10:00AM ― 11:00AM AEDT | OPENING PLENARY
PLENARY
A Conversation with Tareq Alani from PushBlack
Tareq Alani (PushBlack)
PushBlack is the largest non profit media organisation in the US, dedicated to raising up Black voices. They use the power of narrative, especially Black history and news, to educate and activate more than nine million Black Americans to build their personal power and create lasting economic and political change. Tareq will share insights on how creating media relationships with Black Americans using Facebook Messenger drives people to take action, including enrolling to vote, and how PushBlack is using tech to create change.
PLENARY
When Facts Fail: How We Fight Misinformation
Bridget Todd (UltraViolet / There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast)
Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran (Reset Australia)
Chris Cooper (Purpose)
Moira Cully (Victorian Trades Hall Council)
Misinformation and disinformation are eroding our democracy, and the far right are using rampant conspiracy theories to organise and build power online. So, what can we do about it? Hear first from world-leading misinformation experts -- Bridget Todd (UltraViolet / There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast), Chris Cooper (Purpose) and Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran (Reset Australia) -- who’ll set the scene on just how widespread misinformation actually is, and share their own ideas for how we can counter it, including through a social listening project Purpose are leading on. We’ll then be joined by Moira Cully (Victorian Trades Hall Council) who’ll share behind-the-scenes tactics and learnings from a program building online volunteer teams to disrupt far right organising.
PLENARY
Deep Canvassing to Shift Hearts, Minds and Votes
Caitlin Homrich-Knieling (We The People Michigan)
We know that deep canvass conversations can shift hearts and minds and votes around divisive issues. Hear about the success of a deep canvassing approach to undocumented migrants and Medicare for All in Michigan from Caitlin Homrich-Knieling, Deep Canvass Coordinator.
NETWORKING
Speed Networking
Networking with other FWD+Organise 2021 participants
Speed networking will be an opportunity for you to come together in a paired chat with other participants to build connections.
11:30AM ― 12:30PM AEDT | MORNING BREAKOUTS
PRESENTATION
Flipping the Formula: Shifting Power in the Industry of Politics
Joy Cushman (Democracy and Power Innovation Fund)
Andrea Marta (Faith in Action)
Anisha Senaratne (Foundation for Young Australians)
Understanding power is key in community organising, and organisers and campaigners are familiar with mapping decision makers and analysing power around key decision makers. But what about the power dynamics within our own industry of politics, campaigning and social change? Join this session for an analysis of power in our own industry and how to ‘flip the formula' to build genuine, multiracial power.
WORKSHOP
Home grown: mapping local organising models in Australia
Holly Hammond (Commons Library)
Beth Koch (Australian Conservation Foundation)
Jawoon Kim (RESULTS International Australia)
Amanda Atlee (Amnesty International Australia)
Curious about how other organisations structure and manage their organising programs? Ever wished we had an easy way to share and access the range of organising models being practiced in Australia rather than relying so heavily on USA and UK examples? Join this session to learn more about a new project to map organising models locally. Holly, Beth, Jawoon and Amanda will share what they’ve learnt to date, and invite input from you to ensure the project is as useful as possible for local organisers.
WORKSHOP
All You Need to Know About Video
Laura Scalafiotti (GoodChat TV)
Clare Lewis (GoodChat TV)
Back by popular demand, GoodChat will lead an intro session on DIY video -- covering everything from filming and editing tips, to story and script, interview technique, plus cut through elements, and what to aim for and avoid when creating your own video. Join this session to learn the practical tips and tricks to produce a video that stands out and captures attention.
WORKSHOP
Tackling Misinformation
Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran (Reset Australia)
Chris Cooper (Purpose)
Bridget Todd (UltraViolet / There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast)
Dive deeper into the murky world of misinformation, and most importantly -- how to tackle it. Disinformation can provoke both online and offline attacks, particularly on people from impacted communities with lived experience, who are at ‘even greater risk of becoming targets of disinformation campaigns, hate speech, and real-world violence.’ Bridget Todd (UltraViolet / There Are No Girls on the Internet podcast) will share a toolkit on what we can do to combat misinformation. Dhakshayini Sooriyakumaran (Reset Australia) and Chris Cooper (Purpose) then share case studies on tackling disinformation in the recent US and German elections, and what we could learn for the upcoming Federal election.
WORKSHOP
Deep Canvassing: Frameworks and Tools
Caitlin Homrich-Knieling (We The People Michigan)
As with any organising practice, there are frameworks and tools for planning and conducting deep canvassing initiatives. Come to learn from Caitlin Homrich-Knieling about when to use deep canvassing, the key components of deep canvassing, key steps in preparing for a deep canvass, and a chance to practice some deep canvass skills.
1:30PM ― 2:30PM AEDT | AFTERNOON BREAKOUTS
WORKSHOP
ELECTION: Coordinating on Organising in Seats
Nadia Montague (Victorian Trades Hall Council)
Are you organising in lower house seats in the lead up to the election? Meet others organising in those same seats in this practical session to exchange notes on who your audiences are, understand geographical focus areas, share your key dates and the main tactics you’ll be using, and to understand if there are any overlapping goals. This session will be facilitated by Nadia Montague (Victorian Trades Hall Council) and will be very participatory -- the more you bring to share, the more everyone will get out of it.
WORKSHOP
How to TikTok
Georgia Kriz (Digital expert)
Tilly Langford (Content creator)
Learn how to use everyone’s favourite stupid clock app in this TikTok 101 session. TikTok is hugely popular with young users and capable of delivering incredibly targeted content because of the nature of its algorithm. It’s also a site of misinformation and radicalisation - making it even more important to offer progressive stories and spaces on the app. Georgia Kriz (Digital expert) will walk you through the platform, and offer advice on how to master the algorithm, find the right voices for content, and move users from scrolling through their For You page to taking action. TikTok creator Tilly Langford will share how she created content that generated over 1.3 million likes, and over 300 completed applications from TikTok users to join their union.
MASTERCLASS
Winning the Content Wars
Antonio Greer (Global Strategic Communications Council)
Claudia Solomons (Global Strategic Communications Council)
In the age of Content (capital letter necessary), how do we make sure our campaigns are heard online? Antonio Greer and Claudia Solomons from GSCC will share new digital campaigning tactics for content generation and distribution, utilising SEO, SEM and digital advertising to their fullest potential. Move beyond writing and launching online petitions and new ways to ensure your content reaches the people and places necessary to shift the nature of the conversation on our issues.
CASE STUDY
Global Solidarity: Save Sheikh Jarrah
Noura Mansour (Australia Palestine Advocacy Network)
Tasnim Sammak (Free Palestine Melbourne)
The workshop will follow the Wednesday evening panel, with a focus on community organising - covering the tips, lessons, learnings, wins and fails from mobilising thousands of people across the country to Save Sheikh Jarrah. Noura and Tasnim will detail how they organised communities to take action in support of Sheikh Jarrah earlier this year, the ongoing fight for Palestinan human rights and how we can meaningfully stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
MASTERCLASS
Measuring Movements: Lessons From the Sunrise Movement
Brittany Bennett (Sunrise Movement)
Building people power is what we’re all about. But how do you know if your tactics and strategies are working? Brittany Bennett, inaugural Data Director at the visionary Sunrise Movement, shares some key insights from her work, and approaches that campaigning organisations around the world can use to measure and grow their impact.
WORKSHOP
Passing the Message Stick
Larissa Baldwin (GetUp)
Edie Shepherd (GetUp)
Join Larissa Baldwin and Edie Shepherd in this practical messaging workshop exploring the lessons from Passing the Message Stick, a multi-year project to find and share messages effective in building public support for First Nations self-determination and justice. Learn how to apply the words that win with case studies from GetUp.
2:40PM ― 4:00PM AEDT | AFTERNOON PLENARY
PLENARY
Home to Bilo: The Accidental Activists
Simone Cameron and Bronwyn Dendle (Home to Bilo)
Join the Home to Bilo co-founders to learn how they used grassroots community organising in a traditionally conservative rural town to challenge the government’s narrative about people seeking asylum. Angela Fredricks, Simone Cameron and Bronwyn Dendle will each share the most important organising lesson they’ve learnt during the campaign to bring their friends Nades, Priya, Kopika and Tharnicca Murugappan home.
NETWORKING
Speed Networking
Networking with other FWD+Organise 2021 participants
Speed networking will be an opportunity for you to come together in a paired chat with other participants to build connections.
PLENARY
Building First Nations Justice
Larissa Baldwin (GetUp)
Edie Shepherd (GetUp)
FWD+Organise will close on a high as we go behind-the-scenes of some of the most important First Nations advocacy that’s happened this year, led by the incredible First Nations Justice team at GetUp. Larissa Baldwin and Edie Shepherd will join us to share tactics that led to a big win on the Cultural Heritage Act campaign, a case study on the ongoing campaign to ban fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, and lessons from their work in the Northern Territory election to ensure thousands of Aborignal people were registered to vote.
FROM 6:00PM | SOCIAL EVENTS
SIDE EVENT
FWD+Organise 2021 After Party in Sydney
Location: The Rose, 52-54 Cleveland St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Celebrate the end of the conference and debrief with friends at the FWD+Organise 2021 after party at The Rose!
SIDE EVENT
FWD+Organise 2021 After Party in Melbourne
Location: Welcome to Brunswick, 1 Frith St, Brunswick VIC 3056
Celebrate the end of the conference and debrief with friends at the FWD+Organise 2021 after party at Welcome to Brunswick!
SIDE EVENT
FWD+Organise 2021 After Party in Brisbane
Location: Sunset Lounges at Southbeach, Shop 30aa, 153 Stanley St Plaza, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Celebrate the end of the conference and debrief with friends at the FWD+Organise 2021 after party at Sunset Lounges - Southbeach!
SIDE EVENT
FWD+Organise 2021 After Party in Adelaide
Location: The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton SA 5031
Celebrate the end of the conference and debrief with friends at the FWD+Organise 2021 after party at The Wheatsheaf Hotel!