Rabble Rouser
Stand up, speak out, and push back!
Come together with activists, community organizers, and environmental defenders for a day of skill-building, connection, and joyful resistance.
Through hands-on workshops and bold conversations, you'll learn how to:
* Organize at the grassroots level
* Lobby elected officials
* Protect your digital privacy
* Build resilient communities through mutual aid
* Use art to amplify your activism
* Power change at the state and local level
* Find joy in resistance, and more!
Stick around for a show-stopping drag performance by Pattie Gonia, the queen of climate action!
Come fired up, leave empowered. Let's rise together.
Tasty bites & dinner included.
We believe that activism should be accessible to everyone-no matter your income or financial situation. That's why we're offering a limited number of free tickets to Rabble Rouser Conference: A Training in Joyful Resistance and Collective Action for individuals experiencing financial hardship. Use this form to apply for free admission.
Schedule (*workshop times are subject to change)
3-3:30: Welcome & Introduction
3:55 - 4:55: Breakout Session One (Choose 1 of 3 workshops to attend)
• Organizing 101
o You joined thousands of Portlanders downtown to take a stand for our democracy. You marched until your feet hurt and chanted until your voice cracked. You laughed at the creative signs that our quirky city came up with. You left energized and ready for more. You looked online to see when the next big rally was, and - what?! It's not for another month?
Some days, it feels like none of us are doing enough. Others, the momentum we're building is undeniable. So, how can we sustain this movement? How can we pick up the torch? Anyone can - Join “Organizing 101” to learn how.
• Using Art to Amplify Your Activism
o Learn how to turn heads and bring attention to your movement. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to build larger-than-life, eye-catching paper mache “puppets” that add the special touch rallies need to draw people in.
• Trump Proof Your Community
o Let’s be honest, it seems like our federal government is jamming through horrible policies in record numbers. If you’re overwhelmed, you’re not alone. But we are not powerless. We are powerful. Join this workshop to learn how to shore up safeguards in your own community by driving change at the state and local level.
5:20 - 6:20: Breakout Session Two (Choose 1 of 3 workshops to attend)
• Building Resilient Communities through Mutual Aid
o WE keep US safe! In a time of much uncertainty, we need community more than ever. Join this workshop to learn how to build a safe, resilient community that cares for each other. Here, you’ll learn how to protect your immigrant and LGBTQ+ neighbors, and how to plug into mutual aid networks that uplift your community members.
• Going Beyond "Clicktivism" - The Fight for Public Lands
o Online petitions are important, but this moment is calling for something greater. Join this workshop to learn more about the ongoing threats to our public lands and environment, and how to take your activism a step further. Here, you’ll learn how to keep the pressure on our elected leaders by writing and calling them, attending town halls, participating in public comment periods, submitting to your local newspaper, and more,
• Know Your Rights
o As authoritarian policies gain ground in the U.S., protesters and activists face increasing risks. This workshop equips participants with essential knowledge about their legal rights and tools for protecting themselves—both on the streets and online. Learn how to navigate police encounters, safeguard your digital footprint, and stay resilient in the face of repression. Empower your community with information that can’t be taken away.
7:00: Dinner and keynote
• Finding Joy in Resistance
o Join Pattie Gonia for a special keynote that explores the radical power of joy in the face of oppression. From Stonewall to today, queer resistance has always blended rage with revelry. Drawing on the legacy of those who danced through grief while they fought for what’s right, we’ll discuss how celebration, laughter, and community are not just coping tools, but vital strategies for survival and liberation.
8:00 - 9:00: Wrap-up, get connected with local organizations and learn how you can join the fight!
Oregon Wild, ACLU, Basic Rights
Oregon, Western States Center, Latino Network, General Strike US, National
Lawyers Guild, 350pdx, Tribal Democracy Project, Vamanos Outside, 50501
Portland, and more.