Joe Solomon - Speaker, Writer, Bookseller
I am an organizer, writer, and storyteller who explores and pushes the boundaries of a bolder climate justice movement. By day, I am a bookseller based in Charleston, West Virginia.
(Photos, left to right: speaking with 7,000 young climate leaders at Power Shift October 2013 - Photo by Robert van Waarden; rocking the 350.org t-shirt in Burlington, VT!; doing storytelling work in Ferguson, MI in the heart of the Weekend of Resistance in Oct 2014 - Photo by Pia Ward).
From 2009-2012 I led social media communications for 350.org. From 2013-2014, I led storytelling training for Energy Action Coalition, and spearheaded a first of its kind 30-person storytelling team at Power Shift 2013. I was also one of the lead story documentarians at the 2014 People's Climate March in NYC (a number of PCM portrait posters are featured in the 2016 book When We Fight, We Win). Beyond social media, I've also worked with frontline communities across the country to pursue more coordinated efforts. In the summer of 2012, I helped coordinate "Summer of Solidarity" and in 2013 we built on this model to coordinate "Fearless Summer", a widespread series of interconnected direct actions against fossil fuels around the country. In late 2015 I covered the Paris climate talks for CommonDreams.org.
In early-mid 2016, I'm working on a manuscript that focuses on the power of youth leadership in the climate struggle.
I am currently looking for speaking opportunities, climate movement strategy consulting opportunities - esp. in the youth wing of the climate movement, as well as writing residences. Any tips, leads, or invitations are much appreciated!
I can be reached via text at 415 683 6185 and over email at write@engagejoe.com.
Recent Publications:
- "When We Fight, We Win: Twenty-First-Century Social Movements and the Activists That Are Transforming Our World" (Feat. "Story Portraits" from the Peoples Climate March, The New Press, 2016)
- The Most Amazing Online Organizing Guide (Co-Editor with Megan Kelley, 2013)
- "Clown Through Mask" by Veronica Coburn and Sue Morrison (Contributing Photographer, 2013)
- "Online Community Building: How to Wire a Network to Support Your Nonprofit's Mission", in Nonprofit Management 101 (Co-author with Jon Warnow, Jossey Bass, 2011)
2016: Articles, Essays, & Speeches
- Sermon: "Stories from Paris" - shared with the Charleston UU Congregation on Jan 10, 2016
- Speech: "Let's Remember this Feeling of Solidarity" - Welcoming Remarks at Remember in November Rally - March 12th, 2016
- Sermon: "On Holding all the Truths" - shared with the Charleston UU Congregation on April 10, 2016
2015: Articles, Essays, & Speeches
- Common Dreams: After Paris: How to Fight for Climate Change’s First Victims?
- Common Dreams: In Shadow of COP21, 'Jungle' Refugee Camp Shows Cost of Inaction
- GOOD Magazine: Finding Peace in the Fight Against Climate Change
- Speech: Love vs Love Harder, in Support of Refugees. Nov 24th, Charleston WV Waterfront
- Common Dreams: The Rise, Fall, and Return of 1.5°C in the Global Climate Negotiations
- Common Dreams: 'Life and Debt': Monster Storms Offer Timely Reminder Why Climate Funds Remain Critical
- Charleston Gazette: We only have time for a Great Charleston
- Medium: OMG! Church! — Imagining a church for the climate movement
- Common Dreams: Pro-Fracking Museum Exhibit for Kids Is Industry Propaganda on Wheels
- OHVEC: Keep Your Corporate Greed out of My Water [Speech at public hearing]
2014: Interviews with Meme Slingers and Social Media-Based Storytellers:
- Waging NonViolence: Interview with Sandra Khalifa - How bold design is helping birth the new civil rights movement
- WearePowerShift: An interview with Woodworker and Top Canadian Meme Slinger, Jodi Stark
- Huffington Post: Interview With Wired Appalachian Advocate, Dana Kuhnline
- Mobilisation Lab: Interview with Rachel Dearborn - Upwell’s Campaign Lab Director listens, networks and advances Team Ocean
- WearePowerShift: Interview with Jessica Lee - Social Media as a Medium to Make the Marginalized Heard
- WearePowerShift: Meme Slinger Interview with Brandon Hill - "Social Media Allows us to Begin the Story."
- WearePowerShift: Interview with Nick Katkevich - "Breaking Outside of the Social Media Box"
- WearePowerShift: A social media interview with Ethan Nuss
- WearePowerShift: An Interview with Power Shift Designer, Dylan Petrohilos
- WearePowerShift: Designing and Storytelling for Change - An Interview with Lindsay Hughes
Blog Posts & Articles, 2013-14:
- Featured in Mobilisation Lab: "Climate activists call for justice in Ferguson"
- Facebook: 50+ Stories from the People's Climate March
- Common Dreams: Dear Young People: We Need You to Lead After the Peoples Climate March
- YES! Magazine: These Young People Are Pioneering Appalachia's Post-Coal Economy
- Medium.com: How I Learned To Let Go Of Being A Righteous Outside Organizer In West Virginia
- STAY Project: What is Your Appalachian Love Story?
- WearePowerShift: How to Run Your Own Amazing "Storytellers Team" (co-authored with Mary Schellentrager)
- Huffington Post: Big Hopes for the Student Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement in 2014
- NetSquared: How to Make Sweet Social Change Memes in 10 Steps - Using Pixelmator
- WearePowerShift: A New Storytelling Experiment - Join us on #PowerShiftJourneys
- Featured in YesMagazine: "#FearlessSummer: How the Battle to Stop Climate Change Got Ferocious" & "Why the Smartphone Became the Lightsaber of the Environmental Justice Movement"
- Huffington Post: In Defense of a #FearlessSummer
Articles & Interviews, 2011-2012:
- Burlington Free Press: I Believe: It's time we connect the dots, Green Mountain style
- Repair the World: Interview
- Huffington Post: Reflecting on 2011 -- The Year Online Organizers Got Real
- Video Interviews: The rebirth of the environmental movement, Cleaning up after tropical storm Irene, Can we get out of this mess? - Filmed in Sitka, Alaska
- Is this for real? - Sitka story
Recent(ish) Presentations:
- Slideshow: What can the Hunger Games teach us about using social media for change?
- Video: Social Media Training for 350.org.
- Slideshow: What can online organizers learn from Star Wars?
- Adopt a Negotiator - Video "Twebinar" Presentation
- Vancouver, BC - Building a Networked Movement & Tales from the Field
- Speech at 350.org's 10/10/10 rally in Burlington, VT - Video Recording
Check out the EngageJoe Blog-o-graphy! (a somewhat organized way to browse my '08-11 blog posts)
Recent Job History:
- Nov '14 - Present, Used Book Dept. Manager, Taylor Books, WV
- Jan 2013 — Present, Co-Founder, GreenMemes.org
- July 2013 — Nov 2014: Energy Action Coalition, Social Media Trainer and Director
- March 2012 - Nov 2012: Social Media Strategist, WebSkillet.com
- Sep 2009 — Jan 2012: 350.org, Social Media Coordinator
- July 2008 — May 2009: Social Actions, Director of Innovation
- Feb 2008 — Aug 2008: Knowmore.org, Project Lead & Community Builder
- Jan-Feb 2007 - Clown in Training (started first blog, "Notes from a Red Nose")
(Photos, left to right - with my beloved Catherine Moore on Christmas Eve '15, tag-teaming with Nick Katkevich on the Brown University stop of the Divestment Roadshow of 2013 - missing superstars Johanna De Graffenreid & Dinah DeWald!, and very good friend and storyteller extraordinaire, Megan Kelley - Photo by David Braun.)
Let's hook up! Find me on: