COVID-19 Pandemic Resources for Progressives
We have been watching and trying to work out how to best respond to the coronavirus over the past few days, and we’ve seen many conversations spring up across our community with people asking similar questions.
Below is a set of resources that may be helpful for campaigners, organisations and non-profits during the pandemic.
We’ll continue to update this list, so please send through anything you’ve found that could be helpful for others across our movements by emailing phong@australianprogress.org.au
The need for advocacy and solidarity
This crisis, and governments' responses to it, are exacerbating systemic inequalities that exist. Our systems are under stress and it is highlighting the injustices that are at the core of them - whether that’s low-paid workers forced to stay home unpaid, or the racism embedded in our health system, or the devaluing of people with disability and chronic illness.This is a moment that requires us to understand how these issues intersect and how we can best work together. It’s also a moment for advocacy - defending against the closing of borders, increased racism and increased surveillance, pushing for stronger progressive policies for increased welfare payments, workers rights, and telling a bigger story of community and solidarity over individualism. These resources are must-reads as you plan your advocacy efforts during a pandemic:
5 Things To Know About Coronavirus and People With Disabilities
An outline of alternate digital tactics to consider
Finding Steady Ground – a resource to help avoid burnout
Guide on scaling mutual aid and community care
Crowdsourced guide on different issues related to the crisis
Snap webinar by The Green Institute on how to build communities of resilience
Messaging & Framing REsources
COVID-19 messaging guide from Anat Shenker-Osorio
Guide for right messages and policy-making lenses from some of our Aotearoa/NZ fellows.
Progressive Framing Guide from The Commons
Guide for Framing a Community Response to COVID-19. Work in progress from our global messaging fellows, feel free to help contribute with your comments.
Helpful resources for your organisation to manage risk
A pandemic also poses a threat to many of our civil society organisations. It will likely impact our ability to gather, protest in the streets, meet with decision-makers and organise in communities. For some, it will impact HR policies and fundraising efforts. For most of us, it will shift our work to be remote, virtual and isolated. These organisational resources are helpful as you prepare:
Template Business Continuity Plan, created by one of our fellows in NZ.
Risk assessment for large gatherings
Template staff policy or more formal template Pandemic Policy for staff
Template event delay email to attendees
Guide on delivering a multi-week training course with 90 participants
List of tips, tools and tactics for campaigners and organisers during the pandemic
A guide on transitioning digital security during the pandemic
Helpful online facilitation resources
Resources for remote TEAMS
With self-isolation being key to slowing the spread of the virus, the many civil society organisations may soon transition to remote offices with the majority of staff working from home. Having a great, flexible working from home culture is worth creating regardless. These resources will help you get set up:
Create a culture of over-communication, isolation is not something we would seek under different circumstances and our teams will need to intentionally stay in touch as much as possible. This means creating many touch points and using tools like Slack and Zoom to foster frequent connectivity in your team.
Have a weekly all-team Zoom call to set priorities or celebrate your wins (or both!)
Have a ‘daily standup’ in Slack where everyone shares via message or a quick 15-minute call. Everyone shares what they’re working on & what support they need. You can use the Slack add-on Geekbot to help facilitate this.
Some teams may find it helpful to simply work with Zoom on throughout the day, where staff are muted but can ask questions and chat as if they were in an office.
Use the Slack add-on Donut to keep “going out for coffee” style catch-ups going
Shift to use cloud-based collaborative tools like docs and sheets in Google Drive
Have a #random Slack channel, so that informal chat and office laughter continues. #pets channel is also highly recommended for doggo content.
This collection of 23 remote team building activities is very helpful for boosting team morale.
Shift your wall of post-it notes to an online project management tool like Asana, Trello or Jira
If your organisation is growing during this period, it can be a particularly lonely time for new staff. These 5 Tips for Onboarding Remote Employees will help.
Create a channel for volunteers and make sure they continue to feel like a major part of your movement. Zoom can be a great tool for volunteer calls, and crowdcast.io is excellent for larger-scale interactive webinars
If your organisation can afford it, it is also worth investing in ergonomic working from home set-ups for all staff. Some businesses with working from home policies also offer support for home WiFi.
Join any relevant Australian Progress Facebook groups to stay in touch with others working remotely in other civil society organisations – a group for community organisers here and digital campaigners here
Join our sector-wide Slack by applying at www.australianprogress.org.au/slack