Marty's Notebook
Review Is the Product. Networks Are the Proof.
Hey all,
For most of my career, the hardest part of advocacy work was generating credible content. Research reports, policy briefs, facility assessments. Those took weeks or months of effort. But today, technology has flipped that dynamic. Anyone can produce a polished draft in hours.
Which means the real scarcity now isn’t content. It’s legitimacy. It’s review.
Movements don’t just need more words on a page. They need trusted voices to validate what matters, filter noise from signal, and ensure strategy is aligned with community values. The authority to say this is relevant, this is credible, this is ours. That’s the new bottleneck.
This is why networks are more important than ever. They hold the people, relationships, and trust that allow review to be collective, not gatekept. They connect local knowledge with technical expertise, align insights with campaign strategy, and provide the legitimacy layer movements need to act with confidence.
That’s the opportunity in front of us: to reimagine review as a network function, not an institutional one. And to invest in the systems and people that make it possible.
I wrote more about this shift in our latest blog post, Review Is the Product. I’d love to hear what you think, and how review shows up in your own work. If you’re exploring this in your network, let’s connect.
Peace,
Marty Kearns
Deep Dive Insight
From Buried Wisdom to Network Value
Every network holds hidden expertise. Much of it never makes it beyond one-on-one conversations. It is the wisdom of seasoned organizers, frontline leaders, and community members who have lived the fight.
Too often, that value goes unnoticed. In the past, the cost of sharing was simply too high. But now it's become easier to package and distribute knowledge and put it to work.
That is the premise behind a new model we're piloting: turning lived experience into shareable, real-time contributions that strengthen the network as a whole.
By uncovering hidden value, we are elevating contributions, building trust, and creating a more resilient foundation for advocacy.
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Featured Resource
Circle: A Platform Built for Micro-Networks
Mass communication is losing its edge. Inboxes are overflowing, feeds are noisy, and people are craving smaller spaces where trust can grow. That is why many advocacy leaders are turning to Circle, an online community platform that makes it easy to create intimate, purpose-driven groups.
With Circle, leaders can create subgroups around shared interests, host focused discussions, and connect members in real time.
It is affordable, flexible, and has already become a valuable resource for the Halt the Harm Network and WashDesk. By moving beyond mass blasts into conversations that feel personal, Circle helps networks strengthen the authentic ties needed for action.
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Answers from the Field
Addressing pressing questions from our networks
Q:
“What’s one overlooked way to keep network participants engaged?”
A:
Make it easier for people to offer something of value. In many advocacy networks, participants are eager to contribute. But they don’t always know how. One powerful way to boost engagement is by helping members identify and share their own expertise in structured, accessible ways.
Whether it’s a seasoned organizer offering a policy briefing, or a community member who’s learned hard-won lessons from experience, these peer-led insights often hold more relevance than generic resources. When surfaced intentionally, they become network assets, sparking new connections, collaborations, and momentum.
A simple intake form. A matchmaking prompt. A short Zoom-based offering. These lightweight structures can help members feel seen, valued, and useful, while enriching the network as a whole
Emerging Trends and Critical Insights
Smaller Connected Networks: A Rising Strategy
People are exhausted from doom scrolling, toxic exchanges, and impersonal digital spaces. The old playbook of mass blasts and broad mobilization is losing energy. In response, many advocates are putting greater emphasis on small, highly engaged groups that allow for deeper connection and collaboration.
These micro-networks do not replace larger coalitions. Instead, they function as the connective tissue inside them, where deeper trust and repeated interaction build the momentum that fuels bigger campaigns.
Intimacy ignites action. When peers connect around shared purpose, they amplify one another’s voices and accelerate impact. We believe this trend, along with micro-conferences and other focused convenings, will shape network practice in 2025 and 2026.
This is not about shrinking networks. It is about strengthening them from the inside out.
Stay tuned for a deeper exploration of this trend in an upcoming blog post.
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Updates from Our Partner Networks
Driving Change in Communities Around the World
Halt the Harm Network Update: Strategy Sundays Launch
Halt the Harm is opening the doors to its strategy work with a new series called Strategy Sundays. For the next several weeks, members get a behind-the-scenes look at how the network assesses threats, develops campaigns, and organizes for impact. What is usually invisible scaffolding is being shared openly, offering both transparency and training for network members.
These sessions are not just a window into the process. They are a chance to understand the mechanics of how strategy gets built, gain tools and insights, and apply those lessons in your own network work.
If you want to take part in Strategy Sundays and connect with peers shaping this work, join the Halt the Harm Network today.
Learn More About the Halt The Harm Network
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WashDesk Network Update: Water Quality Testing Builds Trust
Earlier this month, WashDesk and the Aquaya Institute engaged 14 communities across Ghana’s Asutifi North District to share water testing results and discuss solutions. The results gave residents clarity on which water supplies were safe and which needed attention, while also offering concrete steps to improve quality, such as flushing systems and replacing outdated parts.
More importantly, these conversations showed the value of networks. They brought together schools, households, and health facilities in open dialogue, built trust through transparency, and helped recruit 312 new members into the Wash Network. This is how communication and connection strengthen collective action.
Learn More About the WashDesk Program
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What Treasure is Hiding in Your Network?
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