Case Study Template

Use this template to contribute case studies to the manual.

Case Study: [Campaign Name]

Context: [City/Region, Country] — [Year(s)]

Campaign Type: [Labor / Tenant / Climate / Electoral / Mutual Aid / Other]

Led by: [Organization name(s)]

Result: [Clear win / Partial win / Loss / Ongoing]

Background

What was the situation?

  • What harm was happening?
  • Who was affected?
  • What was the immediate crisis?

Who organized?

  • What organization(s)?
  • How many core organizers?
  • What was the demographic makeup?

What were the specific demands?

  • List 3-5 concrete, measurable demands
  • Not "raise awareness" — what material change did you want?

Mapping to the 7-Step Protocol

✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ Step 6.1: Stop the Bleeding

What they did (or didn't do):

  • How did they build material power?
  • What tangible wins did they secure early?
  • Or: What did they skip?

Assessment: [Explain whether this step was executed well, partially, or skipped]

✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ Step 6.2: Build the Megaphone

What they did:

  • How did they amplify their message?
  • What media (social, traditional, owned) did they use?
  • How did they coordinate communication?

Assessment:

✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ Step 6.3: Heat the Water

What they did:

  • What was their core message/story?
  • How did they frame the fight?
  • Who was the enemy (specific, not abstract)?

Assessment:

✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ Step 6.4: Build the Slipway

What they did:

  • What transitional policies or demands made the change feel achievable?
  • How did they speak to Blue/Orange/Red, not just Green?

Assessment:

✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ Step 6.5: Regulate for Combat

What they did:

  • How disciplined was the campaign?
  • Training? Clear roles? Conflict resolution?
  • Or: signs of dysregulation?

Assessment:

✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ Step 6.6: Ritualize the Grief

What they did:

  • Did they create space to process loss/change?
  • Or was this not applicable/not yet attempted?

Assessment:

✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ Step 6.7: Send Trusted Swimmers

Who led?

  • Were leaders embedded in the community?
  • Could they speak to multiple value systems?
  • Did they embody healthy Red energy (fierce, not domineering)?

Assessment:

What Went Right

List 3-5 things this campaign did exceptionally well:

What Went Wrong (if applicable)

List 3-5 mistakes or missed opportunities:

Key Takeaways

What should other organizers learn from this campaign?

The single most important lesson:

What would you do differently?

Outcome Details

Material results:

  • What actually changed?
  • Who benefited?
  • How many people?
  • Measurable impacts (money saved, policies passed, people protected)?

Long-term impact:

  • Did the organization/campaign sustain?
  • Did it inspire other campaigns?
  • What happened 1-2 years later?

Where can people learn more?

  • News articles
  • Campaign websites
  • Social media accounts
  • Academic papers or reports
  • Interviews with organizers

Contributor Information

Submitted by: [Your name]
Role in campaign: [Organizer / Participant / Observer / Researcher]
Contact: [Email if you're willing to answer follow-up questions]
Date submitted: [Date]

Thank you for contributing to the collective knowledge base!