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58 ORGS · 465 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
approach

Centering Lived Experience

By placing individuals with direct lived experience of systemic injustice in leadership and decision-making roles, organizations produce more authentic, effective advocacy and systemic change, because those most impacted are best positioned to identify problems and shape solutions. This strategy is consistently applied across diverse issue areas—from farmworker rights to disability justice—and distinguishes itself by rejecting top-down or expert-driven models in favor of grassroots leadership rooted in personal and communal experience. While other strategies emphasize coalition-building or research, this approach treats lived experience not as input but as authoritative guidance, making it foundational to both organizational legitimacy and strategic effectiveness.

58
orgs running it
465
activities of those orgs
12
activity groups touched
who runs it

Organizations running this strategy · 58

+ 28 more orgs
what it looks like in practice

Activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above — what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Economic mobility programs for Liberian communities Weeks Educational and Social Advocacy Project Inc
    direct service
    Creates and implements programs aimed at generating economic mobility for Liberian communities both in Liberia and among Liberian immigrants in the United States.
  • Education and healthcare access in Liberia Weeks Educational and Social Advocacy Project Inc
    direct service
    Provides tuition and health assistance to children and families in Liberia, supporting more than 10 children with educational costs and expanding access to healthcare for children with physical trauma.
  • Funding for teacher salaries in Liberia Weeks Educational and Social Advocacy Project Inc
    grantmaking
    Funds teacher salaries at a K-12 school on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia, as part of its support for education infrastructure.
  • Support for Liberian immigrants in the U.S. Weeks Educational and Social Advocacy Project Inc
    direct service
    Provides assistance to recent Liberian immigrants in the United States, including guidance and financial support to help them navigate social services, education systems, and cultural transition, primarily in New York City. Offers grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 per family.
  • Support for pro bono service delivery in Liberia Weeks Educational and Social Advocacy Project Inc
    direct service
    Supports the renovation of a building in Liberia to serve as lodging for organizations and professionals providing pro bono services, facilitating sustained community support.
  • Advances narrative and policy goals through collective action and coalition engagement CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY INC
    advocacy
    Builds narrative power centered on working-class empowerment and engages in collective action with network partners to advance shared policy and social justice goals.
  • Builds organizing capacity through network-wide training and leadership development CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY INC
    capacity building
    Engages thousands of activists in training programs, develops leaders, and grows the organizational base in strategic locations to strengthen community organizing power.
  • Conducts legislative advocacy campaigns at local and national levels CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY INC
    advocacy
    Drives policy wins through coordinated legislative advocacy efforts in local communities and national campaigns, including issuing public statements on key decisions and mobilizing collective action.
  • Develop leadership and political consciousness among LGBTQ youth of color FIERCE
    capacity building
    Operates as a membership-based organization that builds leadership and political awareness among LGBTQ youth of color in New York City through capacity-building programs.
  • Promote and sustain Tari Rentak Bulian as a living cultural tradition FIERCE
    direct service
    Actively maintains visibility and practice of Tari Rentak Bulian through cultural education, performances, youth dance studios, and digital documentation at local, national, and projected future levels (including 2026).
  • Distributing outreach materials to promote animal advocacy CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    direct service
    Produces and distributes print-ready outreach materials such as flyers and business cards to raise awareness about factory farming and support recruitment into the animal advocacy movement.
  • Facilitating community connections and collaboration among animal advocates CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    direct service
    Enables connections among individuals who care about animals through monthly virtual meetups, online gatherings, and regional team meetings, fostering friendship, mentorship, collaboration, and campaign coordination. Includes events for vegans, volunteers, and regional advocates such as those in the Bay Area.
  • Hosting national conference and educational programming for animal advocates CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    capacity building
    Organizes an annual national conference that brings together volunteers, advocates, and animal welfare organizations to improve animal and human lives. The conference includes education and training on animal issues and citizen advocacy methods such as lobbying and community engagement.
  • Hosting skill-building and mindfulness events for advocates CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    direct service
    Hosts public speaking events to help vegans develop communication skills and support animal advocacy, as well as monthly online meditation sessions focused on veganism, compassion, and mindfulness, featuring silent meditation and group sharing.
  • Operating online platform and newsletter to connect individuals with animal advocacy events and resources CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    direct service
    Operates a free online platform, mobile app, and weekly newsletter to connect individuals with pro-animal events, groups, resources, and advocacy opportunities, including local, virtual, and large-scale events. The platform includes a searchable directory of animal advocacy organizations and curated event listings.
  • Organizing virtual advocacy events to advance animal welfare commitments CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    advocacy
    Organizes virtual events aimed at urging companies to fulfill cage-free egg commitments and end the caging of hens, engaging advocates in targeted corporate accountability efforts.
  • Providing nonprofit governance education for animal advocacy organizations CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    capacity building
    Hosts webinars on the legal and practical aspects of nonprofit board-executive director relationships, including trust-building, conflict navigation, and governance dynamics, to strengthen organizational effectiveness in the animal advocacy sector.
  • Training advocates for animal protection policy and legislative change CONNECT FOR ANIMALS INC
    advocacy
    Provides training and education to advocates to support and enact animal protection policies and legislation at local, state, and federal levels, building capacity for effective citizen advocacy.