Impactful movements share common traits: they start where people currently are, tell compelling stories, use shared symbols, have multiple leaders and entry points, and are well organized. Movements tip into the mainstream by having leaders at all levels who see, hear, and want to be changed by others. Quoting Saul Alinsky, the summary emphasizes that losing faith in one's power to direct the future is the darkest tragedy.

1. Photo via Reuters

3. 11,000

5. Why?

6. Photo by Cass Bird for Vogue

7. What do impactful
movements have in
common?

8. 1. Start Where We’re At

9. 2. Tell A Compelling Story

10. 3. Include Shared
Symbols

11. 4. Have Multiple Entry
Points and Leaders

12. 5. They Are Organized

13. Field
Organizer
Neighborhood
Team Lead
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Neighborhood
Team Lead
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Neighborhood
Team Lead
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Neighborhood
Team Lead
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Core Team
Member
Organizing model adapted from Groundbreakers by Elizabeth McKenna and Hahrie Han

14. How Do You Tip a
Movement into the
Mainstream?

15. You don’t have to be the
leader, but you do have to
be a leader.

16. “
I see you. I hear you…

17. “
… I want to be changed by you.

18. “
There can be no darker or more devastating
tragedy than the death of man’s faith in
himself and in his power to direct his future.”
- Saul D. Alinsky, Rules for Radicals, 1971