Brock Evans and our New Book: “Patagonia Tools for Grassroots Activists”

For over twenty years, Patagonia has organized a Tools Conference, where experts provide practical training to help make activists more effective. Now Patagonia has captured Tools’ best wisdom and advice into a book, Patagonia Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environmental Movement, creating a resource for any organization hoping to hone core skills like campaign and communication strategy, grassroots organizing, and lobbying as well as working with business, fundraising in uncertain times and using new technologies.

Above: Pages 8-9 of our new book feature a Galen Rowell photo of Mono Lake and the beginning of a story by Brock Evans entitled “Keepers of the Door.” Photo: Tim Davis

Throughout Tools for Grassroots Activists are inspirational thoughts from acclaimed activists, such as Bill McKibben, Dave Foreman, Annie Leonard, Terry Tempest Williams and Brock Evans. Starting today, and leading up to the release of the book, we’re sharing audio clips from the keynote speeches these activists gave at past Patagonia Tools Conferences. Kicking off the series is Brock Evans. 

Brock Evans joined the environmental movement as a citizen volunteer in Seattle during the 1960s, when there were no environmental laws whatsoever. He left a law practice to become the Sierra Club’s Northwest representative and was head lobbyist for the Sierra Club and National Audubon Society. He is the author of the award-winning book on eco-tactics, Fight and Win.

In this excerpt from his keynote speech at the 2008 Patagonia Tools Conference, listen to Brock talk about why he is an optimist.

Listen to “Brock Evans – 2008 Patagonia Tools Conference” by Patagonia on Soundcloud.

Patagonia Tools for Grassroots Activists: Best Practices for Success in the Environmental Movement, edited by Nora Gallagher and Lisa Myers. Available February 15, 2016. Pre-order at Patagonia.com today.

Watch the book trailer. Video: Patagonia