Action in the Commons

Being the change we want to see isn't enough; we have to be that change in the world. Changing the world really means changing people – changing their ideas – and we can only change people if we reach them, if we interact with them. We call this taking action in the commons.

Watch Think Outside the Toolbox, a talk about taking action in the commons.

What do we mean by the "commons"? The commons are where we interact with other people. Public spaces are only commons when there are people in them – people who don't already agree with us, or aren't already part of our group. Actions should move people, and in order to move people, your action must engage them. That means rethinking where and how we take action. Instead of fighting for a permit to wave our signs outside Bush's second inaugural, we organized 5,000 people to infiltrate the crowd watching his parade and undermined his authority with a simple act of defiance. Instead of rallying outside of Congress to call for an end to the Iraq war, we brought veterans and citizens together inside the House and Senate chambers for an action that challenged our political leaders directly. When we set up public hotlines to allow people in Iran and the US to talk to each other, we place them where the crowds are and invite anyone to pick up a phone and talk.

As part of our work on action in the commons, we're collaborating with Social Media for Social Change to investigate how technology and social media can be used to create hybrid public spaces where civic discourse and meaningful participation are facilitated, organized, and nurtured at a grassroots level. 

Whether you're looking to create commons online or in physical spaces, we can help you find ways to increase participation and cross boundaries to make your group more effective in changing the world.