Some zines help build communities because they connect us to new friends and allies worldwide, giving us a glimpse into a zinester’s hobbies, feelings, or interests like reading a pen pal letter. But other zines, like the zine I’ll be reviewing today, serve as a tool for building communities in our everyday lives: they’re how-to guides on crafting the interconnected world we want to see, and making a better future a reality.

Enter “An Introduction to 1-on-1 Organizing Conversations” by the blogger FirewithFire. The zine is clearly written and an easy read, musts for a successful how-to guide. As the title suggests, it shares tactics for grassroots organizing through conversation, introducing readers to the AEIOU method: A stands for AGITATE: identifying issues in the workplace; E for EDUCATE: exploring how collective action can solve the issues; I – INNOCULATE: or preparing for backlash from the boss; O for the ORGANIZING itself; and U for UPLIFTING, following up and checking in with your co-workers. They stress the importance of building relationships, how it’s at the heart of successful organizing. “A good organizer is always building relationships with the people around them. They talk to people, they listen to people, and try to build a culture of care and trust among workers in the workplace.”

In the introduction, the author states their mission: “because capitalist society in general and capitalist workplaces especially are conditioned so that people don’t feel empowered to stand up to the status quo and make demands around their needs and wants, workers often feel helpless in the face of serious grievances at work.” And doesn’t that describe the whole entire world, too? The alienation we experience from capitalism, the constant barrage of bad news and social media, all of the inequality and inhumanity and state-sponsored violence… it’s designed to — at a minimum — exhaust us, leaving so many of us burnt out, disempowered and marginalized. To say I have “serious grievances” with the state of the world today is putting it lightly. And so, as I read about the importance of finding commonalities with my co-workers and organizing actions towards positive change in the workplace, I couldn’t help but think of the possibilities in applying these methods to society as a whole. Working together with our neighbors to improve our lives and create a better world is how we become empowered. And it all starts with having conversations, building relationships with one and other.

“An Introduction to 1-on-1 Organizing Conversations” is available as a free printable PDF on FirewithFire’s blog, and I highly recommend everyone check this zine out. Zines like this one are why DIY media is so damn important right now. They spread important messages sans gatekeepers, and they’re based in sharing skills, not lining pockets. Zines don’t ask for permission. Zines build relationships. Zines are a balm and an inspiration, motivation and a tool for real change.