April 11, 2025

Civics

"If we want our world to be a more beautiful, fair and kind place, then, shouldn't our activism be more beautiful, fair and kind?"

Sarah Corbett was born into an activist family. She began campaigning at a young age and later worked for organizations such as Oxfam GB. But in her mid-20s she experienced a crisis moment—hiding in a festival toilet to avoid talking with people about climate justice. She felt increasingly drained by the confrontational, fast-paced nature of conventional campaigning, which often prioritized quick results over thoughtful engagement.

Around this time she also discovered the calming, meditative qualities of cross-stitching. It helped relieve her stress and sparked the idea of combining craft with activism. So she left her job to explore craftivism—a concept coined by Betsy Greer—and developed her own "Gentle Protest" approach. This method emphasizes slow, reflective activism rooted in empathy and contemplation. Encouraged by positive feedback from people who connected with her vision, Corbett founded the Craftivist Collective, an initiative that uses creative, non-confrontational methods to engage people in activism—especially those new to it or hesitant about traditional protest.

WEBSITE: Craftivist Collective

RELATED TED TALK: Sarah Corbett: Activism Needs Introverts

Civics

A general blueprint for how any cooperative human group can function well

ARTICLE: Generalizing the Commons

Civics

Given libraries’ unique combination of broad accessibility, civic neutrality, and deep public trust, policymakers should embed them intentionally within health and social planning frameworks.

ARTICLE: How Public Libraries Help Build Healthy Communities

Civics

"Socialism has been as impossible to separate from the narrative of the nation’s history as the capitalist economy itself."

ESSAY: A Brief History of American Socialism

Civics

"Just keep moving forward, even if the steps are small.”

VIDEO: Kansas town goes green while rebuilding after devastating tornado.