What is CommsLabs?
Astraea’s CommsLabs are a series of regional and national gatherings hosted by Astraea and designed with, by, and for LGBTQI activists. CommsLabs are built on a vision of a network of linked activists, artists, healers, and technologists from the Global South and East working independently and together to foster the next generation of LGBTQI human rights advocacy. CommsLabs are not a one-time convening, but a strategic element of Astraea's ongoing accompaniment strategy.
We know that how we gather is as important as why we gather. CommsLabs are a methodology for gathering that lives our values into practice - uplifting a horizontal structure, accessible and participatory design, grounded in local contexts, and driven by activists. CommsLabs serve as vital spaces for movement building, collaboration, skills and strategy sharing, and collective care. Each CommsLabs is unique as it reflects the priorities of regional movements, but what remains consistent across all CommsLabs is an engaging activist space embedded with healing and wellness, joy, and accessibility.
» Read more about CommsLabs' intention and rationale
From CommsLabs 1.0 to 2.0
CommsLabs have evolved and grown from the work of many in movement. As one of the key partners in organizing several CommsLabs gatherings with Astraea, Research Action Design (RAD) developed a set of templates based on learnings to support the participatory design of future CommsLabs organizing. In 2019, Association for Progressive Communications (APC) was invited by Astraea to continue the shared task of designing, planning, implementing, and coordinating CommsLabs.
At the end of four years of collaboration, APC contributed to two CommsLabs and this collection we're calling CommsLabs 2.0 - a resource for future collaborators and activists working to build participatory gatherings with, by, and for advancing LGBTQI rights. It aims to offer guidance for convening coordinators, facilitators, and actors interested in addressing remote continuous communication with engagement and participation. Special attention is given to ensuring privacy, confidentiality, safety, and ease of access.
» Read more about CommsLabs 2.0
History and context
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CommsLabs has been convening since 2014 all across the globe.
» Learn more about the history and context of these gatherings!
The "look": visual and design assets
Many talented transfeminist artists have poured their creativity in representing CommsLabs. In this folder you can find all the visual and design assets such as banners, illustrations, merch design and much more produced over the years.