Activate: Elections

June 5-9, 2024

Re-energize and reconnect to face the challenges ahead.

June 5-9, 2024

Cortes Island, British Columbia

2024 is being called the global year of elections. Join us in June to level up your skills, build relationships, and meet the challenge ahead.

The theme of Activate this year is Elections. The months ahead will shape our communities for decades.

Activate is a 5-day gathering to bolster the digital and strategic capacity of progressives by bringing together the brightest minds and leaders for five days of intensive learning, collaboration, and inspiration.

Connect with leaders across the progressive movement ecosystem, build deep relationships, and help shape the movement at this pivotal time. Share best practices in campaigns across digital, fundraising, organizing and communications, problem-solve, and find new allies to take your organizing further. Restore and refresh your energy and ideas to be your best activist for the times ahead.

Engage in practical sessions and dig into cutting edge topics including:

Ask Me Anything with the Chief Mobilization Officer for the Democratic National Committee
How to Use Generative AI To Create Effective Social Media Content
Crafting a strategic plan
How to mobilize labour unions for political change
Managing your team during times of urgency for long term sustainability
Fixing our democracies and winning elections in the age of junk politics

PLUS interactive problem-solving sessions to work on your real-world problems, through peer coaching sessions and one-on-one advisors

We have assembled an all-star cast of speakers with deep expertise to help lead our sessions and give personalized advice:

Speakers

LaToia Jones crossing arms

LaToia Jones

SVP
Government Affairs & Political Partners at Hustle.
Jose Nunez at Hollyhock smiling

Jose Nunez

Senior Advisor, former Organizing Director
Democratic National Committee

Shelby Cole

Chief Mobilization Officer
Democratic National Committee

Annie Wu Henry

Social Media & Digital Strategy Expert
Creative Director at AAPI Victory Fund, & Digital Consultant for Working Families Party

Karine Fortin

Director of Communications
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Martha Grant

Martha Grant

Director of Product Strategy
Action Network / Action Builder
Ryan-Gillie

Ryan Gillies

National Representative
Canadian Labour Congress
Tim Chu

Tim Chu

Director of Strategy & Associate Partner
Metric Strategies

Meet Your Team

We would like to offer a special thank you to our Producers, Planning Team & Advisory Committee

Hollyhock´s presenter, Laurie Antonin, smiling

Laurie Antonin

Activate Advisor, National Digital Campaigns Lead
Canadian Labour Congress
Sara El-Amine holding a microphone

Sara El-Amine

Activate Advisor, Former President & Executive Director
Obama for America

Jack Milroy

Activate Advisor, Fundraising Consultant
Uplift Fundraising Partners

Oliver Paré

Activate Advisor, Political Consultant and Digital Ads Expert
OPS

Activate: Elections

Engage in practical sessions and dig into cutting edge topics in elections and digital campaigns including:

Tactics and Tools
  • Ask Me Anything with the Chief Mobilization Officer for the Democratic National Committee
  • How to Use Generative AI To Create Effective Social Media Content
  • New digital tools to empower labour unions
  • Winning at City Hall: A deep-dive to see how progressives are winning at Toronto City Hall
Strategy:
  • Lessons from the US Presidential election for organizers across the board
  • Crafting a strategic plan for your organization, scaling a movement, or launching a campaign
  • Winning at City Hall: A deep-dive to see how progressives are winning at Toronto City Hall
  • How might we mobilize labour unions for political change
Leadership:
  • Managing your team during times of urgency for long term sustainability
  • Fixing our democracies and winning elections in the age of junk politics
  • Organizing for Sustainability and Equity
  • Rematriation and Seven Generational Planning: Foundations for Reconciliation in Movement-Building
PLUS interactive problem-solving sessions to work on your real-world problems, through peer coaching sessions and one-on-one advisors
Website graphic
Website graphic
Website graphic

SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS

Winning at City Hall: A deep-dive to see how progressives are winning at Toronto City Hall, with Saman Tabasinejad, Progress Toronto

Progress Toronto’s strategy and theory of change is simple: if we organize consistently, in and out of election seasons, we can push through a progressive agenda and change City Hall.

Dive into the tactics, organizing models, and tools that enabled Progress Toronto to win at Toronto City Council: electing 5 new councillors and 6 trustees in 2022, and Olivia Chow’s win in the mayoral by-election. Learn how to combine digital strategies with grassroots efforts, stretch resources for maximum impact, dig into the strategy behind Progress Toronto’s campaigns, and apply it to your own organizing.

How to Use Generative AI To Create Effective Social Media Content, with Tudor Mihailescu, SoSha

Get actionable insights into how to integrate Generative AI tools in the social media content creation process for progressive digital organizers and marketers. Discover what specific AI tools to use for each step of the content creation process and distinguish between types of social media content that you can create.

Learn how to measure the efficiency of AI powered tools and best practices for integrating these tools into your existing workflow.

Rematriation and Seven Generational Planning: Foundations for Reconciliation with Hillory Tenute, Lodge Consulting

Explore the pivotal role of rematriation within the context of Seven Generational Thinking and Planning— an Indigenous approach that ensures decisions made today will benefit the land, culture, and communities for generations to come. This session is designed to deepen understanding of how rematriation, extending beyond the return of lands is crucial to restoring Indigenous sovereignty and revitalizing traditional knowledge systems.

Apply the principle to sustainable community, sociopolitical and environmental planning, discuss the essential role of rematriation in the reconciliation process in Canada, addressing historical injustices and fostering a future of equity and mutual respect.

Effective Digital Communications: A Science and an Art, with Tim Chu, Metric

What can we learn from late-night TV, a window replacement flyer and rolling paper when it comes to effective digital communications? As it turns out, a lot.

In an election year, everyone will be trying to get the attention of voters in a massive stampede of information. Learn how to cut through the noise with effective, creative and modern communication tactics. In this workshop, we’ll uncover unique, unexpected and uncomfortable ways to get your message across and how we can break the monotony of our digital programs. We’ll also explore the tension between digital communications being a science and an art. Join this workshop and get all of Tim’s hot and controversial takes.

Introduction to Strategic Planning, with Kate Catherall, Slow Clap LLC & Arena

This workshop will cover the why, what, and how of strategic planning. Whether you’re building an organization, scaling a movement, or launching a campaign: crafting a strategic plan is a critical first step toward securing success. In this session, we’ll discuss how to prepare for planning, the components of an effective strategic plan, best practices, and common pitfalls. Apply what you’ve learned to your own work by developing strategic frameworks.

Election Victory Toolkit: Leveraging Action Builder and Action Network for Unions and Progressive Orgs, with Martha Grant (Action Network) & Ryan Gillies (Canadian Labour Congress)

This workshop provides an overview of Action Builder and Action Network tools, showcasing their use in election campaigns and union organizing. Participants will engage in an interactive Q&A, explore practical scenarios, and review use case studies to see these tools in action. Perfect for those looking to apply these powerful tools to drive impactful change in their organizations and in the upcoming election!

Activate 2022 outside workshop
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PRACTICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING

Re-inspire your work, and be challenged by new ideas. World-class leaders will share game-changing secrets from their winning campaigns and engage directly with fellow participants in One-on-One Advisor Sessions, Peer Coaching Circles, and Roundtable Conversations.

Mobilizing for political changehosted by Karine Fortin (Director of Communications, CUPE)

Unions are the largest and best funded progressive organizations in Canada. We know how to mobilize members to make gains at the bargaining table, but how can we transpose our organizing skills, activate our members and collaborate with civil society to effect positive political change?

 

Activate 2023 Hollyhock was like a week of masterclasses in life. The knowledge and skills I gained were invaluable. I’m taking home a refreshed mindset, a deeper understanding of the world, and a notebook full of ideas. This is education reimagined.” – 2023 participant

Woman raising her fist during a leadership program at Hollyhock Retreat Centre
Website graphic

Build Community

Grow your network and forge genuine connections with like-minded campaigners and advocates who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge, and lifting one another up.

Activate is for:

  • Managers and leaders in advocacy organizations and nonprofits who want to build strong digital programs. They want to learn how to build buy-in for digital across their organization, set up their team for success, and select the right tools and platforms to engage their members and supporters. 
  • Campaigners and organizers who want a structured training program that will help them engage their supporters and win campaigns. 
  • Organizers, communicators and digital staff at labour unions who want to learn from some of the best progressive digital leaders in the world. They want to explore the most effective ways to leverage technology to help their union connect with members and supporters in the community, and drive them to take action on campaigns in the workplace and beyond.
  • Business Development & Partnership Leads or Leaders at marketing or tech agencies who want to develop business and clients from non-profits, labour unions, and advocacy organizations

We particularly invite anyone who:

  • has been feeling burnt out, disconnected, or uninspired
  • is looking to collaborate and find new partners, allies, or coalitions
  • feels alarmed by fracturing within the movement and wants to find solutions
  • is interested in discovering the most cutting edge tools and strategies, and translating that knowledge into your own organizing
  • wants to more effectively engage the communities you serve, across generations and demographics
  • has big ideas about how we can do things differently
Activate 2022 working group outside
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Testimonials

Find out why Activate has a Net Promoter Score of 94%

“This experience was affirming in every possible way. I learned incredibly practical skills for meaningful change, made connections that were useful and inspiring, and felt energized being in a group that was so aligned in terms of values, needs, and energies.” 
Megana Ramaswami, Emdash Agency

“Activate continues to be one of those spaces where I feel welcomed, supported, and connected. Sharing informal time with so many incredible participants and the keynote speakers allows for many important conversations and learnings. I always show up open and curious and leave inspired and re-energized.”
Lydia Phillip, Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia

“Activate was a beautiful experience that was educational and rejuvenating in an industry that can be especially demanding and emotionally draining. I left feeling inspired and buzzing with new ideas.”
Angela, Labour Union Staff Member

“Activate is a place to set aside our rapid life rhythm and create space to truly share wisdom with people from various backgrounds. I leave Activate renewed, full of ideas, and with meaningful connections.”
Eymie Labbé, Youth Climate Corps

Agenda

Please note: sessions and times subject to change

7:00 am
7:30 am
8:00 am
8:30 am
9:00 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 pm
12:30 pm
1:00 pm
1:30 pm
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
3:00 pm
3:30 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
5:00 pm
5:30 pm
6:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
8:00 pm
8:30 pm
9:00 pm
9:30 pm
10:00 pm
10:30 pm
11:00 pm

Wednesday, June 5
Wednesday, June 5

Check-In to Accommodations
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Opening Circle & Klahoose Welcome
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Welcome from Elder Rose & Brenda Hanson to the territory.

Dinner & Hollyhock Orientation
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Community Building & Connection
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Get to know your fellow participants.

Campfire
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Relax overlooking the ocean at a beachfront campfire or head to bed for an early night. Remember to bring a flashlight!

Thursday, June 6
Thursday, June 6

Morning Movement
7:00 am - 8:00 am

Pre-register by signing up on the lodge deck

Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Morning Grounding

There’s a reason one of the top things people take away from Activate is long-lasting relationships. We start each morning with facilitated time to develop leadership capacity and connect.

Keynote Plenary with Jose Nunez

What Organizers Can Learn From The US Presidential Campaign

Keynote Plenary: Shelby Cole
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Ask Me Anything with the Chief Mobilization Officer for the DNC, Shelby Cole

Ask Me Anything with the Chief Mobilization Officer for the DNC, Shelby Cole

Lunch & Roundtables
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Roundtable: Where To Put Your Money with Jose Nunez

Workshop #1: Rematriation and Seven Generational Planning & Workshop #2: How to Use Generative AI To Create Effective Social Media Content
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

WORKSHOP #1

Rematriation and Seven Generational Planning: Foundations for Reconciliation with Hillory Tenute, Lodge Consulting

This workshop explores the pivotal role of rematriation within the context of Seven Generational Thinking and Planning—an Indigenous approach that ensures decisions made today will benefit the land, culture, and communities for generations to come. This session is designed to deepen understanding of how rematriation, extending beyond the return of lands is crucial to restoring Indigenous sovereignty and revitalizing traditional knowledge systems.

In this session participants will gain a better understanding of the principles of Seven Generational Thinking and its importance in sustainable community, sociopolitical and environmental planning.
Discuss the essential role of rematriation in the reconciliation process in Canada, addressing historical injustices and fostering a future of equity and mutual respect.

WORKSHOP #2

How to Use Generative AI To Create Effective Social Media Content with Tudor Mihailescu, Sosha

This session will focus on providing actionable insights into how to integrate Generative AI tools in the social media content creation process for progressive digital organizers and marketers. During the session, we will be discussing what specific AI tools can be beneficial to use for each step of the content creation process and distinguish between types of social media content that you can create (orgs’ own posting ads, social media toolkits etc.). We’ll also be discussing how to measure the efficiency of AI powered tools and best practices for integrating these tools into your existing workflow. To make the session easy to follow, we’ll be taking specific case studies from progressive grassroots advocacy and campaigns to illustrate how these steps can be achieved practically.

Dinner
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Win Night
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Campfire presented by Action Network & Canadian Labour Congress
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Relax overlooking the ocean at a beachfront campfire or head to bed for an early night. Remember to bring a flashlight!

Friday, June 7
Friday, June 7

Morning Movement
7:00 am - 8:00 am

Pre-register by signing up on the lodge deck

Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Morning Grounding

There’s a reason one of the top things people take away from Activate is long-lasting relationships. We start each morning with facilitated time to develop leadership capacity and connect.

Keynote Plenary with Annie Wu Henry

Organizing for Sustainability and Equity

Keynote Plenary: Ashley Pinedo-Carlson
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Leading Teams in Times of Urgency

Leading Teams in Times of Urgency

Lunch & Roundtables
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Roundtable: Mobilizing For Political Change with Karine Fortin & Matthew Stella

Workshop #1: Introduction to Strategic Planning & Workshop #2: Election Victory Toolkit: Leveraging Action Builder and Action Network
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

WORKSHOP #1

Introduction to Strategic Planning with Kate Catherall, Slow Clap

This workshop will cover the why, what, and how of strategic planning. Whether you're building an organization, scaling a movement, or launching a campaign: crafting a strategic plan is a critical first step toward securing success. In this session, we'll discuss how to prepare for planning, the components of an effective strategic plan, best practices, and common pitfalls. Then participants will have time to apply what they've learned to their own work by developing strategic frameworks.

WORKSHOP #2

Election Victory Toolkit: Leveraging Action Builder and Action Network with Ryan Gillies, Canadian Labour Congress and Martha Grant, Action Network

This workshop provides an overview of Action Builder and Action Network tools, showcasing their use in election campaigns and union organizing. Participants will engage in an interactive Q&A, explore practical scenarios, and review use case studies to see these tools in action. Perfect for those looking to apply these powerful tools to drive impactful change in their organizations and in the upcoming election!

Dinner & Roundtable
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Roundtable: Addressing Tensions between Electoral Politics and Long Term Organizing hosted by Shanaaz Gokool

Fail Night featuring "Junk Politics" with Ned Howey, Tectonica
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Take the stage and tell the story of your biggest organizing failures and what you learned. An Activate classic, you’ll be in tears of laughter or tears of cringe - the best part? Knowing you’re not alone.

Campfire
9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Relax overlooking the ocean at a beachfront campfire or head to bed for an early night. Remember to bring a flashlight!

Saturday, June 8
Saturday, June 8

Morning Movement
7:00 am - 8:00 am

Pre-register by signing up on the lodge deck

Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am

Morning Grounding

There’s a reason one of the top things people take away from Activate is long-lasting relationships. We start each morning with facilitated time to develop leadership capacity and connect.

Keynote Plenary with Tiana Eps Johnson

Hear from a game-shaping mover & shaker, get insights, ask questions, and apply learnings to your specific context.

Peer Coaching Circles
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Gather in small groups of 5 for these interactive problem solving sessions. Each person can share a challenge and receive peer reflection and advice.

Lunch & Peer Coaching Circles
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Workshop #1: Winning at City Hall: A deep-dive to see how progressives are winning at Toronto City Hall and Workshop #2: Effective Digital Communications: A Science and an Art
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

WORKSHOP #1

Winning at City Hall: A deep-dive to see how progressives are winning at Toronto City Hall with Saman Tabasinejad, Progress Toronto

After back-to-back city-wide elections, we've made real progressive change at Toronto City Council and the TDSB. With our support, 5 new councillors and 6 trustees were elected in 2022, and we played a key role in Olivia Chow's win in the mayoral by-election.

Our strategy and theory of change is simple: if we organize consistently, in and out of election seasons, we can push through a progressive agenda and change City Hall. Our recent victories prove that this approach works.

Want to know how we did it? Join our workshop. We're diving into the tactics, organizing models, and tools that brought us these wins. Learn how we combine digital strategies with grassroots efforts, stretch resources for maximum impact, and really dig into the strategy behind our campaigns. Plus, we'll show you how to take these lessons and apply them to your own goals for electoral success.

WORKSHOP #2

Effective Digital Communications: A Science and an Art with Tim Chu, Metric Strategies

What can we learn from late-night TV, a window replacement flyer and rolling paper when it comes to effective digital communications? As it turns out, a lot.

In an election year, everyone will be trying to get the attention of voters in a massive stampede of information. Learn how to cut through the noise with effective, creative and modern communication tactics. In this workshop, we'll uncover unique, unexpected and uncomfortable ways to get your message across and how we can break the monotony of our digital programs. We'll also explore the tension between digital communications being a science and an art. Join this workshop and get all of Tim's hot and controversial takes.

Oyster BBQ
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Meet up on the beach for barbecued oysters and ocean views.

Dinner
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Closing Party
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Dance the night away with your new friends and allies.

Pricing

Tuition: $995 CAD

Package Pricing: Make the most of Activate and send your team as a unit. Discounted tuition is available for groups of 2 or more coming from the same organization. Learn more

Meals & Accommodation: Campus stay rates are in addition to tuition, and range from $750-2000 depending on your accommodation choice. Campus rates include accommodation, 3 gourmet meals a day, unlimited drinks, daily movement activities, hot tubs and campus facilities.

Scholarships: The Hollyhock scholarship program is one of our key strategies to expand program access to underrepresented and marginalized communities. A limited number of scholarships are available per program with awards ranging from partial to full tuition. Learn more and apply here

Travel: The Activate charter is now full and registration is closed! Take the stress out of travel and ride the Activate-mobile. For your convenience, Hollyhock organizes a charter to take you directly to Cortes Island with pickups in Vancouver and Nanaimo. Top your trip off with a 30-minute boat ride across the Salish Sea, keeping an eye out for whales, seals, and eagles! This subsidized charter is available for $325 roundtrip.

Convince Your Boss: You’re sold on attending Activate, now it’s time to convince your boss. Use these tools to justify why your organization needs to invest in your participation.

Our Partners

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CUPE

Community Amplifiers

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