Tools

At protests, the police, counter-demonstrators or infiltrators, and angry passersby can start conflicts that disrupt the focus of the action, including provoking protestors into impulsive acts to discredit the cause. Having our own security or “de-escalators” at actions helps track and diffuse unstrategic conflicts, no matter the source, and support the action to be as effective as possible.

De-escalation can have different goals: ensuring physical safety, reducing the likelihood of violence, maintaining the desired tone or mood of an action, or reducing violence such that a fight can be worked out. Every situation is unique: there is no formula for dealing with hostility or conflict. When entering an action, it’s best to think through possible difficult situations and prepare ahead of time.

A quick tool for skill-building and practice, where everyone is involved. It's an elegant role-play format, one of our favorites, known as parallel lines (sometimes referred to as "hassle lines").

• desarrollar la habilidad de realizar actividades diferentes (tal como recabar fondos) • otorgar una nueva experiencia a los participantes (tal como la intervención no violenta)

Activists know to act. But they may not create the space to reflect. Reflection without action is impotent; but action without reflection is aimless. This tool gives participants a structured way to review “what they have been up to” – it’s a great intro to sessions on strategy, a simple tool, and a great way to catch themes carrying a group. Place this tool early in a strategy workshop to get a diagnostic read on the issues and struggles in the group.

A political group we work with has a slogan, "Speak up before your silence is misunderstood." This tool gives participants a chance to practice confidence-building skills, especially concerning voice. It is easy to lead and we've had great success every time we lead it. A great tool to counter voicelessness!

A classic nonviolent training tool: quick decisions. In one minute, groups are challenged to reach a decision of an action to take based on some situation. Great for action basic workshops, consensus training, and affinity group preparation.

This strategy game explores ways of navigating difficult scenarios and gain perspective from multiple angles of an issue through a fictional country Eslandia, whose economy is faltering, ethnic tensions are high and terrorism is on the rise.

A tool to assist people to notice more in the midst of conflict. Great practice for training observers, protestors, and anyone wanting to help people practice staying aware in the middle of conflicts.

Street Speaking takes participants out of the training space and into the street to make a real time soap-box style public speech! In it we face our fears and practice the art of public speaking.

A physical exercise to help participants stand up for themselves -- literally. It's a great way to help margins stand up for themselves and mainstreams become more conscious and less stuck in shame.

Three related tools to help any group interact with its own margin. A good workshop provides opportunities for mainstream people to get new information about margins, in a way that goes below the surface and involves the emotional learning channel. The expectation is that, by highlighting the experience of a few margins in a dramatic way, participants will learn that they need to become pro-active in order to be fair with people on the margins. Similarly, the experience of powerfully speaking often increases the margins' self-confidence and clarity.