FROM OUR MOVEMENTS:
Reality, Response, and Recommendations
4
Connection & Convening
Social justice organizations thrive in their ability to engage, convene, and connect with their constituents. However, many lack opportunities to come together with their peers. Leaders are increasingly isolated and lonely, and appreciate and request the space and time to connect with others who are also navigating similar conditions and challenges.
Among survey respondents:
Out of 18 ‘capacity’ categories, respondents felt they were strongest in the following categories:
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Clearly defined Purpose and Vision
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Strong narrative to connect with your community & audience
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Regularly engage and report back to constituents/community
82% expressed a desire for building relationships with other movement leaders
82%
76% expressed a desire for learning from peers
76%
The topics respondents most wanted to explore with peers included:
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Collective fundraising and revenue generation strategies
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Opportunities for collective action and mutual aid during a time of heightened repression of social movements
Kataly’s Response
Cohort Sponsorship
In partnership with movement-aligned capacity builders, Kataly sponsored three cohort-style programs in 2025. For each, we prioritized opportunities for participants to uplift their own expertise, to engage in peer learning, and to create connections that would support their work into the future. In 2026, we are offering four cohort-style programs: Resilient Leadership, Securing the Roots, Somatics of Money, and Safeguarding Liberation, the last of which was developed in direct response to the MPQ and partners’ need for safety assessments and protocols.
Somatics of Money Opening Convening. Photo by Aina Dang
Convening Strategy Plan
Kataly is in the process of developing a convening strategy utilizing a Movement Design Advisory Committee who will advise on the design of the convenings, to take place starting in 2027.
Movement-led Convening Sponsorships
Kataly programs regularly provide resources to sponsor movement-led gatherings, for example the biennial Narrative Power Summit, the Katrina 2024 Anniversary gathering, and the Assembly of Black Possibilities in 2025 in Chicago.
“It can feel really lonely with the challenges we're all facing. Having the opportunity to connect with others would really help right now and we've been really trying to meet the needs of our network around this. There's greater need for our work and less resources to help support it.”
— Co-Director, Capacity Building grantee & programming partner
Calls to Action
Invest in convening at some scale
Invest the time and resources required for convening your grantees at some scale–from small travel grants allowing folks to visit with one to two peer organizations they wish to connect with most, to a larger investment in hosting regional or topic-specific gatherings.
Learn about what's wanted most out of convening
Since organizations already have limited discretionary resources for travel and connection, take time to learn what your grantees want most out of convening with one another in order to optimize the effectiveness of your support.
Proactively engage when organizations have already self-organized a convening
Ask how to best support their efforts and consider moving resources accordingly.