Conceived in the waning light of 2023, this letter lay dormant on my laptop. I held off sending this until the new year, hoping for a kinder world. We woke up in 2024 to a continued genocide on Palestine and wars in Sudan, Congo, Ukraine continuing, with a global hunger crisis reaching unprecedented proportions.

Everyday, everywhere across the globe, there is loss of lives, loss of dignity and deprivation of basic human rights. Individuals endure the crushing weight of oppression on various levels and their freedoms are snatched away. This injustice fuels a righteous anger that demands liberation.

What makes me hopeful are the free humans across the globe, ordinary people on every continent refusing to accept these realities, making us witness admirable collective efforts while advocating for justice and upholding accountability to ensure dignity, and attempt to prevent bloodshed. We see it in children and adults shifting gears innovatively, not accepting business as usual and saying no to injustice. My hope lies in people’s power, in its ability to remind us of what it means to be human.

Because at LCN we believe in organizing as a pathway to change. As we wrapped up our 2023 team retreat, reflecting on our leadership programs, and the dynamic world, we learned a lot. Here are our top lessons from 2023:

1. Relationships grow at the speed of trust

Trust is built through meaningful action and time. Strong relationships and effective teams require a foundation of trust, built over time through consistent action and shared values. By prioritizing meaningful collaboration, we amplify our impact and pave the way for lasting change. Invest time, build trust, and ensure alignment through meaningful actions for change.

2. Working for change is a long-term commitment

Building impactful movements requires sustained commitment and perseverance. Just as LCN nurtures leadership development one step at a time, so do successful movements flourish through long-term dedication. Each action, however small, contributes to the collective momentum.

We recognize that this lesson is also valid for activism which requires sustained efforts over the long term. Global solidarity for Gaza in 2023 likely underscores the importance of persistence and commitment in the face of complex and protracted issues. Sustaining momentum and capitalizing on the success of our actions is imperative to fulfill the aspiration for change.

3. Education activates people’s courage and alleviates their fears of taking responsibility

This year we took an extra step of unpacking our pedagogy and practices of educating, modeling what we preach and scaling access for more people to become coaches and trainers in organizing.

Across the globe, leaders have stepped into the role of educating their communities, dispelling misinformation and fostering a deeper understanding of the root causes of injustices to activate more people to join organizing efforts. As we are recognizing the power of global connectivity and the role of digital mediums in connecting our globe, the interconnected world has created new horizons for our learning and allowed activists to share information, organize campaigns, and garner support from people across borders. We are reminded again that learning is part of organizing, and if we want to build more agency, our role as organizers is to build more access to knowledge and information.

4. Moving from the Self to the Us through intersectionality

As a network organization supporting campaigns and movements active in various thematic areas and local contexts, we have observed shifts in narratives from the self to the ‘Us’. Organizers in our community are standing in solidarity with each other and learning across different contexts. Understanding how various forms of oppression and injustice are interconnected, leaders are recognizing the importance of intersectionality. Solidarity movements often emphasize the broader context of social, economic, and political issues affecting their cause and recognize their linkages to global struggles. We are not free until everyone is free.

5. Great success takes collaboration and solidarity

As a team in the retreat, we experienced how our big achievements and LCN milestones were the ones done in teams or committees, where each member gave credit to the other for their contribution.

Collaboration can amplify the effects of our actions. We are witnessing groups joining each other’s efforts to ensure a multiplied effect, larger mobilization and more pressure. Global solidarity often involves building coalitions with diverse groups and individuals who share common values and goals. These alliances can amplify the impact of activism and foster a sense of unity in the pursuit of justice. Stand together and find ways to build solidarity with others who share your values, to create a force for positive change.

6. Campaigning is also about building the movement’s muscles

The value of diversifying strategies and tactics has been an important lesson internally. Experimenting various paths and approaches in our community is a practice for building an understanding of our people and thus building our movement muscle.

We are constantly reminded that activists employ a range of strategies and tactics, understanding that effectiveness varies in different contexts. It is also essential to recall that strategy is a verb, and even tactics that may not guarantee victory contribute to building the movement’s strength. As we observe the current state of the world, we witness the growth of movements employing diverse tactics and strategies, ranging from online campaigns, mass mobilizing to grassroots organizing. The impressive efforts of legal action, public demonstrations, and lobbying contribute to this multifaceted approach. Continuous innovation and experimentation strengthen the movement’s ability to tackle complex challenges.

7. Creating Structures for accountability; the fuel for progress

Though it’s easier said than done, we reflected on the value of fostering a culture of respect and responsibility which ensures fairness and equality within the organization. Creating the culture and structures for holding accountability as a way of manifesting integrity and trust emerged for us. Thus, seeing it integral to our values, we discussed ways we succeeded in holding each other accountable towards the organization’s mission. We also came up with important lessons from what we experienced this year on the role of coaching, creating structures and meaningful plans, generating decision making norms that ensures clarity and distribution of power.

In organizing, a big role we fulfill as citizens is holding those in charge accountable to bring about liberation and justice to the world. An honest commitment to holding ourselves and others accountable, at all levels, paves the way for respectful, fair and just societies.

As generosity and deeper engagement are the cornerstone of our community, start 2024 as a part of our community. Join us as a member yourself or give the gift of membership either to someone you know or an activist in our community who may not be able to afford it.

May this year be one of continued collaboration, shared wisdom, and collective impact.

Mais Irqsusi

Executive Director