365 Day Action Plan for Allies
Marginalised communities live with their marginalisation 365 days a year. Being an ally for a group requires you to take action every day. That action is called Allyship. Only through using your power and privilege every day can you create a relationship with the community through consistent behaviour, being open to being held accountable and holding others who marginalise a community to account for their actions. Through this behaviour, you will build trust with the community.
That definition is adapted from DiversityQ and their work published under the title of Understanding Allyship The Shared Pathway to Cultural Change.
Here is a simple 365-day action plan for allies:
Day 1: Meet with your allies to discuss your goals and get their input.
Day 30: Develop a timeline and list of action items.
Day 60: Start implementing your action plan.
Day 90: Evaluate your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Day 120: Celebrate your successes and keep moving forward.
If you prefer a 12-month milestone plan, it would look like this model.
Month 1:
Establish a shared goal or objective.
Identify the key stakeholders and allies.
Develop a communication plan.
Create a timeline and milestones.
Month 2:
Start building relationships with key stakeholders.
Begin communicating with allies about the goal or objective.
Hold initial planning meetings.
Month 3:
Develop a detailed action plan.
Begin implementing the action plan.
Track progress and make adjustments as needed.
Month 4:
Continue implementing the action plan.
Identify and address any challenges.
Celebrate successes.
Month 5:
Gain momentum and make progress towards the goal.
Continue to build relationships and engage allies.
Look for opportunities to expand the reach of the initiative.
Month 6:
Reach a significant milestone.
Celebrate the success and continue to move forward.
Identify new growth opportunities.
Month 7:
Continue to implement the action plan and make progress towards the goal.
Monitor the impact of the initiative and make adjustments as needed.
Stay focused on the long-term vision.
Month 8:
Reach another significant milestone.
Continue to celebrate successes and engage allies.
Look for ways to scale the initiative.
Month 9:
Continue to make progress towards the goal.
Reflect on the journey and learn from the experience.
Plan for the future and set new goals.
Month 10:
Reach another significant milestone.
Celebrate the success and look for ways to sustain it.
Continue to grow and expand the initiative.
Month 11:
Continue to make progress towards the goal.
Reflect on the impact of the initiative and share the learnings with others.
Plan for the next year and set new goals.
Month 12:
Reach the final milestone and celebrate the success of the initiative.
Reflect on the journey and learn from the experience.
Share the learnings with others and inspire them to take action.
This is just a general outline, of course. The specific milestones and activities will vary depending on the goal or objective of the initiative. However, this should give you a good starting point for creating your action plan. That will help you strengthen your relationships with your allies and achieve your goals.
Here are some additional tips for creating a successful 365-day action plan for allies:
Be clear about your expectations. What do you expect from your allies? What do they expect from you? Make sure everyone is on the same page.
Be supportive and encouraging. Your allies will need your support as they work towards your shared goals. Be there to offer encouragement and help when needed.
Be patient. Building strong relationships takes time. Don't expect to see results overnight. Be patient and persistent, and you will eventually achieve your goals.
If you face any obstacles in your work related to this or other gender-related topics, please get in touch with me at cynthiafortlage@cynthiafortlage.com for expert consulting and advice. I am always ready to offer my assistance.