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Activate: Beyond the Ballot

September 6 - 10, 2025 | Cortes Island, British Columbia
Register Now!

Strategies for Lasting Progressive Power

Hollyhock sits on the traditional territories of the Klahoose, Tla’amin, and Homalco Nations

Winning elections isn’t enough. In an unstable political environment, we need strategies to sustain movements beyond election cycles.

For 40 years, the Hollyhock Leadership Institute has trained progressive leaders to navigate uncertainty, bridge divides, and build movements that last. At Activate 2025, you’ll connect with leading organizers, gain cutting-edge digital and campaign skills, and forge a network built for resilience.

  • Strategy for the long game – Navigate power dynamics, engage new communities, and plan beyond election cycles.
  • A resilient network – Build deep, lasting relationships with fellow movement leaders.
  • Actionable skills – Walk away with tangible strategies to sustain your organizing and win change.
  • Regenerate – Combat burnout, center the land in your advocacy and allow the land to centre you.
Limited Space Available – REGISTER NOW

For those looking to lead the charge in progressive campaigns, Hollyhock is a game-changer. The connections I made with fellow campaigners will be instrumental in driving our cause forward. Hollyhock equips you with the tools needed to lead with impact.– 2023 Activate participant

Who Should Join?

  • Advocacy leaders & nonprofit campaigners building strong digital programs and mobilization strategies.
  • Grassroots organizers & labor union activists looking to strengthen community engagement and digital advocacy.
  • Political strategists & movement builders working to secure progressive wins beyond the ballot.
  • Tech & digital experts shaping the future of progressive organizing.

We need a diversity of voices in the room. To address economic barriers and ensure frontline community leaders can participate, Hollyhock offers a limited number of scholarships.

First round of Scholarships ends June 15th. Learn more about scholarships and apply here.

What You’ll Learn

Activate is more than a conference—it’s a masterclass in movement building. This year, with the rise of the far right shaping the global landscape, we’ll take stock of recent elections, analyze key lessons, and strategize on how to meet voters and communities where they are.

From local down-ballot races to national campaigns, participants will walk away with practical tools and long-term strategies. This year’s workshops and strategy sessions include:

  • The New Campaign Playbook – Debrief lessons from the US & Canadian federal elections and assess the road ahead for campaigners.
  • Navigating the far-right ascension – Organize in the face of rising nationalism and reactionary politics.
  • Meeting voters where they are – Adapt messaging and engagement to mobilize broad-based support.
  • Protecting Canada – Unpacking narratives of nationalism within progressive movements.
  • Digital-first organizing – Applied skills workshops to leverage AI, social media, and tech to scale impact.
  • Regenerative strategies – Address grief, rage, and uncertainty while fostering long-term resilience.
See Full Agenda

“Activate 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 re-imagined.”

Meet the Experts

Gain insights from leading strategists, campaigners, and organizers, including:

Andrea Reimer

Andrea Reimer

Former Vancouver City Councillor (2008-2018)
Founder, Principal and Chief Strategist - Tawâw Strategies
LaToia Jones crossing arms

LaToia Jones

SVP
Government Affairs & Political Partners at Hustle.

Shelby Cole

Chief Mobilization Officer
Democratic National Committee

Meet Your Team

The producers and advisory team behind Activate are movement leaders and strategists, curating the conversations and speakers that matter most.

Build Your Movement. Find Your People

Activate doesn’t end when you leave Cortes Island. As part of the Activate network, you will gain access to quarterly Peer Coaching Circles with top strategists, providing an ongoing space to refine strategies, exchange insights, and sustain momentum long after the gathering.

“I recommend Activate to anyone looking to recharge, find community, and reconnect with their values or their sense of purpose and agency. You will leave transformed.” – Kate Catherall, Founder and Principal, Slow Clap & Co-founder and Board Chair, Arena

Pricing & Accommodations

Tuition: $1200 CAD

Meals & Accommodation:

Hollyhock is an environment designed for regeneration. Set within the cedar forests and sandy beaches of Cortes Island, on the traditional territories of the Klahoose, Tla’amin, and Homalco Nations, the land itself is an integral part of the experience. Here, sustainability isn’t just a concept—it’s a practice. Many of the ingredients in our meals are grown on-site at the Hollyhock farm, nourishing both body and mind.

Accommodation rates range from $750–$2000, depending on your choice of lodging. All stays include:

  • Three chef-prepared meals daily (with dietary options)
  • Unlimited coffee & tea
  • Daily movement and wellness activities
  • Access to hot tubs, sauna, and campus facilities

Early Bird Offer: Book by February 28, 2025, to receive 10%

Getting Here

Let us handle the logistics. Travel to Hollyhock hassle-free with the Activate Participant Charter. With pickups in Vancouver and Nanaimo, you’ll ride in comfort, connect with fellow participants, and take in the beauty of the journey. Your trip wraps up with a 30-minute boat ride across the Salish Sea—keep an eye out for whales, seals, and eagles.

Limited seats available, reserve your spot here.

If you’d prefer to organise your own travel to and from Hollyhock, check out our Travel Itinerary for suggested options and costs.

Accessibility

We want everyone to feel fully present and supported at Activate. Learn more about accessibility at Hollyhock or reach out to [email protected] for any specific needs.

Scholarships

Hollyhock offers a limited number of partial and full tuition scholarships to ensure that frontline organizers and movement leaders from underrepresented communities are in the room.

We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and racialized folks, 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, people with disabilities, newcomers, youth, and elders.

Deadline: June 15, 2025

Apply for a Scholarship by June 15