What’s it actually like to knock on strangers’ doors and ask them to talk about politics — and maybe donate money? In this special audio story, the canvassers of Maine People’s Alliance take us behind the scenes of organizing door to door. They share the awkward encounters, tough rejections and unexpected moments of connection that…
For Democratic candidates Graham Platner and Shenna Bellows, staying accountable in office isn’t just about who they are — it’s about what they’re willing to risk, and who they answer to. At a packed town hall Sunday, May 3, in Old Town, hosted by the Maine People’s Alliance (of which Beacon is a project), both…
At a Lewiston town hall event moderated by local state Rep. Mana Abdi, Democratic candidates Shenna Bellows and Graham Platner both struck a similar tone, arguing that Maine’s future depends on rebuilding politics around working people, grassroots organizing and the needs of families. “Organizing is how we win,” said Bellows. Maine’s secretary of state and…
On the podcast, Senior Organizing Director Esther Pew interviews Anat Shenker-Osorio, a linguistics and cognition expert, about how movements can more effectively mobilize folks to fight against fascism. Anat explains why simply debunking lies isn’t enough — and why replacing false narratives with truthful, values-driven stories is essential to activating people. She emphasizes the power…
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner joins our host Cate Blackford this week on the podcast to chat about why he’s jumping into politics and what a true populist agenda looks like to him. Platner shares how his campaign defies the status quo with movement-driven organizing and economic justice at the center. Platner also explains…
This week on the podcast, we are revisiting Ben’s conversation with grassroots organizing expert Marshall Ganz for a special encore episode. The two discussed how to strengthen organizing skills, effectively build a movement, and create lasting change. Ganz is a senior lecturer in leadership, organization and civil society at Harvard University and the author of…
This week on the podcast, we are revisiting Deputy Director Ben Chin’s interview with author and community organizer George Goehl. The two discusses Goehl’s book “The Fundamentals of Community Organizing”, which looks at how to bring people together and win structural change. Goehl lays out the core practices that organizers shouldn’t leave behind, even as…
Marshall Ganz, America’s pre-emeninent expert on grassroots organizing, sits down with Ben Chin on the podcast this week to discuss how to build organizing skills, build a movement, and create lasting change. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast feed using any podcasting app…
This week on the podcast, Ben interviews Vincent Bevins, journalist and author of the new book If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution. Bevins discusses the mass movements of the 2010s across the world, where they failed and how change can be made. Ask a question or leave a comment for…
This week on the podcast, Ben interviews Deepak Bhargava, a longtime social justice leader and organizing luminary on his new book, Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World. Cate and Ben also discuss Kamala Harris’ economic agenda and their shared love of Robert Caro. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future…