theories of change

what you said (in pictures) and a few thoughts of my own 

Sweeping legal change needs to be accompanied by equally sweeping cultural change. Building consensus across all interests and stakeholders is impossible, but building greater support and broader adoption of norms and values is often achievable.

No one likes having change forced on them. Unilaterally imposed change without accompanying normative, cultural change can result in short-term roadblocks to implementation, long-term animosity, and retaliatory actions. Sometimes there’s no alternative to this kind of change, but we should be mindful of the consequences.

In order to make effective and lasting change, we need to summon all our creative powers of storytelling to craft a motivational frame for ourselves and others that is compelling and, insofar as possible, inclusive. 

 
We need to be organized in the everyday sense of the word. This means creating structures within our own advocacy organizations that will best allow us to lead and adapt. It means building intentional relationships with allies and partners. It means convening spaces for collaboration and sharing information. It means working locally and strategizing trans-locally. 

We need to use all our advocacy tools—including the traditional legal tools of litigation and legislative reform—based on what our communities and clients need, and with humility about the limitations of those tools.

 
We need to nurture ourselves. Working toward systemic change of any kind is exhausting. Nurturing ourselves means cultivating ways of being that honor self-growth, kindness, and discovery over perfectionism, judgment, and competition.