I had the unique opportunity to interview Stephanie McNamara, a Campaigner at change.org. Change.org is an international platform that often plays an influential role in various social justice movements involving politics, law, and economics, bringing justice to global, national, and local causes. Users are encouraged to create and sign petitions and even start funds or donate to petitioners whose work they believe in. Change.org is committed to helping people be the drivers of change and help distribute power to the people.
McNamara received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She initially began her career in advertising but later pivoted to work oriented around social justice in pursuit of creating meaningful change through her work. McNamara currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, McNamara created a petition to repeal statute 50-a in New York State regarding police immunity and the call to make disciplinary records public. In June, the New York State legislature overturned 50-a.
I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to McNamara and was inspired by her passion for her work.
Below is a summary of our conversation.
Tell me about your experience working for change.org during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. What was that like?
It was undoubtedly a very emotional time, as seeing the multitude of petitions every day at work was a reminder of the work that still needs to be done. Yet, the number of petitions we received and active users on the site showed how passionate people are about addressing these inequalities and fighting for sustainable change. Change.org has helped make sure that the mass support for BLM shown on the site is translated into real change by working closely with the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s petition start Lorelai, as well as directing 100% of the donations from petitions related to the Black Lives Matter movement to racial justice initiatives and foundations. Overall, it was a stressful and anxious time, but seeing a physical representation of the Black Lives Matter movement’s support inspires me to this day.
What makes a petition successful?
There are two main types of petitions: petitions with specific goals and those seeking to raise awareness. Victory for the first type of petition (goals) can be passing a policy, instituting reform, or an official in a position of power being held accountable. Success for the second type or petition (awareness) is less clear cut and can be defined as educating others, spreading facts or beliefs, or prompting more active conversations. Petitions are distinguished by the theory of change: Could this be instituted? Does this have a clear cut goal? Would the community be galvanized around this cause? If a petition is successful, change.org will help prompt change by setting up and facilitating a conversation between the petitioner and a policymaker or another official linked to the cause.
Given that you were on the receiving end of thousands of petitions that gained varying levels of attention and support, how do you write a good petition?
Good petitions typically have a clear title, relevant photos or videos, and convey an engaging narrative through the text. The text should be straightforward, illustrate why the petitioner felt compelled to create a petition and communicate why the petition’s goal is essential. The text should be concise and impactful. If appropriate, a petition might have helpful links to learn more about the petition’s cause or context surrounding the petition. Overall, the petition should demonstrate empathy and urgency.
What role did change.org play in the 2020 elections?
Change.org is an open platform that strives to create a safe space for all and does not tolerate hate or violence. To protect its sanctity, change.org does not endorse any political candidates. However, petitioners are permitted to create petitions that promote specific candidates or beliefs on change.org.
Change.org is committed to upholding a fair and just democracy and has worked with grassroots organizations to help people vote. Change.org created Democracy Desk, an initiative to get petitioners registered and then provide tools to help get their local community registered.
What do you recommend for people that are trying to rally for attention and change in their communities?
It is easy to feel as though one’s voice will not matter or be heard, so the initial step toward creating a petition is brave and admirable. Ask yourself: what change do you hope to institute, and why? Why did you start campaigning for this cause? Remember to prioritize those who would benefit from this change and work with them to solidify your cause and maximize the support. It is also beneficial to establish a support group that can help you through your campaign’s ups and downs; this can be friends and family. It’s okay to start small – making efforts to spread awareness through communicating with those around you is a valuable effort. Change doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t be frustrated if you don’t see immediate results.
Thank you Stephanie McNamara for your time and candid answers.
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