ROP often convenes statewide virtual gatherings for rural organizers across Oregon and the country to connect and build shared analysis and strategy. This page will continue to be updated with registration information for upcoming virtual gatherings and recaps and recordings of past gatherings.
For recordings of past strategy sessions, check out our YouTube here!
Upcoming Gatherings
Kitchen Table Conversations: Monthly Membership Meetings
Members of ROP Human Dignity Groups, join us for the first call with guest strategist Hardy Merriman on Wednesday, August 5th! Register below.
You told us that you want to know what is happening across the entire network for shared strategy, analysis, statewide work, and to grow your organizing skills. We are committing to experimenting in this space with you from now through the election and assessing in December how well it’s meeting our needs and the goals set out at the Caucus.
How will it work?
Members from groups across the network said they would love to have at least one person from each group join each meeting, and ideally, that it’s the same people each month, so that we can build meaningful relationships and build together. This space will be what we make it. Its success will depend on the amount we are all able to invest in and prioritize this as a core part of our organizing. This space will be virtual, but feel free to grab a few group members and join the meeting together, maybe over food!
Call schedule
Each call will be from 6-7:30 pm PST / 7-8:30 pm MST. Save the dates!
- Wednesday, August 5th (with guest strategist Hardy Merriman!)
- Thursday, September 3rd
- Thursday, October 1st
- Thursday, November 5th
- Thursday, December 3rd
Can you join us?
If not, who is the right person or duo from your Human Dignity Group to commit to this experiment for the 5 months around the election?
Please note: Kitchen Table Conversations are for member organizations (aka Human Dignity Groups) in the Rural Organizing Project network, and individuals directly invited by ROP staff. If you were not invited by ROP staff and are not part of a member group (see list here), please email office@rop.org to share your interest in participating in these Zooms before registering
How it came about:
At this year’s Caucus, we built the agenda together by identifying and prioritizing what people were hungriest to discuss. One of the strategies we collectively identified was an ongoing space for statewide connection and strategy building. In that session, we talked about the necessity of staying connected right now as the ROP network and how challenging that feels in a moment where there are so many notifications coming at us from so many platforms. Our traditional ways of communicating aren’t meeting our needs to feel deeply connected and grounded in shared strategy.
After rounds of workshopping ideas of what could work, we landed on trying a monthly gathering where each group sends at least one delegate (but more are welcome!)
What we’re hoping to do together:
Share important updates across groups and from ROP central: What patterns are we seeing across multiple communities? What can we learn from each other about what is and isn’t working in our local organizing? How do we lift up and highlight successes so we can all learn from them?
Invite statewide and national collaborators to come, share analysis and learn from the ROP network. Recently, the ROP staff team has been in several national strategy spaces around anti-authoritarian organizing and building the kind of democracy we actually need. In many of these spaces, people are sharing things like – “ROP, I’m so happy you’re here…the work you are doing of building organizing infrastructure across the state and bringing people in is exactly what we need to be doing right now to bring down authoritarianism.” It is so powerful to hear people we admire be so hungry to share space with us. We have already invited some of those folks, like Hardy Merriman, Ash-Lee Henderson, and Daniel Hunter, into our virtual gathering space, and they are so excited to come and strategize with us.
Skilling up! We’re imagining calls that include conversations and mini-trainings that help us become stronger organizers. We will work together to identify what skills and tools we need most.
Statewide strategy development: The image that comes to mind here is starlings murmurating*! Starlings fly in these remarkably responsive swarms, moving sometimes further apart and sometimes concentrating, but always tracking each other’s movements and flowing in the same direction to help keep each other safe. How does the ROP network move closely together right now while honoring our model of self-directed groups who are the experts in organizing their own communities?
*If you’re not a bird nerd, see the image below if you’re like “what the hell is murmurating.”)
Past Gatherings
Training: Direct Action Organizing Under Authoritarianism
Monday, February 9th from 5:30-7:30 pm PST / 6:30-8:30 pm MST
At ROP, we believe that everyone can be a community organizer and everyone has something to give to the moment for human dignity. Whether you’re new to organizing or you’ve been at it for decades, you are invited to bring your challenges, big ideas, and successes to this conversation. Our NEW curriculum blends analysis of our current times with the tried-and-true tools used by rural Human Dignity Groups to organize for justice over the decades! We will discuss how to connect with people in your community, plan and lead effective people-driven campaigns, and keep your group alive and kicking through the fires we are living under.
Meeting the Moment with Hardy Merriman (September and October of 2025)
We know that to have a chance at preventing authoritarianism from fully taking root, we need to build something bigger together. That bigger something is a mass civil resistance movement that not only undercuts the authoritarian regime but also works toward a new economic and political system that works better for everyone. So, where do we start? By identifying the pillars of support for this authoritarian regime and how we can remove them.
We’ll be joined by Hardy Merriman, who studies and supports movements to advance human rights and justice globally, focusing on how civil resistance and non-cooperation can counter authoritarian rule.
Meeting the Moment: 2025 Inauguration and First 100 Days Organizing
ROP hosted virtual network gatherings in 2025 every other Monday, January through March. These statewide Zoom gatherings were touchpoints to build shared analysis, strategize together, and train on key issues like community deportation defense, de-escalation, and safety planning to bolster local human dignity work. Check out our YouTube for recordings of the gatherings.
Protect People
Monday, January 13th from 6-7:30 PM PST
Rural Oregon is getting in formation to protect immigrants, the bodily autonomy of trans people and women, and any of our neighbors whose basic rights and freedom come under attack! We are preparing for Trump’s Inauguration and the first 100 days of his presidency, building groups for safety and power, growing our numbers to meet growing authoritarianism, and sharing skills and strategies to meet the moment. Our ability to protect people starts with having a strong and healthy group, so let’s build those skills together.
Organizing Office Hours I
Monday, January 27th from 6-7:30 PM PST
An opportunity to drop in and talk with ROP staff and other organizers around the state to work out particular sticking points in your work. Bring a question or just come connect with other rural organizers! It will be informal and largely unstructured.
Disrupt and Disobey
Monday, February 10th from 6-7:30 PM PST
As Daniel Hunter puts it: “In effective ‘Disrupt and Disobey’ type actions the ultimate goal is paving a path for mass noncooperation: tax resistance, national strikes, work shut-downs and other nonviolent mass disobedience tactics — the most effective strategies to displace authoritarians.” Stay tuned for more details in January!
Organizing Office Hours II
Monday, February 24th from 6-7:30 PM PST
An opportunity to drop in and talk with ROP staff and other organizers around the state to work out particular sticking points in your work. Bring a question or just come connect with other rural organizers! It will be informal and largely unstructured.
Defend Civic Institutions
Monday, March 10th from 6-7:30 PM PST
As Daniel Hunter puts it: “Each bureaucracy will put up its own fight to defend itself…These insiders will need external support. Sometimes it’s just folks showing compassion that some of our best allies will be inside [the government], silently resisting. A culture of celebrating people getting fired for the right reasons would help (then offering them practical help with life’s next steps). Other moments will need open support and public activation.” Stay tuned for more details in 2025!
Organizing Office Hours III
Monday, March 24th from 6-7:30 PM PST
An opportunity to drop in and talk with ROP staff and other organizers around the state to work out particular sticking points in your work. Bring a question or just come connect with other rural organizers! It will be informal and largely unstructured.
On Message, with Meaning: Communications Deep Dive
In the fall of 2023, we hosted a series of three virtual trainings to build concrete skills while discussing critical issues: immigrant justice, housing for all, and queer inclusion. If you missed these sessions and have questions about them or would like the slides or recordings, reach out to us at office@rop.org!
Session 1:
Values-Based Messaging Featuring Immigrant Justice
Thursday, October 12th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm PST
We will focus on Immigrant Justice with a deep dive into using the VPSA (Values, Problem, Solution, Action) messaging model. Whether you are eager to trade notes on how to best talk with your neighbors about migrant justice, or just want the nuts and bolts of values-forward messaging, we’d love to see you there. This session has passed. Read the recap email here. If you would like to view the recording, please email office@rop.org.
Session 2:
Spokesperson Skills Featuring Housing for All
Monday, October 23rd, 6:30 – 8:00 pm PST
We will focus on Housing for All, with a deep dive into honing spokesperson skills and “elevator pitches,” with a particular focus on talking to your audience through the media. Benton County human dignity organizers with Stop the Sweeps and Sunrise will join Robert Bray to workshop effective messaging when it comes to advancing housing justice. This session has passed. Read the recap email here. If you would like to view the recording, please email office@rop.org.
Session 3:
Managing Misinformation, Advancing Queer Inclusion
Monday, November 6th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm PST
We will focus on Queer Inclusion, with a deep dive into managing misinformation and pivoting to our side’s strategic messaging. Anti-2SLGBTQIA+, and especially anti-trans, rhetoric is running rampant these days. Whether you are preparing to return home for some tense family dinner table conversations over Thanksgiving, or working to support queer and trans students in the classroom and at school board meetings, we would love for you to join us! This session has passed. The recap email for this session will be posted soon. If you would like to view the recording, please email office@rop.org.
Other past strategy sessions and trainings
Elections, Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, and more!
Better Broadband, Basically: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021, 6:30-8pm PST
Broadband internet has never been more essential than during the pandemic, and many communities are still struggling to get connected because of ridiculously high prices, the lack of physical infrastructure, or both. What can we do to push local and state governments toward truly accessible broadband internet? How can we work with our utilities and elected officials to bolster community infrastructure and include broadband internet among the essential services every community member should have access to? What grassroots efforts are already gaining traction in rural Oregon? Watch the recording here!
Building Rural Communities Safe From State Violence: Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 6:30-8pm PST
Human dignity groups that make up the ROP network have been hard at work dismantling collaboration between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement for decades. The network has recently been making incredible strides holding rural police and sheriffs accountable to not breaking Oregon’s sanctuary law by using local resources to enforce federal immigration policy while upholding the demands coming from the Movement for Black Lives. Groups are working to create community-based alternatives to policing, successfully ousting corrupt Sheriffs, and are building pressure to meet the demands for justice for those harassed and killed by police. What’s working and where do we go from here? This session was not recorded.
January 27th, 2021: Affordable, Available, Accessible: A Rural Housing Strategy Session
Rural Oregonians fighting for affordable housing in their communities came together on January 27th, 2021 to discuss the work groups are doing to organize and build pressure for rent forgiveness and creative responses to houselessness and the need for affordable housing, and shared what’s happening in their rural communities! Watch the recording here!
January 15th, 2021: Build, Grow, Fight: A Rural Movement Strategy Session
Rural Oregonians gathered to think together about how we can build an inclusive people’s democracy, grow the rural movement for human dignity, and fight together for what our communities need to not just survive, but thrive! Watch the recording here!
October 17th 2020: Rapid Response to ICE Raids: Training for Central Oregonians
Watch the recording HERE.
October 15th, 2020: Defending Democracy: Interrupting Voter Intimidation and Misinformation
Watch the recording HERE.
October 8th, 2020: Young Activists & Elders Take on Our Political Crisis
Watch the recording HERE.
September 16th, 2020: Rural Mutual Aid and Wildfire Response
Watch the recording HERE.
September 1st, 2020: An Honest Conversation about How White Supremacy Works
Watch the recording HERE.
August 26th, Know Your Rights for Activists, Protesters, and Organizers.
Watch the recording HERE.
July 30th, Organizing for Everyone: Build Your Skills.
Watch a recording HERE.
June 24th, Black Lives Matter: Rural Strategy Session.
Watch a recording HERE.
June 17th, Organizing for Everyone: Build your Skills!
Watch a recording HERE.
June 11th, De-escalation for Organizers with Ahjamu Umi.
Watch a recording HERE.
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April 6th, How to Hold Online Meetings with Zoom.
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April 7th, Feeding Our Communities Through Pandemic. Watch the recording HERE.
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March 31st, Log In, Call Up, Speak Out: Information Access for All.
March 18th, Rural Community Coronavirus Response.
Host your own local Strategy Session:
If your group would like to meet on Zoom, reach out to us by emailing emma@rop.org and we can get you set up with our account. Is your group interested in joining the ROP network? Learn more about becoming a member group here. New to Zoom? Check out the recording of our How to Host Online Meetings with Zoom training (watch the recording here).
Steps for scheduling a Zoom meeting for your group:
1. Check the calendar below to ensure no other meetings are scheduled at that time.
2. Log in to ROP’s Zoom account and schedule your meeting.
3. Post your meeting time (without call-in information!) to the Public Zoom calendar and put your group’s name as the title of the meeting.
4. Host your meeting! For more on Zoom facilitation and security tips, check out the recording of our How to Host Online Meetings with Zoom training (watch the recording here).
