Making Connections
Your local area will be made up of neighbourhood communities, organisations, businesses, and communities of identity. Polls show that UK citizens care about Climate Breakdown and a quarter of these believe XR is effective as a movement, but only a small portion of the UK population self-identify as an activist, and even less so as a rebel who glues themselves to a boat! So, XR Community groups offer a powerful entry opportunity to discuss Climate Breakdown, and social & climate justice, within their peer group, in relevant and thoughtful framing.
How to Make Contact
Each XR Community of Identity (XR Lawyers, XR Buddhists etc.) has put together a letter framing the scale of the crisis according to that particular community. These letters will send the message that WE are the ones that will save us. No one else is coming to rescue us.
These letters will open a connection to Extinction Rebellion. Whether or not they choose to join our movement is up to them. They should be left in no doubt however that the invitation to the Community Assembly is for everyone.
Your local area will be made up of neighborhood communities and communities of identity. We suggest the following steps or your own thoughtful take on them.
- Rule #1 Approach Communities with deep respect.
- Rule #2 Appreciate that you may not sufficiently know the community’s culture or reality.
- Rule #3 Engage from a place of deep respect, humility and ability to listen.
- Rule #4 Repeat Rules 1-3
What to put in the Emails?
The XR Communities groups have each written template letters for Local Groups to send on their behalf.
When tailoring your emails remember the Four Rules above and don't forget to:
- Be respectful
‘Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to you from the XR Brighton Communities Team. Find below a letter written by Educators which we think you might find interesting.’ - Localise it
Be sure to mention your local area, make it clear that the Local Group is contacting them as well as the XR Community Group. Locational and Ideological commonalities. - Make sure they know how to make contact
‘For further information about XR Brighton follow this link. Love & courage, Sophie, XR Brighton Communities Team’ - Sign off with your name
You are a real human! - Continue the conversation
If they reply, invite them to something or offer them resources. It could be an informal meeting or Zoom call or the next community assembly, or offer to host the HfE talk or linking them with community specific resources.
Next Steps
Get in contact with your Regional Communities Coordinator, if you have one, or connect with other Local groups nearby to see how they are doing it! Remember to share your successes across your region! xr.connectioncommunities@gmail.com
Who to Contact
Thinking about your current connections
Get your LG together to identify local organisations and communities who you want to contact. Think deeply about the multiple layers of where you live:
- Who do we (rebels) already have links with?
e.g., Maya’s mother is part of Friends of the Earth & Faiths for Climate, Anil’s brother works for People Not Borders. - What are your friends and families involved with?
Susie’s brother is a teacher, her neighbor is a Muslim, her friend is working for a Multi-faith organisation, Susie self-identifies as queer, mother & lawyer. Susie shares the resources - be like Susie! - Look for Clusters:
eg. Faith - Centres of Worship, Organisation (Christians for X), Departments (University Theology, Lecturers & Student body), Choirs, Social Groups, Book Groups, Student Bodies, Prayer Groups, Multi-faith Groups/orgs, Research Institutes, Companies, Intersectional Groups (Jewish Parenting Club, Christian Queers), Schools (teachers/educators, parents/families) - Decide amongst your rebels who will approach which community clusters.
This is a great way to share workload amongst rebels. - Consider setting up a Rebel Mailer email account
(eg xr.bristol.communities@... or xr.bristol.relationships@...) to work through the list, keeping track of who’s been contacted, who’s responded, etc
Mapping your Local Area
Coming Soon