Skill Level: Intermediate
What’s a teach-in? It’s not a college lecture and it’s not a TED Talk—it’s an emergency education session created by the people, for the people. Teach-ins are spaces where the truth gets dragged out from under the propaganda rug and put directly into the hands of the community. They’re interactive, radical, and unapologetically anti-fascist. When the government censors the classroom, we build our own.
Teach-ins are perfect for:
- Know Your Rights trainings
- Local history erased from school boards
- Resistance 101 for newly activated folks
- Breakdowns of Project 2025
- Skill-sharing for protests, mutual aid, or community defense
Why do this?
Because fascism thrives on ignorance. Censorship, book bans, school board takeovers—these aren’t just culture wars, they’re power plays. If people don’t know their rights, their history, or how to organize, they can’t fight back. Teach-ins aren’t just informative—they’re revolutionary acts of reclaiming power.
Real World Example:
When Florida banned AP African American Studies, students and activists launched rogue teach-ins in churches, backyards, and public parks. These sessions didn’t just educate—they built community, trained organizers, and pissed off the governor’s entire PR team.
Here’s how to run your own
- Pick a specific topic. Don’t just say “resistance”—say “Defunding Cop City,” “Trans Safety in Public Spaces,” or “Surviving the Next Executive Order”
- Find a space. Libraries, union halls, churches, school campuses, and public parks all work. If you need stealth, go digital or word-of-mouth
- Build your squad. You’ll need facilitators, speakers, a tech buddy, and someone running logistics (snacks, chairs, bathrooms, child care if possible)
- Make it interactive. Use breakout groups, Q&As, live polling, posters, group brainstorming—whatever keeps people engaged
- Always provide next steps. QR codes for petitions, protest invites, campaign links, zine handouts—don’t just teach, mobilize
- Invite other organizers or local groups. Teach-ins are great recruiting tools and should never be solo efforts
- Make it cozy. Bring food, music, art. Resistance doesn’t have to feel like detention. It can feel like building a better world
- Debrief afterward. What worked? What sucked? Who’s ready to host the next one? Keep growing
Bonus tips from Kitty:
- Always have a signup sheet or Signal chat
- Zines and printouts make you look like you have your shit together
- Be open to feedback, but don’t water down the message to appease moderates
- Never let the cops in
Final claw swipe:
You don’t need credentials to teach the truth. In fact, in this country, that might make you even more qualified. So grab your chalk, fire up the projector, or just bring a blanket and a bullhorn. The classroom is wherever resistance gathers—and today’s lesson is how we win.