“i practice what i want to become. we practice what we want to create.” — adrienne maree brown
“Theory with no practice ain’t shit.” — Fred Hampton
“We get to the future we want by practicing it now.” — Mia Birdsong
In this time of rising authoritarianism, I keep coming back to the transformative power of practicing.
In that spirit, I’m pleased to share this list of my top social change favorites of 2024—tools and stories to spark hope, healing, and action. Shared with the loving invitation to not just think about the ideas in the list below—but also to practice them.
The below were either published or new to me in the last year:
- Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052–2072 (novel) – M. E. O’Brien & Eman Abdelhadi. Speculative fiction at its finest: imagining a future beyond all forms of domination—beyond nation-states, rent, wages, prisons, police, profit, capitalism. Parable of the Sower/Talents meets Woman on the Edge of Time.
- Beautiful Solutions: A Toolbox for Liberation (book) – edited by Elandria Williams, Rachel Plattus, Eli Feghali, & Nathan Schneider. Case studies from around the world remind us that another world is not only possible, it’s already under construction. From food sovereignty to debt abolition to folk schools to energy democracy, much of what we need to transform our communities already exists.
- Building Neighborhood Communities (blog post) – Savannah Kruger. Three case studies on doing the age-old work of meeting and building community with neighbors, and what that leads to: picnics, movie screenings, and clothing swaps in good times; check-ins and mutual aid in hard times (COVID, wildfire). Don’t miss the embedded TED Talk: Resilience in Turbulent Times? The Answer Is Community.
- Beyond the Carbon Fixation: Pathways to Regenerative Futures (narrative research & essays) – Culture Hack Labs & Ma Earth. A narrative framework and roadmap designed to shift not just the climate conversation but also the window of what’s possible—away from false solutions like carbon offsets and toward the deep, systemic, life-affirming transformation we need.
- Fascism 101 (webinar series) – The Highlander Center. A curriculum to illuminate the threat of rising fascism in the U.S. today, the authoritarian political actors shaping the current moment, and what it will take to build broad and effective anti-fascist resistance.
- WNV’s Guide to Protecting and Expanding Democracy (essay series) – Waging Nonviolence. From the popular 10 Ways to Be Prepared and Grounded Now that Trump Has Won to lessons from Serbia and South Africa, essays and interviews on what works to defeat authoritarianism. Hint: nonviolence, multi-tactical strategy, and strong relationships.
- Tie: Israelism (documentary) – Two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, and begin to question the narratives they learned growing up—ultimately joining the movement of American Jews demanding freedom for Palestinian people. And Where the Olive Trees Weep (documentary) – A film following the everyday struggles and resilience of Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.
- What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World (book) – Prentis Hemphill. A timely guide affirming that trauma healing—both individual and collective—begets social transformation begets trauma healing. Hemphill weaves together stories from their own experience as a trauma survivor with clinical accounts and lessons learned from their time in social movements.
- Capitalism (podcast series) – Scene on Radio. An overview of the history of capitalism—from its emergence in Europe just 500 years ago to the present—and an exploration of (some of) its alternatives, from reforms to more radical transformations. Standout episodes: The Tipping Point and The Extracted.
- 10 Creative Actions To Inspire You In 2025 (newsletter) – Nonviolence News. A collection of innovative nonviolent actions, from a teen’s algorithm flooding an anti-critical race theory tipline with mock reports in the U.S., to Dutch Jews’ detour signs redirecting Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Hague, to a funeral procession for nature in the UK.
There are so many beautiful ideas and practices out there. What were your favorites?
LightBox collaborator Trina Stout is a communications strategist for social good. She crafts and executes strategies to help clients—from Portland to DC to New Delhi—change minds, policies, and behavior.