Audience: Youth

Students, young adults, and millennials are taking a leading role in movement spaces across the country,  and  the youth climate organizing community is no exception. Last week, Lab members came together for a  peer learning exchange*  to share experiences and relevant research, as well as new ideas and tactics around engaging youth on climate.  You can  watch a recording of the conversation here*  and check out  the slide deck here*. 

The emerging body of “best practices” around peer-to-peer texting programs shared during this webinar includes: (1) Make a plan and factor in the learning curve. Create a calendar to make sure volunteer shifts match with campaign needs since it takes time for staff and volunteers to learn new technology and data processes. Don’t forget to factor in necessary training (and re-training); (2) Build personal, ongoing relationships. If possible, have the same volunteers text the same list of members and supporters to build trust and consistency in the relationship; (3) Test everything! Since the platform is relatively new, there is much to be learned – including motivating message content, layering with other modes of contact, which emojis generate the most actions, etc.; and (4) Honor opt-outs and don’t over-text.             

Talking about climate, especially with folks whose politics are different than our own, can be…challenging, given how polarized the issue has unfortunately become. At the same time, those types of face-to-face conversations are arguably one of the most critical approaches for moving past the social media echo chambers, and engaging Americans on this and other potentially divisive issues. This week we share work that several groups have done to use conversation to find common ground on climate (and in some cases mobilize people to act), and review the evidence behind the effectiveness of dialogues to improve public engagement, and ultimately move the needle on climate and clean energy.