Meet Shawna Stillwell —

Strategic Communicator.

Relentless Advocate.

Changemaker on the Central Coast, CA.

ABOUT ME

I’m Shawna Stillwell—a communications strategist, social justice advocate, and creative force rooted in California’s Central Coast. With lived experience in recovery and housing insecurity, I channel storytelling into advocacy that drives systems-level change. My journey has taken me from grassroots organizing and AmeriCorps service to speaking in front of legislators and building coalitions across sectors.

About Advocacy on the 101

I founded Advocacy on the 101 to serve as a bridge between policy and the people it affects. Here, you’ll find tools, media, and insights that bring clarity to complex issues and amplify unheard voices. With a strong background in digital communication, social and criminal justice reform, and public relations, I bring both personal and professional credibility to the work of equity-centered transformation.

Collaboration is the Key

I specialize in shaping narratives that move people—from policy briefs and op-eds to campaign strategies and digital platforms. Whether I’m consulting, organizing, or creating content, my approach is always rooted in transparency, compassion, and impact.

Let’s collaborate to make change louder.

Email Shawna

The Power of Collaboration in the Digital Age

In today’s digital-first world, collaboration tools have become indispensable to

communications professionals, community organizers, and justice-based movements alike.

Double exposure of businessman shows modern technology as concept

From Slack and Google Workspace to Trello and Canva, these platforms empower us to coordinate across geographies, bridge digital divides, and respond to injustice with strategy and speed.

As a speaker and advocate, I rely on these tools to lead campaigns, coordinate trainings, and amplify messages that matter.

This webpage explores how digital collaboration tools enable transparency, inclusivity, and real-time impact—critical elements for changemakers and communication professionals in the modern era. As digital activism and remote organizing become essential tools in today’s advocacy landscape, mastering collaborative platforms is no longer optional—it’s fundamental to building sustainable, inclusive movements.

History and Evolution of Collaboration Tools

The evolution of digital collaboration tools mirrors the transformation of communication itself—from isolated, top-down systems to dynamic, community-powered networks.

Early tools like email and shared drives were precursors to more agile platforms like Slack, which now integrates file sharing, real-time messaging, and app syncing in one streamlined space (Capterra, 2025).

HubSpot’s CMS and content development tools have further blurred the lines between building, managing, and scaling digital brands (Forsey, 2024).

Hybrid activism—blending online coordination with offline action—has become increasingly possible due to these tools. As Showden et al. (2025) point out, collaboration platforms now facilitate communal power and civic response in ways traditional institutions never could.

These systems allow frontline organizers and everyday citizens to operate as efficient, connected networks.

Whether you're coordinating a tenant union meeting or launching a city-wide campaign, the tools are now accessible, scalable, and transformative.

Watch Demo

Digital Media in Action

Explore How Digital Media Transforms Advocacy into Impact

🎧 Podcast: “Free The Land, How We Can Fight Poverty and Climate Chaos. Audrea Lim,”

Below are curated examples of how digital tools support systems-change communication. From collaborative platforms to social media storytelling, these assets reflect real-world applications of everything this site stands for.

🖥 Creative Acts (2023) Explore Programs:

https://www.creativeacts.us/our-programs

📊 Website Evaluation Guide:

https://www.blissdrive.com/web-development/what-are-the-7-ways-on-evaluating-a-website

🛠 Tool Explorer Compare platforms:

https://www.capterra.com/collaboration-software

Think Before You Link

5 Criteria for Evaluating Web Sources

In the digital age, information is everywhere—but not all of it is trustworthy. Whether you're organizing a movement, writing a policy brief, or simply reposting a stat, the quality of your sources matters. This infographic breaks down five essential criteria for evaluating web-based content to ensure accuracy, accountability, and impact.

These criteria are:

🔹 Authority – Who wrote it, and why should we trust them?
🔹 Objectivity – Does the content reflect bias or balance?
🔹 Coverage & Audience – Who is it written for, and how comprehensive is it?
🔹 Accuracy – Is it backed by evidence or peer-reviewed data?
🔹 Currency – How recent is the information?

Knowing how to vet sources is a fundamental part of digital literacy, especially in advocacy and communications. This guide empowers advocates, educators, and digital organizers to root their messages in verified, up-to-date, and purpose-aligned content (Bliss Drive, 2024).

🖼️ Check out the full infographic below and keep it close—it’s your digital compass.

Harnessing the Crowd: The Power of Online Collaboration

Luis von Ahn, the creator of CAPTCHA and Duolingo, delves into the potential of massive-scale online collaboration in this enlightening TED Talk. He discusses how leveraging the collective intelligence of millions can solve complex problems and contribute to significant advancements in various fields. This talk is a testament to the incredible outcomes achievable when technology and human collaboration intersect.