Since 2019, Converge has supported the American Civil Liberties Union’s first regional initiative for Southern states, the Southern Collective, a transformational initiative to build the power and impact of the ACLU’s 12 Southern state affiliates and strengthen the fight for civil rights and liberties in the South. The Southern Collective was created to address the challenges in the South that are rooted in its unique history of racial oppression and violence, and equally remarkable history of civil rights struggles and victories. 

In an effort to build a shared analysis of power across the South and identify some ways to build power for the ACLU affiliates and Southern movement partners, Converge facilitated multiple sessions with Collective members to develop a Regional Power Analysis and accompanying Theory of Change. Acknowledging both the similarities and differences between and among Southern states, we set out to first analyze power across multiple issues and states via overlapping power analyses for reproductive rights, criminal legal reform and voting rights. Based on our multi-issue power analysis, three clear goals emerged:  

• Decrease the power of decision-makers who oppose transforming the South to be more free and just for marginalized Southerners,   

• Increase the power of decision-makers and allies who are aligned with transforming the South to be more free and just for marginalized Southerners, and   

• Persuade key targets and influencers to support the work of the ACLU Southern Collective, its partners across the South, and the interests of marginalized Southerners 

With the aim of actualizing these goals, we then worked to develop a Theory of Change that is nimble enough to be utilized across issue areas and states, but also practical and instructive for easy adaption. The Theory of Change is meant to be a tool for affiliates to begin adopting a regional analysis and lens into their visioning, programming, planning, and decision making across a longer timeframe–at least 10 years–-necessary for carrying out work of this scope. Recognizing affiliate staff know their states and communities the best, the theory of change provides a framework for thinking about advancing our work in the South across the region. The Theory of Change is meant to inspire strategic analysis in each Southern Collective state; for example, how each affiliate’s vision for building power and changing conditions aligns with a shared region-wide approach, and where it may depart from it.  The final Theory of Change includes the following elements:  

• Context: Historical analysis of the conditions and circumstances that frame the challenges we are trying to overcome 

• Assumptions: Conditions or resources that are needed for success 

• Strategic Imperatives: Agreed-upon concepts that help ensure we develop and implement a strategy focused on our outcomes, grounded in our values, and help us steer clear of pitfalls and unproductive patterns 

• Organizational Culture Needs: The attributes of the organization and its people that are necessary to sustain this work for the long-term 

• Vision: A vision of change for the South overall that the ACLU can contribute toward reaching 

• Impact:  The contribution the ACLU can make to Southern movements for change 

• Ten-Year Goals: The outcomes the ACLU is working toward within a ten-year timeframe 

• Focus Areas: Strategic opportunities to build power across issue areas in the South 

• Core Strategies: Actions we can take to advance the strategic opportunities within the Focus Areas and build Power in the South 

• Areas for Development: Capacities or functions that need to be built up or developed in our organization in order to implement our strategies 

This Theory of Change reflects one of the more expansive versions we have designed at Converge, but we have also developed more defined versions for individual organizations or specific issues. To learn more about Theory of Change development at Converge reach out to us at info@convergeforchange.com.  

By: Hilary Roach