Interactive Workshop by Heather Shafter
The Movement Blueprint: What Successful Change-Makers Do Differently
Discover the six SACRED elements behind every successful movement in history—and learn a proven 4-step process to put them into action for your cause.
Overview
Passion Alone Isn’t Enough to Create Change
Despite many people feeling frustrated with the status quo, advocacy organizations continue to struggle with stagnating membership, tight finances, and a workload that falls on too few people. You give it your all, but the change you are fighting for remains distant.
Successful movements share a common pattern. They incorporate six key elements—reflected in movements throughout history, from women’s suffrage to civil rights to gay rights.
This workshop helps participants apply a four-step process that puts these SACRED elements into action.
Self-Reflection
What is the organization’s true purpose? Clarify the specific, unjust problem you will rally around.
Affiliation
How do individuals engage with your organization and stay engaged? Build a community of committed supporters.
Collaboration
How do you collaborate across multiple organizations? Build collective power to amplify your impact.
Recruiting
How do you bring in new people to support your mission? Grow your base and distribute the workload.
Education
How do you educate the public about your mission? Provide information on the issue and what to do about it.
Discuss Differences
How do you respond to different perspectives inside—and outside—the organization? Uncover commonalities and bridge divides.
Step 1: Identify the Problem
What specific, unjust problem will you rally around? How do you define the problem? (Self-Reflection)
Step 2: Identify the Solution
What options exist to solve the problem? Which option will you advocate? (Self-Reflection + Education)
Step 3: Identify Who Can Make It Happen
Who holds the power and what are the “pillars of support” you need to reach? (Education)
Step 4: Apply Pressure
How will you move the solution forward using Affiliation, Collaboration, Recruiting, Education, and Dialogue?
What You’ll Walk Away With
Leave with a clear direction and a repeatable process
This workshop gives you a fresh lens for understanding change movements—one you will use immediately to assess your organization’s approach and develop a high-level plan of action. You will leave with:
- A clear understanding of the SACRED framework and how it applies to your cause
- A high-level plan of action developed during the workshop
- Next steps ready to develop into detailed implementation
- A repeatable process you can apply to future issues
About the Facilitator
The feeling is mutual, but I’ll go first.
I began my advocacy journey with the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF). Through WILPF I discovered a whole world of advocacy: economic justice, environmental protection, global peace… (the easy stuff). I went to meetings, planned actions, and attended demonstrations. With encouragement from Libby Frank (former Executive Director of WILPF US), I became the Membership Coordinator and eventually President of the WILPF Philadelphia branch. And then… I left. I was devoting so much of myself to this work, but nothing seemed to get any better.
I went back to school and completed my Masters in Adult and Organizational Development. I loved systems theory and had opportunities in my professional journey to apply what I learned. But I never truly gave up on creating positive change.
I needed to understand what kept Libby going, even when it seemed impossible to win, and… whether her lifelong dedication to peace and justice had made a difference. We co-wrote her memoir, Life of Libby: Chasing Peace & Justice with Humor, Guts, & Passion. At the end of this project, I finally understood why Libby’s work mattered and how change happens.
Now, I offer workshops and consulting to help advocacy organizations advance their missions.
