Calls to action can be tricky and revolution amassing. When we craft our call to action effectively we just might gather the talent, time, and treasure to our causes with the urgency required. Mine are principally climate solutions as well as focused on the intersection with world peace in a nuclear-free world.
Three events this week brought my call to larger groups virtually. TEDxVailCOUNTDOWN boasted more than a dozen big, bold ideas on climate change with 39 participants sharing their stories and pledges based on the TED & TEDx & performances they had just Xperienced. Another was supporting 25 Changemakers in World Pulse's Lab crafting their own TED-like calls to action. And last night, WE Rotary had 27 attendees each speaking their own call to action and responding to effective calls from a women's weavers group in Nepal and a Marshallese resettled group on the Big Island of Hawaii.
An effective call to action is active, inspiring, clear, brief, and inviting.
If you missed it, TEDxVailCOUNTDOWN specifically on climate featured these ideators and performers:
TEDxIntro clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSP7GPU3Eic
Michael Schur: https://f.io/09GTrbrd
Jeanette Winterson: https://app.frame.io/presentations/fadb1d97-0545-438e-9401-9f7931043eb9
Write a New CLimate Story:
https://www.ted.com/talks/countdown_it_s_time_to_write_a_new_climate_story
Dave Troy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78UlC_K393Y Clip: https://www.ted.com/talks/countdown_how_dilemma_thinking_transforms_argument_into_action
Cel Headlee https://www.ted.com/talks/celeste_headlee_10_ways_to_have_a_better_conversation
Clint Smith: https://www.ted.com/talks/clint_smith_the_danger_of_silence
Space Pirate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ro_SDFkkx8
Michael Linn: https://assets.adobe.com/public/9da7c335-8c5b-4f0f-59a6-f3a73c2972ec
Ayana & Megan Davis:
https://www.ted.com/talks/ayana_elizabeth_johnson_and_megan_davis_underwater_farms_vs_climate_change
Ayana Johnson: https://app.frame.io/presentations/a8207824-12ab-4f8e-aa83-d7a2fbd02b57Susan Ruffo: https://www.ted.co/talks/susan_ruffo_the_ocean_s_ingenious_climate_solutionsIRA-it got done, what's the action we are going to support for climate?https://www.weforum.org/videos/whats-in-the-new-us-climate-deal-and-why-it-matters
At WE Rotary, we heard from Marshallese who were relocated after the USA tested for decades nuclear weapons on their islands, how they were calling for Hawaiian Rotarians to supply a truck so they could bring water to their community of 1,700 residents. It may seem hard to imagine that in USA in 2022, there are in fact communities that have no water. Water is foundational to managing an area for climate resilience. Women Weavers asked for financial support for their weaving collective that frees women from financial dependence others. Empowering women & girls is a top DRAWDOWN climate solution.
For World Pulse, the Changemakers Lab sent prerecorded trainings to the leaders. During our breakout sessions we then could focus on what it takes to actually make effective calls to action for some of their projects. We talked about the 5 W's & how they need to be present in a TEDx Talk. The call to action is most effective when considering the wording, precision, clarity, urgency, and need. The more specific the ask, the easier it is for a potential partner, funder, or amplifier to support you and your efforts. Think of your entire project shrunk into ten minutes further shrunk into one sentence of 12-15 words, no jargon, understandable language, clearly presenting what you want, why you need it, where will it be used, when is it needed, who will benefit, and how will it be achieved. No simple task. The more you edit, and specify, the easier it will be for a person or group to say, "YES!"
What is your call to action?
How will you shine your S.T.A.R.? S.T.A.R. = Something They'll Always Remember?
We have no magical impact machines.
We can tell our stories but only the people we enroll in our calls to action can do the work!
Write your own HERSTORY, Changemakers!
