Organizing Training and Resources Bank

Calling the police often escalates situations, puts people at risk, and leads to violence. Anytime you seek help from the police, you’re inviting them into your community and putting people who may already be vulnerable into dangerous situations. Sometimes people feel that calling the police is the only way to deal with problems. But we can build trusted networks of mutual aid that allow us to better handle conflicts ourselves and move toward forms of transformative justice, while keeping police away from our neighborhoods.

This pamphlet is a reprinting of an essay by Lawrence Jarach titled “Instead Of A Meeting: By Someone Too Irritated To Sit Through Another One.” We share the author’s frustration in dealing with the confusion surrounding anarchism, including those coming from some anarchists. Most simply, anarchists are against the state and the government and do not support them in any form and see their existence as an obstacle to liberation.

Beautiful Trouble is an online toolbox and creative campaign incubator and has an international network of artist-activist-trainers helping grassroots movements become more creative and effective. 

From the origins of brutality, captivity and barbarism that marked the arrival of Africans to the United States; to the generations of marginalization and oppression that impeded their pursuit of freedom and equality; to systemic institutional and cultural factors that continue to impede quality of life at disproportionately high rates, it can be argued that trauma is an integral part of the Black Male American experience, as baked in as the legacy of mistreatment that continues to impact their everyday lives

In this guide:

• From The Origins Of Brutality, Captivity And Barbarism
• Rates Of Mental Illness Among Black And African American Men
• Mental Health Treatment Barriers Facing Black And African American Men
• Mental Health Resources For Black And African American Men

The trust, values and skills we rely on when we’re in a direct confrontation with the state are part of our lifelong work to develop and deepen our practice and our commitment. Fighting state repression helps us to know ourselves and our work better, to be bold and to take risks that make more space for the possibilities we want to see in the world. Doing legal support or anti-repression education aren’t a drag or a waste of time or less interesting than other work unless we treat them that way.

This zine explores mental health as it relates to libertarian/anarchist activism. Through their discussions, they discovered the prevalence of depression, mental illness, and emotional stress within radical spaces. The text covers general advice, management strategies, personal accounts, advice from anarchist/radical mental health workers, and more. It isn’t a substitute for professional mental health advice, but it’s a good starting point for raising these issues in anarchist spaces.

Warning: This zine contains reference to suicide.

Sub-titled “A Proposal for Security Culture” this text is a long and insightful reframing of “security culture,” focusing on a shift from fear to confidence, from risk aversion to courage, from isolation to connection, and from suspicion to trust. It is written from the premise that being welcoming and open to new people is important and that a way to accomplish that end is to implement a strong and shared security culture within anarchist circles. This text includes updated discussions focused on repression in recent years, shifts towards online and digital communication, and refinement of practices.

In a matter of weeks our movements, work and communities have suddenly moved online. Hard conversations, strategy meetings, strategic planning and healing circles are occurring on zoom and in google hangouts instead of in our offices, living rooms, cafes and conference rooms.

This handout is for groups interested in building an ongoing de-escalation practice. We understand de-escalation as one tool among many that we can use to preserve the integrity of their events and those of their allies, and a way to build skills and trust-based relationships. 

This zine is designed to give folks an easy introduction to foraging in Grand Rapids and the greater West Michigan area. Whereas other field guides and foraging books focus on an almost overwhelming number of plants, we stick to fourteen plants that are reasonably easy to find: Ramps (Wild Leeks), Wild Garlic, Wild Asparagus, Lamb’s Quarters, Juneberry, Wild Bergamot, Black Raspberry, Blackberry, Purslane, Dandelion, Hen-of-the-Woods, Dryad’s Saddle, Chicken-of-the-Woods, Blue Violet, and Crabapple. There is at least one photo of every plant and line drawings for many of them. Many of these plants should be able to be found elsewhere in the Midwest and Eastern United States.

This zine is a great introduction to identifying, foraging, and using what the authors term “weeds” and “common plants.” The authors wrote it to be an introductory-level guide for anarchists to get more acquainted with the land. It has tips on all sorts of different plants from the well-known dandelion and yarrow to more obscure things like wild carrot. The authors explain how to use parts of easily identifiable trees. For example, you can make a tea out of pine needles that is packed with vitamin C.

It is a financial literacy article with topics including:
- Socioeconomic and cultural barriers
- The role of Black financial advisors

Closing the racial wealth gap isn’t a simple fix. But many experts say education and financial literacy can help. In this article, we identify the impact this knowledge gap has on the African American community — and explore how Black educators and financial advisors are working to close it.

Common financial arguments made against fossil fuel divestment and counterpoints.

Assistance on developing community accountability & a harm free zone.

This zine provides a basic introduction to herbalism alongside a collection of home remedies for common health problems. The information is organized into broad categories based on body parts (head, abdomen, etc) and then from there conditions and symptoms. It’s easy to use and a good introduction to DIY healthcare. There is also a lengthy suggested resources section that recommends additional sources. The zine was published by Rosehip Medic Collective, a street medic collective out of Portland, Oregon.

Points out how white supremacy, racism, ableism, sexism, and other forms of oppression can often show up in our organizations unnoticed, and tactics to interrupt those undetected norms.

This webinar covers:

1. interventions at our rallies and marches
2. marshaling principles and tactics
3. creative ways to support collective action.

This zine explains how to cover your face in a protest situation. It recommends a simple t-shirt mask to conceal as much of your face as possible in order to prevent surveillance and repression. Spreading a practice of concealing one’s identity in protest situations is an excellent practice to help keep people safer. Regardless of whether or not you are doing anything deemed illegal by the state, masking up is always a best practice to avoid doxxing and harassment.

Best practices for before, during and after meeting with decision makers.

This reading dives into mental health within the African American community. It includes statistics and other pertinent information. 

We chat about statistics and other pertinent information related to mental health within Black communities.

Anarchism is not a new concept and has often been white washed. Lucy Parsons was a Black leading figure in American socialism, anarchism, and the radical labor movement in the 1800s. This zine takes a look at her life and work in the movement.

Lucy Parsons zine

Chart differentiating the roles of Actors, Allies, and Accomplices for white folks to act on in various categories of their lives. The goal is to challenge the participant to shift from Actor into being effective Allies or Accomplices.

4 Core Components of organizing & campaign strategy development.

Re:Imagining Change is an inspirational inside look at the trailblazing methodology developed by the non-profit strategy and training organization, Center for Story-based Strategy (formerly smartMeme). Founded in 2002, Center for Story-based Strategy offers tools, training, and strategy support to organizations and movements working for justice, ecological sanity and transformative social change. Re:Imagining Change is a summary of their approach, and a call to innovate our strategies for collectively addressing the escalating social and ecological crisis of the 21st century.

This zine contains writings that explore the concept of “solidarity.” “Solidarity” is a term that is often tossed around in anarchist circles, often without regard for what it actually means. Revolutionary Solidarity explores the question of what solidarity means in practice and how solidarity can become revolutionary. For the authors, the answer lies in making solidarity synonymous with action.

Reasons why shareholder engagement with fossil fuel corporations is ineffective.

This zine contains a wealth of helpful suggestions for anarchists living in small towns who want to create anarchy. Topics covered include finding other anarchists, deciding on what projects to work on, figuring out how to relate to liberals, and doing a distro—this zine is full of good ideas and advice. Not only for small towns, the authors of the zine state: “If you can count the active anarchists in your areas on your fingers, this guide is for you.”

Provides insightful information and help to African Americans who may be dealing with drug and/or alcohol problems.

The Radical Cheerbook is a collection of cheers intended to be used by radical cheerleaders at anti-capitalist protests. Radical Cheerleading is a tactic aimed at bringing energy and excitement to what might otherwise be stale and boring protests. An old radical cheerleaders website describes it as “…Protest+Performance. It’s activism with pom poms and middle fingers extended. It’s screaming FUCK CAPITALISM while doing a split.”

This zine is based on a series of workshops held by Knowing the Land Is Resistance aimed at critiquing mainstream ideas of “ecology” and offering ideas for moving towards an anarchist knowledge of the land. The zine explains how traditional notions of ecology are based on colonial and capitalist conceptions. As an alternative, the zine explores five starting points for developing an anti-authoritarian and anti-colonial relationship to the land: rooted in relationships, deep listening, urban ecology, re-enchanting, and un-expertness. It’s a good starting point for anyone interested in developing a closer relationship with the land.

Patriarchy is the single most life-threatening social disease assaulting the male body and spirit in our nation. Yet most men do not use the word “patriarchy” in everyday life. Most men never think about patriarchy—what it means, how it is created and sustained. 

This short zine that provides a collection of helpful tips on how to avoid doxxing by alt-right and other adversaries. It encourages readers to take a minute to review their practices and to seriously consider their data security. There are tips on passwords, social media, email, and more. It is essential reading for anyone doing anarchist things in the contemporary period. The folks who made the zine have also produced a website – digitaldefense.noblogs.org – that contains additional information on the topics discussed in the zine.