A follow-up to “Build Without Broadcasting” A few weeks ago, we wrote about the power of building quietly, learning from movements that created change through relationships and trust rather than publicity and announcements. People responded with a question: “Okay, but what does that actually look like?” Fair question. Here’s what we’re building.
Why We’re Starting Small
This summer, we’re working with our existing community to develop better ways to welcome new people into InitiatED. Most organizations ask you to fill out forms, agree to terms, and jump in. We’re trying something different. We’re asking: What would it look like if joining a community actually felt good?
What We Mean by “Different”
Instead of assuming everyone has the same needs, we’re creating space for people to figure out:
- What do you want to protect when you’re online (your privacy, your safety, your time)
- How do you want to participate (a lot, a little, sometimes, behind the scenes)
- What tools work for your situation (not everyone can or should use the same apps)
- How to contribute your knowledge and skills (we all bring different strengths)
The Tools Question
We’re also being intentional about the digital tools we use. Instead of defaulting to Google, Facebook, and Zoom, we’re exploring alternatives that respect your privacy and don’t sell your information. This isn’t about being anti-technology. It’s about choosing tools that match our values. Cooperation instead of competition. Community ownership instead of corporate control.
Who We’re Building For
InitiatED brings together people from all over the world who care about education, literacy, and justice:
- Teachers and educators (in schools, libraries, community centers, anywhere learning happens)
- Parents and caregivers who want better for their kids and communities
- Students and young people with fresh perspectives and lived experience
- Community organizers working for change in their neighborhoods
- Researchers and academics who want their work to matter in the real world
- Anyone who believes education should serve all people, not just some
We’re intentionally local and global. B uilding regional groups that connect across continents, sharing strategies that work in different contexts.
What “Abundance” Means in Practice
There’s been a lot of dialogue lately about working from ‘abundance’ instead of ‘scarcity.’ Here’s what that means for us in practice: Scarcity thinking : There’s only room for experts. You have to prove you belong. Competition makes us better. Abundance thinking : Everyone has valuable experience. There are many ways to contribute. Cooperation makes us stronger. Practically, this means:
- You don’t need special credentials to participate
- You can engage at whatever level works for your life
- Your role can change as your circumstances change
- We learn from each other, not just from designated “experts”
Testing and Learning
Right now, we’re testing these approaches with people who already understand what we’re trying to do. We’re asking:
- What works? What doesn’t?
- What feels welcoming? What feels overwhelming?
- How do we support people with different technical comfort levels?
- What did we miss?
This is how movements build sustainably. Try things with people who get it, learn from mistakes, improve, then share more widely.
The Bigger Picture
This community-building work connects to everything else we care about:
- Digital literacy that helps people navigate and shape technology instead of being shaped by it
- Educational justice that serves all communities, not just privileged ones
- Democratic participation where everyone has a voice and agency
- International cooperation that learns across differences instead of imposing solutions
An Invitation, Not a Sales Pitch
If any of this resonates, we’d love to talk. We’re not recruiting members or asking for commitments. We’re having conversations with people who share similar values and want to explore what’s possible. Maybe you’re a teacher frustrated with top-down tech mandates. Maybe you’re a parent concerned about your kids’ digital future. Maybe you’re a community organizer looking for new strategies. Maybe you just think education could be more cooperative and less competitive. Individual conversations are where the best collaboration starts.
What Happens Next
Over the coming months, we’ll share what we’re learning from this community-building work. Not as finished answers, but as ongoing experiments. We’ll document what works for welcoming people across different cultures, technical comfort levels, and life circumstances. We’ll share tools and approaches that other communities might adapt for their own contexts. Most importantly, we’ll keep building relationships—locally and globally—with people who believe education should serve liberation, not domination.