In the current era of digital communication, organizing and mobilizing people for social and political causes has become increasingly important. With the world becoming more connected through technology, the power of social media and digital platforms cannot be underestimated. In recognition of this, the Bay Rising Fellowship program has launched a Digital Organizing Training and Strategy Fellowship for 2022-2023. The program aims to equip fellows with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively utilize digital tools to engage with and mobilize communities toward social and political change. In this blog post, we will provide an update on the progress of some of the fellows and the impact it has had so far.
Cal Radecki, Oakland Rising
What are you most proud of during your time at Oakland Rising?
I am most proud of doing so many new things! From making online ads to live streaming, I have continually pushed myself into new areas that may have seemed daunting before.
What is your favorite part of being a DOTS fellow?
My favorite part of being a DOTS fellow is having the opportunity to work with and learn from so many amazing folks in the movement-building space. Through my day-to-day work, trainings, and events, I have gotten the chance to learn from those who have been doing this work for decades and others who have taught me new skills to add to my own toolbox.
What is one project you are working on right now?
One exciting project I am working on right now is the Arts, Culture, and Democracy project. In this project, we are commissioning an illustrator to create a series of illustrations for three political education campaigns: Know Your DA, Know Your BOS, and Democracy Dollars. The illustrator will help us create the design for a variety of materials that may include short 4-page zines, postcards, posters, tote bags, and buttons.The purpose of the project is to create cultural assets targeted for a broad community but specifically appealing, comprehensive, accessible, fun and engaging for immigrants of color, Black, Indigenous, young people, and formerly-incarcerated community members who are not civically engaged but highly impacted by the system.
Claire Donovan-Suguitan, Bay Rising
What are you most proud of?
I am proud that three months into my fellowship I helped put together a digital voter guide for seven counties in the Bay Area, translated into Spanish and Chinese. Creating access to voting materials is crucial for strengthening our democracy.
What is your favorite part of being a DOTS fellow?
My favorite part about being a DOTS fellow has been having a community that supports me. Being a young professional can be daunting and it is comforting to know that I have a group of talented and kind individuals who are going through the same things.
What is one thing that is keeping you busy these days?
One thing keeping me busy these days is interviewing newly elected candidates through our C4 Bay Rising Action to learn about their first year in office.
Uma Nagarjan-Swenson, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of starting to regularly create and post videos on social media for EBASE! They’ve been a great way to increase social media engagement and EBASE’s digital footprint. They’ve also been really fun to make and it’s been great to learn more video editing skills.
What is your favorite part of being a DOTS fellow?
My favorite part of being a DOTS fellow is all the other fellows! Everyone is so smart and nice, and it’s really helpful to have this group as a resource for advice and input!
What is one project you are working on right now?
I’m working on restarting a tenant tips series on our tenant’s union instagram, @todossantostu. I hope this will be a resource with which renters (especially those in Contra Costa County) can learn about their rights and plug into resources to push back against corporate landlords and stay in their homes.
Diamund White, San Francisco Rising
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of being able to document the student debt resource fair and have viewers on Instagram enjoy watching them. I feel like it would hopefully encourage others to join when we do have an in-person event.
What is your favorite part of being a DOTS fellow?
My favorite part about being a DOTS fellow is having mentorship and consistent instructions and feedback on how to do something new, or do something better.
What is one thing that is keeping you busy these days?
One thing that keeps me busy is strategizing ways to create graphics to make a consistent theme on our Instagram and social media pages, and of course actually creating the graphics which for me is a detail oriented process.
Jess Cheng, Chinese Progressive Association
What is your favorite part of being a DOTS fellow?
I get to learn from the other fellows who are doing similar work as me, and are at a similar stage of our lives! We don’t see each other day-to-day since we’re at different organizations, but I love that we support each other and share our ideas. Learning about other progressive organizations’ work in the Bay is also one way I build my political sphere, and grow my analysis & skills. I know the other fellows have pushed me to grow – I appreciate my cohort and am proud of the ways we’ve all grown since the start. <3
What is one thing that is keeping you busy these days?
Planning for CPA’s 50th Anniversary! Our big celebration is on April 1st – check out our site cpasf.org/celebrating50
Rachita Rawal, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy
What are you most proud of?
I am really glad to have participated in this program and balanced my role as a DOTS fellow with my full time position at EBASE as the Communications Manager. I proud that I have been able to continue to grow and better my skills in various areas of communications and digital organizing, earning a Level 2 Certificate during the DOTS bootcamp, while also working to help low-income Black and Brown residents in Oakland and Contra Costa County through my role at EBASE.
How has being a DOTS fellow helped you in your position?
Being a DOTS fellow has helped me do my communications and digital organizing work at a higher quality. The program has provided multiple trainings on skills at are all very important to my role, with an opportunity to ask questions. I also have appreciated the individual coaching to work through issues that our organization and I are facing with communications/digital organizing work and have the opportunity to learn new things to expand my skill set.
What is one thing that is keeping you busy these days?
EBASE will continue to advocate for multiple tenant protections in Concord and Contra Costa County, including rent stabilization, just cause for eviction, and tenant legal services. I will stay busy creating communications material for these campaigns during the next few months.
