annual Community Meet 2024

The Annual Community Meet 2024 brought together community organizers from around the world. Attendees were inspired by speakers who shared their experiences and insights. The event fostered connection and collaboration among participants, leaving them motivated to continue their work in their own communities. Watch the recordings of these two events here.

Upcoming Events

In 2024, LCN launched Community Organizing Coach Training Programーa two-month program for organizers and campaigners to master the craft, content, and process of community organizing coaching. 22 coaches from 9 countries came together to learn how to coach their people on the five core organizing practices, equipping themselves with the skills to lead organizing workshops within their communities and enable them to win campaigns. We invite you to join us on May 7th @ 10am - 12pm Eastern Time for an interactive showcase of the innovations, challenges, and lessons from the inaugural program! Whether you’re a leader training coaches, an organization leader bringing coaching capacity to your teams, or an organizer looking to learn about our programs—come to our showcase! The session has two parts. Part 1 (10 - 11:15am ET): open to everyone! Get an overview of the program, learn about key innovations and lessons emerging from the

If not now, when? The world feels like it’s unraveling, and more than ever, we need to tell stories that inspire hope and action. But how do we tell stories that resonate with people on an experiential level and motivate them to take action? The Story of Now is often seen as the most intuitive part of Public Narrative, but it can be tricky to bring alive moments of challenge that feel urgent and resonate for the collective "us." And when the challenge is overwhelming and hope seems scarce, it can be even harder to offer a meaningful and strategic call to action. That's where our Skill Practice Session on Story of Now comes in. This 90-minute skill practice session will help you strengthen your understanding of the craft, learn to identify the resources in the room, develop a compelling story of Now, as well as coach one another

Imagine crafting a story that unites people, lifts up their shared values, and inspires inspiration. It’s all possible with a powerful Story of Us! The Story of Us lies at the heart of connection in Public Narrative, but it can also be one of the most challenging. How do we identify and bring alive moments that resonate with the collective ‘Us’? How can we pull from the depth of shared experiences within a community to articulate the shared values? Join us on June 3rd at 9am US Eastern Time / 3pm Central European Time for our Skill Practice Session on Story of Us! In this 90 min session, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your understanding of the craft, lean into the practice of empathic listening and observation, practice developing a unique story of us, and coach one another to improve our skills. This session will be led

Crafting a story of self is a transformative experienceーa process of discovering and articulating the values and experiences that define who we are and call on us to take leadership. It’s also a process that thrives when shared with others. The most authentic and powerful stories of self are nurtured in supportive spaces where we can learn, practice, and coach one another on our stories. Join us on Thursday, May 22nd at 10am US Eastern Time / 3pm UK Time for our Skill Practice Session on Story of Self! During the 90 min session, you will have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the key elements of Story of Self, further develop your personal narrative, and practice sharing and coaching in small groups. This session will be led by narrative and organizing trainer Prakriti Bhattarai Basnet. This session is exclusive for LCN members and their guests (team members,

Save the date for the Leading Change Network’s Annual Community Meet 20254 (ACM25).! This year we come together to reflect on 12 months that challenged our resolve to keep fighting for justice. It was a time of great difficulty for many of our communities across the globe, yet an opportunity to find solace and strength in our solidarity. You will hear and engage with an inspiring speakers lineup - including Marshall Ganz, members of the LCN team, and voices from the community and forefront activists. As we gather in April, we will reflect on the central theme of this year’s event through two key questions: How did we stand up for each other? And why? As always, the event will be held twice accommodating different time zones to ensure you can join wherever you might be geographically. Whether you’ve been a cornerstone of the LCN community or have recently

Save the date for the Leading Change Network’s Annual Community Meet 2025 (ACM25). This year we come together to reflect on 12 months that challenged our resolve to keep fighting for justice. It was a time of great difficulty for many of our communities across the globe, yet an opportunity to find solace and strength in our solidarity. You will hear and engage with an inspiring speakers lineup - including Marshall Ganz, members of the LCN team, and voices from the community and forefront activists. As we gather in April, we will reflect on the central theme of this year’s event through two key questions: How did we stand up for each other? And why? As always, the event will be held twice accommodating different time zones to ensure you can join wherever you might be geographically. Whether you’ve been a cornerstone of the LCN community or have recently

Burnout is not inevitable. Discover how joy can be a revolutionary force in organizing. This session introduces a four-step process to address burnout by generating joy in your work, drawing on real-world examples from large-scale organizational efforts, including a transformative initiative in São Paulo, Brazil. Participants will practice the process in real time, and explore actionable strategies for building a joyful organizing environment and sustaining wellbeing within teams, organizations, and across campaigns. The events are free for members, and 15USD per event for non-members. We also have a bundled ticket for all three events at 40USD and a combination ticket for all three events + annual LCN membership for 100USD. Limited free scholarship tickets are available upon request to info@leadingchangenetwork.org. Information: Date: Thursday, Mat 29th Time: 9:00–10:30 am Eastern Time Place: Online on Zoom Sign-up! Speakers & presenters

Trust is the foundation of impactful relationships in organizing. In times where many feel a deep sense of division, how can we build trustworthiness as individuals and organizations? This session examines the societal trends affecting trust today and explores three key drivers of interpersonal trust: empathy, logic, and authenticity. Participants will practice relational strategies to communicate across disagreements and deepen trust. Learn how you can foster genuine connections and deepen interpersonal trust across your teams, campaigns, and communities as you organize for change. The events are free for LCN members, and 15USD per event for non-members. We also have a bundled ticket for all three events at 40USD and a combination ticket for all three events + annual LCN membership for 100USD. Limited free scholarship tickets are available upon request to info@leadingchangenetwork.org. Information: Date: Thursday, April 24th Time: 9:00–10:30 am Eastern Time Place: Online on Zoom Sign-up!

Explore the psychology behind adopting change and its role in community organizing. This session draws on principles of change management and Heifetz’s adaptive leadership framework. Learn how to navigate adaptive barriers to change, tackle the know-do gap, and build commitment to change. Participants will practice skills of values-based listening and honest questioning to move people from resistance to exploration. The session will also explore how we can link these skills to our relational and coaching practices in our organizing work. The events are free for LCN members, and 15USD per event for non-members. We also have a bundled ticket for all three events at 40USD and a combination ticket for all three events + annual LCN membership for 100USD. Limited free scholarship tickets are available upon request to info@leadingchangenetwork.org. Information: Date: Thursday, March 27th Time: 9:00–10:30am Eastern Time Place: Online on Zoom Sign-up!

¡El Poder de las Historias! LCN’s First Community of Practice Session to Practice Story of Self in Spanish!
LCN Newsletter - June 2024