In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have asked all our volunteer leaders to postpone, move to virtual, or cancel in-person events of any size until further notice.
Unfortunately, that means we are unable to gather in person, which is our favorite mode of organizing. But as any true organizer knows, we never give up—we get creative! Obstacles can also spur innovation, new approaches, and even increased productivity.
Over the course of the pandemic, the impact of our efforts has been expanded by incorporating digital organizing methods into our strategy. Our team and volunteers also proved to be incredibly creative and innovative during this time, finding safe ways to continue their important work, while also promoting civic engagement throughout local communities. We will continue to utilize these methods and leverage various organizing technologies as we move forward.
This hub will be updated frequently. If you have ideas or need help, please contact your organizer, or email us. And if you’d like to start a team or add your existing group as an affiliate, we’d love to hear from you too!
Check out the findings of Sister District Action Network‘s study concerning Activism in the Age of Covid-19!
Sister District Action Network (SDAN) is Sister District’s affiliated 501(c)c4, which runs programs in the areas of political research, civic engagement, and state legislator support. SDAN conducts experimental research on topics like the efficacy of postcards and social cohesion among grassroots volunteers, supports Sister District’s electoral work by leading SD’s race targeting work, partners with movement organizations across the country through the State Bridges Program, invests in the progressive candidate pipeline through the Future Winners Program, and provides governance and reelection support to state legislators in competitive districts through the Purple District Network.
Safety strategies like masking and social distancing can be deeply disruptive and un-fun, but they are also very effective. It is a personal and public health imperative to limit the risk to ourselves, our families, and our communities. Unfortunately, this means not moving forward with in-person events as planned for the time being. Fortunately, there are alternatives to cancelling and technology that can be leveraged—that’s what this guide is for.
We have found, both through our research and anecdotally, that folks love Sister District because of their social relationships and sense of community. As we organize online more and more, we should always be thinking about how to strengthen connections among volunteers and create a sense of community.
These are unprecedented and stressful times, piled on top of a political environment that was already overwhelming. While physical distancing is sometimes necessary, we need to find ways to stay connected emotionally. Sharing silly memes, or giving friends, family, and community members a quick phone call just to say “hi” can go a long way!
When sharing information online, be extremely careful to only promote credible sources. As in any emergency, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. Let’s do what Democrats do best—use science, facts, and compassion.
We highlighted a few creative strategies for remote organizing during the outbreak in a team blog post. If you’re looking for a quick summary, check it out for our top 7 recommendations!
Our volunteers are incredible at hosting in-person fundraisers, phonebanks, and postcard parties. Here are some tips for how to move these activities online: in general, treat these much like actual parties with their component parts: planning, invitations and reminders, execution, and follow-up. Volunteer leaders can contact us directly for our step-by-step resources tailored for Sister District work.
Fundraisers are one of the key components of Sister District organizing, and now we’re bringing it online.
What stays the same?
For a virtual fundraiser, you will still:
What changes in a virtual environment?
One fun type of virtual fundraiser is Virtual Trivia, or “pub quiz.” There are many permutations for how to throw a trivia event (including working with a professional trivia company), but we have also put together a kit for a DIY trivia fundraiser – all you need is a Zoom account and a volunteer who is familiar with spreadsheets.
Instead of asking your volunteers to make calls on their own, host a virtual phonebank party! We know making phone calls for campaigns can be intimidating for newbies, and if we’re honest, an activity that we sometimes need extra motivation to do. Keeping a “party” setting – which is time bounded and includes a social atmosphere – can keep everyone excited about calling voters.
What stays the same?
You will still:
What changes?
Not too much! Participants are already on their computers, and should have their phones nearby. The host will need to:
Instead of asking your volunteers to write postcards by themselves, host a virtual postcard party! One reason postcarding has become so popular among grassroots activists is because it’s a productive activity one can do while chatting with like-minded volunteers. The social element of postcarding is important!
What stays the same?
You will still:
What changes?
For the actual party, not much changes. However, depending on the details of your postcard assignment, there may be some challenges in getting addresses and postcards to volunteers and back to the host in a way that maintains social distancing and keeps everyone safe.
The added logistics of distributing cards and addresses may take a while, so be sure to plan ahead!
We’re still learning how to adapt and make the most out of our fully virtual world – here’s what we have learned so far, from our personal experience at Sister District HQ and our volunteer leaders across the country.
Our community has always shown incredible creativity in developing ideas for in-person events that attract a variety of people and achieve meaningful results for candidates. In these early days of social distancing, our community is showing great resilience as well.
From tiny desk concerts to remote yoga classes, we’ve collected some fun ideas to bring a little pizzazz to your virtual events while we adapt to social distancing. We’ll continuously update this post with new information and ideas, so check back often!
Although we love meeting in person, meeting virtually can have some unexpected benefits. For example, a virtual event is often a shorter and more flexible time commitment, which can mean more people have the opportunity to join. For a phonebank party, the virtual environment is a quieter and less stressful atmosphere for making calls – which makes callers more productive and efficient.
As we settle into life with social distancing, read about a few surprising ways that virtual gatherings can actually improve your organizing.
Checks can be sent to:
Sister District Project
440 North Barranca Avenue, #8737
Covina, California 91723
