Resource Center

• Lesson 1: Introduction to Theory of Change
• Lesson 2: Use the Power
• Lesson 3: The Wellstone Triangle
• Lesson 4: Why Plan?
• Lesson 5: Vision Setting and Assessment
• Lesson 6: Case Study: Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights
• Lesson 7: Model with Indivisible Volunteers: Vision setting
• Lesson 8: Power-mapping and Identifying Targets for Organizing
  
• Lesson 9: Using Your Power-map
• Lesson 10: Model with Indivisible Volunteers: Power-mapping
• Lesson 11: Debriefing the power-mapping practice and conclusion

Introduction

The Theory of Change: Resistance School Course (Videos) offers an eleven-lesson video series designed to equip organizers and movement-builders with core tools in organizing, power-mapping, and strategy. Whether you’re cultivating local leadership or advancing a broad campaign, this course provides practical frameworks and contextual examples to help you clarify change processes and align action with purpose.

What the Course Covers

Across its lessons, you’ll find content such as:

• Introduction to Theory of Change – what it is and why it matters.

• Power-mapping and identifying targets for organizing.

• Case studies of organizing efforts (e.g., domestic workers’ bill of rights) to illustrate how theory comes alive in practice.

• Vision-setting, assessment, applying your power-map, and debriefing outcomes.

This structure helps you move from conceptual clarity (“what change do we seek?”) to strategic grounding (“who holds power? where is the leverage?”) to actionable planning.

How it Connects to the Organizing Field

If you’re exploring the fundamentals of organizing, our resource on What Is Organizing? offers a foundational perspective on organizing as relationship-building and collective action.
Then, you can deepen into strategy with our Creating Shared Strategy resource, which shows how groups align around outcomes, power, and change.
For the deeper “how-to” of organizing day-to-day, you’ll find The Organizer’s Handbook to be a strong companion – filled with tools, meetings, team structures and campaign flows.
Meanwhile the comprehensive Guide to Organizing aggregates these themes into a curated curriculum and resource base.
For a broader theoretical and narrative dimension, check out People Power: Change – Organizing for Democratic Renewal by Marshall Ganz which explores organizing through story, power and leadership.
Finally, our Practice of Social Movement Leadership resource helps trainers and leaders reflect on how leadership evolves within movements.

Suggested Usage

• Self-paced learning: Watch the videos sequentially and pause to reflect on your own organizing context: what is your vision, what power you hold, what your targets are.

• Workshop integration: Use specific lessons (e.g., power-mapping) as breakout sessions in a training. Then pair with the “Creating Shared Strategy” module to help participants craft a strategy.

• Team planning retreat: Bring your organizing team together and use the video lessons as prompts; then apply tools from the Organizer’s Handbook to build your campaign plan.

Closing Reflection

Change is not just a hope—it’s a designed process. This course helps you ask the right questions, map power, and align strategy with action. By situating it alongside the other organizing resources we’ve built — from foundational introductions through to advanced leadership practice — you’ll be better equipped to move from intention to impact.