ABOUT THE PODCAST
Ocean of Organizing is primarily a podcast for progressive organizers and activists working to build community and create change. Intended to be a resource and a source of inspiration for folks in the work, Benn (founder and host), interviews organizers, activists, artists, academics, and experts about their experience and knowledge surrounding effective organizing and creating change. We believe in sharing our stories because we can all learn a lot from each other.
Together, Benn and guests on the show explore topics as vast as direct action tactics, team building, self care, digital organizing, resiliency work, direct services, fundraising, recruitment, volunteer leadership development, launching a non-profit, and so much more. These are all explored through the lens of the myriad of issues these folks are working on which include LGBTQ advocacy, water justice, resiliency work in communities of color, sexual assault prevention, gun violence prevention, and soo much more.
THE ACRONYM, OCEAN
A fun tidbit, “OCEAN”, is also an acronym for Organize, Create, Educate, Advocate, and Network. Organizing, gathering up your resources including financial, people power, skills and talents, taking an inventory and organizing those resources to create positive change. Creating, meaning to create the vision for the future you want but also being creative in the work and finding new solutions or perhaps even creating art to influence public discourse on an issue. Educating is about sharing knowledge, educating voters and the community about the issue you care about, and educating and growing as an individual in movement work. Advocating is fighting for for what you believe in, tactics and skills for lobby days, persuading voters, holding legislators to account, and advocating for yourself and the folks around you. Networking, never work alone. Find other people that care about your issue and build a community around it, ask for the help you need, reach out to other folks organizing on the same issue in different places and learn how they are doing the work. We are strong together and building a strong network of resources is part of building strength and people power.
ABOUT BENN
Hi! I’m Benn Marine, an enthusiastic outdoors person, surfer, dog dad, transgender man, photographer, weekend paddle boarder, and campaign organizer. I’ve worked on the ground as a Field Director, Canvas Director, Consultant, Organizer, and more on marriage equality and trans inclusive non-discrimination campaigns in Maine, Rhode Island, Oregon, New Jersey, Indiana, Utah, and Idaho. I then came home to Maine and worked on a myriad of other issues including ranked choice voting (with a short stint in Duluth, MN on RCV), universal healthcare and gun violence prevention. I have built, lead, and managed teams from 4 to 50+ people in size, set field strategy, trained and supported organizers and volunteers, and have been a board member for several non-profits.
Currently I wear many hats; I’m a full time non-traditional student at the age of 34 working to finish my BA in Political Science at the University of Southern Maine; while working a day job and consulting/coaching/training and providing field strategy for issues and non-profits I care about; while also launching this podcast. I’m truly grateful for all of it, especially you and the work you are doing or aspiring to do out in the world.
I hope my little corner of the universe and the stories of guests on the show feed your soul and fill your toolbox. Organizing can be some of the most rewarding work in the world, it can also be incredibly challenging. Know you’re not alone and that you have your ocean of organizing family with you always.
Thank you, I appreciate you, be well.
My nephew and I getting ready to do some recording.