The organization strategies for the Red for Ed movement was largely through online formats such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social platforms. The movement in Arizona began with one Tweet from the president of the AEA, Joe Thomas, “Talking is good. The first step toward any statewide action are local actions. What can you do locally — at your site — to reveal the level of readiness for a statewide action” (Karvelis). Then a second tweet led to how the movement was recognized, through the use of wearing red t-shirts in solidarity with educators and community members, “Having everyone wear Red for Ed (a red shirt) on the same day would be a fine indicator.” By taking the issue of funding inequality to social media opens it up to a wider audience and not just those living in Arizona. This form of mobilization through the use of social platforms spreads awareness faster and makes it easier to find allies who are interested in fighting the cuts in educational funding.

Through this model of mobilizing, Joe Thomas was able to gather a large number of individuals who were being affected by funding cuts in education. Facebook groups such as Arizona Educators United and Arizona Parents & Allies United organized through these groups by sharing how funding cuts to the educational system have impacted their lives. By using these social platforms, those working with the movement were asked to upload pictures online wearing a red shirt holding up a sign with three reasons as to why they stand in solidarity with the movement using the hashtag “#RedForEd” (Karvelis, 2020). Some of the reasons those who uploaded their pictures demonstrated how funding cuts had affected their lives, “I live with three other teachers just so we can afford rent” (Karvelis, 2020). Having educators share their experiences makes the movement even more personal and demonstrates that asking for funding equality is not just a want, but a need. Thus, a simple Facebook event was created with the hashtag #RedforEd. 

Then because of the greater interest of people wanting to join the cause, the Facebook group AEU was created with around 7,000 people. With the help of this group,  to organize and mobilize. Many community members joined the cause (around 7,000 people) demonstrating their passion for the betterment of Arizona’s school funding (Karvelis, 2020). Facebook had become a crucial component in organizing as it was also used to have separate pages in creating a network of site liaisons with more than 2,000 educators on their school campuses. This allowed for a more local level of organizing among the smaller communities within the state.

Some of the methods site liaisons used to communicate with other members of the movement were also through digital platforms. Teachers in schools typically use an app called Remind in which mass text messages could be sent to students and parents. Then another method was simply through email and having after school meetings (Karvelis, 2020). Overall, site liaisons became crucial to the movement because of the local actions they were taking, which brought momentum to the movement. It was then decided it would be best to organize and mobilize wearing red t-shirts in solidarity leading to the mobilizing and beginning of the strikes and walkouts in the spring of 2018. The strikes lasted for about ten days until their demands were met. Within those days, mobilizers went to protest at legislators and government officials such as Governor Doug Ducey to have their demands be voiced and heard.