The Movement

Want to bring Hollaback home?

With the new ihollaback.org, new Hollabacks launch straight to one platform. This is really exciting for us – and makes running a Hollaback and connecting to other Hollaback leaders a lot easier. We’ve learned from experience that a little bit of planning, training and sharing ideas with other Hollaback leaders – from learning the basics of ihollaback.org website to organizing a launch event– can make a real difference.

Hollabacks are now launched in “classes,” so you can learn and work collaboratively with a small group of people around the world. We’ve already launched four, with a fifth on the way.  To be a part of the sixth class,  email us at holla@ihollaback.org by May 1, 2012 with some information about yourself, your interest in Hollaback, where you want to run a Hollaback, and why you think your area needs a Hollaback.  The sixth class will start at the end of May and launch in August 2012.

We love that launching a Hollaback is free, but keep in mind that running a Hollaback is much, much more than just running a website — it’s running  a movement.  During the startup and launch phase, you should expect to commit 5 hours a week, either on your own or, better, shared with a team of two or more holla-activists!  Here are some specifics on what will be expected of you:

• A member of your team will be required to attend each of our four webinars during the launch phase, which will cover everything you need to know to run a successful site.  After the launch phase, you will be expected to regularly attend advanced training webinars.  All webinars take place on weekends at 1pm EST to accommodate most time zones.
• You will be added to our HOLLAworld listserve, where you can collaborate, learn about street harassment in other cultures, and create campaigns with other Hollaback site leaders internationally.
• You will be responsible for localizing the movement to end street harassment to your community.  This means you will find other community groups that you can collaborate with, translate materials into your local language, hold events in your community to engage people off-line, and meet with local legislators (if you don’t know how to do these things, don’t worry.  We’ll teach you).
• You will set goals annually for your site, and check in with our team periodically on your progress towards your goals.

If this sounds like fun and you share our values, join us! The revolution has been waiting for you.  If you still have more questions, here are some FAQ’s:

 

1. Why are Hollabacks being launched in classes? I mean, how hard can it be to launch a blog?

Hollaback! isn’t just a blog, it’s a movement!

 

When we started Hollaback! in New York City in 2005, people just like you want to bring Hollaback! to their communities. We thought that was awesome because although the internet is a great place to organize, change happens on the ground with real people rooted in real communities. We developed a start up packet with everything we knew about running a site in it, and sent it anyone interested.  Between 2005-2009, 20 sites launched but only three were successful.

 

The problem was there was no connection between the site leaders. No community.  No sharing ideas. No training. Nothing.  The work was lonely, and many people gave up despite their best intentions.

 

When Hollaback! got it’s first executive director in 2010, the team took a long hard look at the process. They came to the conclusion that Hollaback! is a hyper-local, hyper-personal response to a global issue.   Our Hollaback site leaders don’t just run blogs, they led the movement to end street harassment in their communities.  And to do that – they need training and community.

 

2. OK, but what does the launch process entail?

We launch three classes of Hollaback’s per year.  Before you start the process, you’ll need to work on building your team.  Running a Hollaback! can be a lot of work if you’re doing it alone, and sometimes you’ll need to go on vacation! We’ve found 2-4 people is ideal.

 

The launch process is a three-month process, and there are a number of deadlines that happen throughout it.   For example, you’ll need to set goals for your site, determine local community resources, and start to build a media list.

 

In addition, you and your team to four different one-hour webinars that usually take place on Sundays at 1pm EDT.  There, we’ll talk to you about what it means to launch a Hollaback, and train you on things like technology, social media, media, and getting the word out.  You don’t need prior experience doing any of these things, and the webinars are mandatory for at least one member of your team to attend.

 

3. Why are webinars mandatory? And what’s up with these deadlines? This isn’t corporate America, this is the revolution!

You’re right – this isn’t corporate America – but it is a nonprofit on a shoestring budget.  We are committed to keeping it free to launch a Hollaback for you, but it costs us about $2,500 every time we launch one.

 

Why so much? Our lead developer has to customize your site, our graphic designer has to make you local logos, our media expert has to train you, and our international movement coordinator has to coordinate the whole operation, and provide hands-on support to you. It’s a big operation, and it could easily cost a lot more money.  By streamlining the operation through webinars, classes, and deadlines, we save money on the process so we can launch more sites in the long-run.

 

4. If it costs you $2,500 for each site you launch, how do you keep it free for us?

We rely on the support of individuals and foundations, who make tax-deductible donations to us.  Over 85% of our donors donate $10 or less, so this truly is a grassroots led and supported movement.

 

5. Once we launch, how much autonomy do I have? Do I have to get approval for stuff?

The whole point of Hollaback!’s model is that you know what your community needs most.  We all bring different skills and perspectives to the table, and that’s what makes this a movement.   We are a strongly connected community with a decentralized structure. You don’t need to check in with us before you do media, present workshops, or write blog posts – but we do expect you to share your awesome ideas and adventures with the community so that they can be inspired by your great work.

 

All this said – if you don’t agree with our values and our anti-discrimination policy, and our comments policy – starting a Hollaback isn’t for you.

 

6. I feel like there is so much to learn about how to run a Hollaback! How can I learn it all during the launch process?

There is! And you can’t. That’s why we provide ongoing optional monthly webinars from experts on things like bystanders, rape culture, event planning, street art, community organizing, and other topics suggested by our community.

 

I have more questions! Email holla AT ihollaback.org.

I’m ready to start a Hollaback! Email holla AT ihollaback.org.