Organizing and Development Trainings Resource List Spring 2013
Organizing and Development Trainings Resource List Background and Process In response to requests from grantees for resources that could be used to strengthen their work, the Woods Fund of Chicago compiled a resource list of organizations and institutions that offer community organizing and social justice leadership trainings. Almost fifty (50) organizations that offer social and economic justice focused community organizing and/or leadership development trainings were identified through internet searches, interviews with grantees and self-identification. All of the identified organizations were contacted by Woods Fund staff twice via email and once via phone call. Organizations were notified that they needed to respond by the deadline to be included on the Resource List. Twenty-nine (29) organizations responded and all of the information shared in this Resource List has been reviewed and approved by the listed organization s staff. Purpose The Woods Fund of Chicago offers this list as one of the many resources available to community organizations seeking trainings for its staff, board members, constituents or other stakeholders. Please note that this resource list represents a scan of trainings that are currently being offered and are not necessarily endorsed by the Woods Fund of Chicago. Spring 2013 Page 2
Organizations Represented Alliance of the South East Applied Research Center Aspen Institute Roundtable on Change Brecht Forum Catalyst Project Center for Third World Organizing Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Chicago Freedom School Organizing and Family Issues Renewal Society Gamaliel Grassroots College Highlander Research and Education Center Midwest Academy National Day Laborer Organizing Network National People s Action New Organizing Institute ORGANIZE Training Center Pacific Institute for Organization People s Institute for Survival and Beyond Praxis Project Project South Rockwood Institute Social Justice Southern Echo Southwest Organizing Project Training for Change Wellstone Action Western States Center Definition of Experience Levels -Beginner: No prior organizing experience; limited community-based organizing experience -Intermediate: Basic understanding of community organizing; some community-based organizing experience -Advanced: organizing experience; strong affiliation with communitybased organization Spring 2013 Page 3
Bird s Eye View of Trainings Organization Name Alliance of the Southeast Applied Research Center Aspen Institute Roundtable on Change Brecht Forum Catalyst Project Center for Third World Organizing Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Chicago Freedom School Organizing and Family Issues Renewal Society Kind of Training Organizing, Development Racial Justice Racial Justice Organizing, Development Organizing, Development Racial Justice, Organizing, Development Organizing Development Organizing, Development Organizing Location of Trainings Length of Trainings Cost of Trainings Chicago, IL 3 days Sliding scale, scholarships for low-income New York City, nationally 2 days Ranges with training Aspen, 3.5 days $6,000 + travel; Colorado; Wye, some Maryland; scholarship Washington DC support is and New York available City New York City Weekends Scholarships available; no one is turned away San Francisco, CA Oakland, CA and nationally 4 months, 15 hours per week 3 days to 8 weeks $400 to $1,000; sliding scale and scholarships available $100 to $500 Chicago, IL 2 days $125 to $150 Chicago, IL 2-3 hours; summer long session Varies Chicago, IL 2 to 3.5 days $300 to $600 Chicago, IL 2.5 hours to 3 days $100 to $300 Spring 2013 Page 4
Gamaliel Grassroots College Highlander Research and Education Center Midwest Academy National Day Laborer Organizing Network National People s Action New Organizing Institute ORGANIZE Training Center Pacific Institute for Organization People s Institute for Survival and Beyond Praxis Project Organizing, Development Organizing, Development Organizing, Development organizing and labor organizing, Development Organizing Online Organizing and labor organizing organizing Racial Justice, organizing organizing, Legislative advocacy Nationally 3 to 7 days Varies, please see website Madison, WI New Market, TN Chicago, IL; California, Maryland, Washington DC, New York Nationally Chicago, IL, Nationally Washington DC and nationally San Francisco, CA Day long, semester long 3-5 days, week-long, year-long $20- $100, scholarships available $200/day with meals and lodging, scholarships available 3 days, 5 days $800 - $1,600 2 hours to weekend long Varies based on sending organization s budget 1-3 days Varies with training 2 7 days, 3 $250 - $700 month long online courses 1 4 days, 1 Varies with year training placements Nationally 6 days Varies Nationally A few hours - 2 ½ days Nationally Weekend week long Sliding scale Varies, scholarships available Project South Nationally 2 5 hours, Varies Spring 2013 Page 5
Rockwood Institute Social Justice Southern Echo Southwest Organizing Project Training for Change Wellstone Action Western States Center Organizing, Development Development Development Organizing, Development organizing Development organizing, Development Organizing Nationally weekend, 8 months 1 5 days, year long New York, NY Full day sessions Jackson, MS 2 hours 5 days Varies according to sending organization s budget Varies by program Varies, scholarships available Chicago, IL 4 days Free for SWOP members, varies for nonmembers Philadelphia, PA Nationally Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming 3 17 days $150 - $2,050; varies with training Varies by training 3 days, varies by training Varies by training, scholarships available $150 - $750 Spring 2013 Page 6
Organizing, Development and Racial Justice Training Providers Organization: Alliance of the South East (ASE) Location: 9204 S. Commercial Ave., Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60617 Contact information: 773-221-8908 Website: www.alianzainstitute.org Description: The Alliance of the South East (ASE)--formerly known as Alianza, is an interfaith, multicultural organization that brings together primarily African-American and Latino congregations on the Southeast Side of Chicago. It is also the home of the Alianza model. The model has roots in the Industrial Areas Foundation and Popular Education models. To develop an organizing model that is specific to the Latino community, ASE interviewed top Latino organizers from around the country, synthesized and combined dominant pedagogies and compiled case studies of successful organizing movements across the Americas. ASE provides a unique, culturally appropriate approach yet is designed to also cover general community organizing principles and leadership development. ASE may develop an African- American curriculum in the near future. Target Audience: Geared towards Latino organizers; general public Level(s): Beginner; Advanced Length of Training: Beginner: 3 days; Advanced: 3 days Cost of Training: Sliding scale fees; fee waivers for low-income Other: Offers culturally appropriate leadership training in Spanish and English. Trainings are currently on-hold but may be offered again in late 2012. Organization: Applied Research Center (ARC) Location: 32 Broadway, Suite 1801, New York, NY 10004 Contact information: 212-513-7925 Website: www.arc.org Description: The Applied Research Center (ARC) has a multi-racial and multigenerational staff with extensive expertise and experience in a variety of areas, including strategic research and policy analysis, media advocacy, policy and program development, strategic coaching, curriculum design, educational material production, public presentations and keynote speeches, investigative journalism, community organizing, leadership development and applied technology. ARC s diverse staff lead interactive Racial Justice trainings tailored to the needs and goals of a wide variety of organizations. The organization also offers Learning and Action Cohorts, a training model where a designated group of participants meet periodically during a year to engage in a contemporaneous learning and action process. Target Audience: General public Spring 2013 Page 7
Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: Racial Justice Training: 1-2 day intensive seminar; Learning and Action Cohorts: periodically throughout a year in-person or via phone Cost of Training: Ranges with training Other: ARC also offers racial justice webinars at: https://arc.secure.force.com/pmtx/cmpgn MiniStore?id=70140000000Tci4. Trainings can be tailored. Organization: Aspen Institute Roundtable on Change Location: 477 Madison Avenue, Suite 730, New York, NY 10022 Contact information: 212-895-8036 Website: www.aspeninstitute.org Description: The Racial Equity and Society Seminars provide opportunities for leaders from a variety of sectors to immerse themselves in readings, dialogue and collective work around issues of race, ethnicity and equity. These are customized, three and a half day, readings-based, nonpartisan seminars led by expert moderators. They are conducted with diverse groups in a safe environment. The goals of the seminar are 1) To provide participants with a framework for understanding how and why racial inequities endure, including insights into racial dynamics in 21 st century America; 2) To enable participants to reexamine the historical foundations, underlying assumptions, and current political and social dynamics that shape contemporary public debate about race and equity; and 3) To help participants apply these insights to the social, economic, and political challenges in their own companies, organizations or communities by creating a detailed racial equity plan. Target Audience: Leaders in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors Level(s): Not applicable Length of Training: 3 ½ days Cost of Training: The seminar cost is $6,000 and some scholarship support is available. This covers all expenses except travel, including lodging at the Aspen Meadows Conference Center, meals, seminar sessions and materials, and group activities in the Aspen area. Other: The Aspen Institute designs and moderates leadership seminars at Aspen Institute campuses in Aspen, CO and Wye, MD, and at its corporate offices in Washington DC and New York, NY. The seminars weave the best of Aspen Institute s 60-year history as a leadership development organization with the current content about poverty, equity and justice and with contemporary techniques of adult learning. It can develop or tailor seminars in any of its areas of expertise for any audience. The Roundtable has conducted dozens of seminars in different cities for hundreds of elected officials, corporate executives, foundation officers, and community leaders since 2003. Spring 2013 Page 8
Organization: Brecht Forum Location: 451 West Street, New York, NY 10014 Contact information: 212-242-4201 Website: www.brechtforum.org Description: The Institute for Popular Education was founded in 1992 to provide tools for organizers and educators who are committed to social justice and who work to build social movements that can bring a just society into being. The Institute builds on popular education traditions developed in Latin America, particularly the work of Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal. The program provides forums for discussion and debate of issues important to organizers and uses popular education methods in classes and workshops designed to provide activists with basic analytical tools to help them examine organizing strategies in a larger context, build leadership skills, deepen awareness of the issues affecting New Yorkers on a daily basis, and increase their involvement in the political life of the city. Target Audience: Minorities, Youth, Women, Low-income, Immigrants Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: Weekends, 10am to 6pm Cost of Training: Scholarships are available, no one is turned away Organization: Catalyst Project Location: 522 Valencia St #2, San Francisco, CA 94110 Contact information: info@collectiveliberation.org Website: http://www.collectiveliberation.org Description: Catalyst Project is a center for political education and movement building based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is committed to anti-racist work in majority white sections of left social movements with the goal of deepening anti-racist commitment in white communities and building multiracial left movements for liberation. Catalyst programs prioritize leadership development, supporting grassroots fighting organizations and multiracial alliance building. Its Anne Braden Program is a political education and leadership development program designed to support the vision, strategy, and organizing skills of white activists in becoming accountable, principled anti-racist organizers building multiracial movements for justice. Through this training, participants learn about systems of oppression and privilege in a collective liberation framework, develop an understanding of white supremacy along with patriarchy, capitalism, heterosexism, imperialism, anti-semitism, the gender binary system and the state, learn about histories of resistance and liberation, and about movements today, learn about organizing and develop organizing skills, gain grassroots fundraising skills and participate in volunteer placements in racial and economic justice organizations led by people of color. Target Audience: White social justice advocates Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: 4 months, 15 hour per week commitment Spring 2013 Page 9
Cost of Training: $400-$1000, sliding scale based on income. Solidarity Scholarships available Other: Applications for the training are available on the website. The next Braden Program will be offered in 2013. Other workshops are offered nationally and can be seen on the website. Organization: Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) Location: 1218 E. 21st Street, Oakland, CA 94606 Contact information: 510-533-7583 Website: www.ctwo.org Description: The Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) is a racial-justice organization dedicated to building a social-justice movement led by people of color. It offers 3 core organizing trainings which include: Action Trainings (CAT), a 3-day entry-level intensive training. Movement Activist Apprenticeship Program (MAAP), an 8-week training program for people of color. BOLD (Black Organizing for and Dignity), a national program developed through collaboration between the Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) and Social Justice. The program is designed to help rebuild Black (African-American, Caribbean, African, Afro-Latino) social justice infrastructure in order to organize Black communities more effectively and re-center Black leadership in the U.S. social justice movement. California Lead Organizers Institute (CLOI), which brings together experienced labor and community organizers for advanced skills sessions (not offered during 2012). Target Audience: People of color Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Length of Training: Varies by program Cost of Training: For CAT: $500 will cover the registration fee, training manual, and meals for 2 participants; $300 will cover the cost of registration, training manual, lodging (if participant stays at CTWO mansion) and meals; $250 will cover the full cost of registration, training manual, and meals of one local participant; $100 will partially subsidize a participant's training expenses. Other: For more information on training contact Denise Perry at bold@ctwo.org or at 305-491-7764. CTWO also offers customized trainings and consultations to organizations and some trainings are offered nationally. Organization: Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) Location: 70 East Lake Street, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601 Contact information: 312-641-4140 Website: www.chicagohomeless.org Spring 2013 Page 10
Description: Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) organizes and advocates to prevent and end homelessness because it believes housing is a human right in a just society. It offers a community organizing training that consists of 8 workshops: debate/introductory exercise, history and principles of community organizing, building relationships, running effective meetings, issues and actions, the world as it is versus how it should be, media, messaging and action, and power analysis. Target Audience: 10 slots for general public; 25 slots for Chicago Coalition for the Homeless leaders, staff, board and interns Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate Length of Training: Consecutive 2-day training, 9-5pm Cost of Training: $150 per person; $125 for ally group members; free for Chicago Coalition for the Homeless trainees Other: Trainings are held 3 times a year. The course is taught by 4 veteran community organizers with a cumulative total of 100 years of experience working in Chicago. For more information, contact CCH Organizing Director Jim Field, at 312-641-4140. Organization: Chicago Freedom School (CFS) Location: 719 S. State St., Suite 3N, Chicago, IL 60605 Contact information: 312-435-1201 Website: www.chicagofreedomschool.org Description: Chicago Freedom School (CFS) works with local communities, organizations and schools to create intergenerational spaces through which youth and adults explore issues of injustice, develop organizing campaigns, and work towards building a sustaining social change movement. This work is done through trainings, national convenings, and research and evaluation. A multitude of trainings are offered which include: Youth-Led and Intergenerational Social Change: trainings on Adultism, Youth in Charge and & Identity Development. Anti-Oppression Approaches and Movement History: trainings on Anti- Oppression Approaches, White Allies as Movement Builders and Movement History. Issue Based Organizing: trainings on Coalition Building, Campaign Development and Base Building. Rev up: Professional Development for Supporting Youth Activism, a 4-day training institute for youth organizers and youth workers who are interested in exploring how to incorporate social change approaches into their work. Organizers who are working with youth on campaigns or issues are invited to this institute which will feature workshops led by social change organizations across the city and opportunities to network with others in the same field. Summer Session Target Audience: Youth of color Level(s): Beginner Spring 2013 Page 11
Length of Training: Most trainings are 2 to 3 hours. Summer Long Session. Cost of Training: Rev Up is $325 early registration, $375 regular registration Other: CFS also offers a number of anti-oppression trainings such as an Understanding Adultism training and an Anti-Racism Training for White Allies. More information can be found on its website. Organization: Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) Location: 1436 W. Randolph, 4 th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607 Contact information: 312-226-5141 Website: www.cofionline.org Description: Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) works to build the power and voice of low income and working families at all levels of civic life through a unique model of organizing, Family Focused Organizing. COFI offers trainings on this organizing model through the Institute for Family Focused Organizing. These trainings include: Family Focused Organizing Orientation. A hands-on and participatory session that introduces COFI's Family Focused Organizing model to staff and/or parent leaders from a range of organizations. Participants meet COFI parent leaders and gain firsthand experience with the model. Phase 1: Self, Family & Team Train-the-Trainer/Organizer Program. This session is for people who plan to incorporate the Family Focused Organizing model, or parts of it, in their organizations. It explores the first year of a two-year organizing process, with hands-on practice for trainers. Phase 2: Outreach & Action Train-the-Trainer/Organizer Program teaches how to build a team of community residents, do one-on-one relationship building, map a community, conduct power analyses, choose an issue campaign, and support leaders. It includes exploration of the second year of a two-year organizing process and a community field trip. Target Audience: Staff and/or parent leaders from organizing groups, advocacy organizations, schools, government, social service agencies, and other interested organizations Level(s): Orientation: Beginner; Phase 1 and Phase 2 Trainings: Intermediate Length of Training: Orientation: 2 days; Phase 1: 3.5 days; Phase 2: 3 days Cost of Training: Orientation: $300 per person, includes lunch and a site visit; Phase 1: $600 per person, includes manual and lunches; Phase 2: $550 per person, includes manual, lunches and community field trip. Organization: Renewal Society Location: 332 S. Michigan Ave, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60604 Contact information: 312-427-4830 Website: www.communityrenewalsociety.org Spring 2013 Page 12
Description: Renewal Society works to empower individuals, communitybased organizations and congregations to advocate for social and economic justice. The organization moves civic and religious leaders to take action on issues of racism and poverty. Programs are presented by Renewal Society's Civic Action staff and focus on faith-based principles. Their three-day Organizing Training identifies key organizing principles, how values influence these principles and how one can become an effective organizer and leader. Renewal Society also offers Congregational Justice Trainings, which provides congregations with the basic skills to build relationships, power and new justice ministries in their congregations. Target Audience: General public; congregation based but open to everyone Level(s): Beginner Length of Training: Organizing Training: 3 days; Congregational Justice Trainings: 2 sessions, 2 ½ hours each Cost of Training: $300 for full 3 days; $100 if constituent of a member congregation Other: Trainings for the remainder of 2012 will be held June 21-23 and September 19-21. Organization: Gamaliel Location: 203 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 808, Chicago, IL 60601 Contact information: 312-357-2639 Website: www.gamaliel.org Description: Gamaliel s mission is to assist local community leaders to create, maintain and expand independent, grassroots, and powerful faith-based community organizations so that ordinary people can impact the political, social, economic, and environmental decisions that affect their lives; to provide these organizations with leadership training programs, consultation, research and analysis on social justice issues; and to be a network for mutual learning environments and working coalitions. Participants of its trainings return to their communities equipped to conduct power analyses, organize around issues, lead major actions, create a core team and run a major fund raising event. Trainings include: National Training: A 7-day residential training event presents the basic concepts and tools needed to be an effective leader. It affords a person the opportunity to reflect on his/her present and future potential roles in the public arena. The method is Socratic. The style is agitational. Several trainings are offered yearly. Clergy Training: An annual 5-day training program conducted by and for affiliate clergy. This training includes tools, concepts and methodologies for becoming effective in balancing the demands of their own institutions with issues of justice and community concerns. It also provides a supportive network of clergy experiencing similar demands. Advanced Training: A 5-day program offered once annually to 75 top leaders. This program is designed to challenge and equip leaders to assume major responsibilities within their organizations. Advanced training participants return Spring 2013 Page 13
to their communities equipped to conduct power analyses, cut issues, lead major actions, create a core team or run a major fund raising event. Ntosake: The word comes from South Africa and means "She who walks with lions and carries her own things." This is a women s leadership training program conducted by and for women. It is designed to present ideas and concepts for becoming effective and powerful leaders. It also provides a support network for women. The program is designed to help women overcome the internal and external obstacles faced on the journey to becoming powerful and effective leaders. Local Training: These training programs are conducted in the local setting of each of Gamaliel s affiliates. These trainings are usually day-long or weekend sessions. The trainings either introduce new leaders to the basic concepts of organizing or develop, for established leaders, specific skills around outreach, voter registration, power analysis and recruitment. Professional Organizers Retreat: This annual event allows senior organizers to review organizing concepts and tools, hear from invited experts in related fields, and most importantly, affords the opportunity to learn from one another. Training of Trainers: This 4-day program offered annually to organizers enables Gamaliel to develop a skilled and diverse team of trainers. Issue Task Force Training: Gamaliel provides 2-5 day training programs for leaders engaged in specific national issue campaign work (i.e., Immigration Reform; Transportation Equity; Education). These programs combine sophisticated analysis and enhanced skill development with strategies for building a stronger grassroots base for Affiliates. Values and Vision Partners: Gamaliel is expanding the scope of its training programs to reach out to groups beyond Gamaliel Affiliates who share its core values and vision and who want to apply the attitudes and disciplines of community organizing to their work. For example, in recent years Gamaliel has provided training to groups of people with disabilities and their families, unions, civic associations and others. International Assembly: In December of each year, five hundred network leaders and staff gather to learn from each other, participate in workshops conducted by top academic, religious, political and labor experts, and map out a strategy for the coming year. At the assembly, decisions are made regarding major issues and expanding the network to new areas and commitments are made for achieving goals for the coming year. Major allies politicians, bishops, authors, and key staff from foundations are also in attendance. Target Audience: Mainly affiliates, but will accept from the general public Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: 3 to 7 days Cost of Training: Gamaliel offers over 100 trainings each year, with varying fees. Please see website for specific trainings and their accompanying costs. Spring 2013 Page 14
Other: If not an affiliate, contact John Norton, Director of Training Programs at Gamaliel.Norton@gmail.com or 410-458-3380. Organization: Grassroots College Location: 1321 E. Mifflin St., Suite 201, Madison, WI 53703 Contact information: 608-441-0085 Website: under construction Description: The Grassroots College (GLC) supports the development of grassroots leaders by building skills and relationships in a supportive and stimulating environment. Our work is based on our vision that everyone is a learner, teacher, and leader. Through workshops, forums, semester programs, and ongoing alumni and organizational support, we learn together, teach one another, and act as leaders to improve the quality of life in our communities. Grassroots College develops members of their communities and trains them to be successful community organizers. Target Audience: General public Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: workshop, day long, and semester program trainings Cost of Training: $20-$100; scholarships available, Timebank hours accepted Other: While our semester program is targeted toward people in Dane County, workshops, forums and other programming is focused on reaching people from across the state. Organization: Highlander Research and Education Center Location: 1959 Highlander Way, New Market, TN 37820 Contact information: 865-933-3443 Website: www.highlandercenter.org/index.html Description: There are two programs for groups from the Southeast United States. Highlander s leadership and organizing school: Threads, promotes and supports the efforts of community leaders and their organizations through political education, leadership development, and grassroots organizing. Its goals include: Strengthening grassroots communitybased organizing; Building multi-racial and multi-issue relationships and analysis among participants; Increasing capacity for intergenerational organizing and leadership transition; Connecting groups to each other to build a stronger broad-based movement for collective liberation; and Supporting skills-building, collective leadership and democratic participation for long-term movement building. Participants receive follow up support from Highlander Staff. Seeds of Fire, a youth organizing and leadership program. Social Change Workshops are offered several times a year that includes a weekend popular education workshop geared towards people working for social justice. Spring 2013 Page 15
Target Audience: Groups from the Southern United States and Appalachia, for both Threads and Seeds of Fire. Social change workshops are offered to everyone. Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate Length of Training: Threads: 1 year 4 workshops; Seeds of Fire: Weeklong summer workshop; Social Change Workshops: 3-5 days Cost of Training: $200 a day with meals and lodging; Highlander works to provide scholarships for groups with less access to resources. Other: Highlander also has a workshop center and groups often rent the center and may work with staff to plan other events there. To find out about trainings, people can subscribe at the website for the View from the Hill Newsletter at www.highlandercenter.org/n-view.asp. Organization: Midwest Academy Location: 27 E Monroe, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603 Contact information: 312-427-2304 Website: www.midwestacademy.com Description: The Midwest Academy advances the movements for social change by teaching a strategic, rigorous, results-oriented approach to social action and organization building. The Academy provides training (introductory and advanced level) and consulting, equipping organizers, leaders, and their organizations to think and act strategically to win justice for all. Trainings include: Organizing for Social Change: A 5-day, residential, comprehensive training offered throughout the country. Progressive organizers from a wide variety of organizations hone concrete skills that enable them to build power, recruit and develop leaders, think strategically, win issue campaigns and develop strong organization. Advanced Organizing for Social Change: 3 days applying best practices to your organization's campaign strategy. Participants will spend time researching and refining strategy for their own issue campaign, receive extensive direct consultation and leave with a blueprint for action. The session is led by organizers and trainers with decades of experience. Supervising Organizers Workshop: This 3-day session gives supervisors a chance to step back from the missing time sheets and meetings on the run in order to discuss supervision as the major and most consistent form of training that their organizers receive. Midwest Academy Intern Program: 10-week paid summer internship program teaches young activists to think strategically as they practice organizing skills. Interns are placed with community organizations to work on specific projects. Target Audience: Organizers, supervisors, board members and leaders from organizations working for racial, social, environmental and economic justice Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Spring 2013 Page 16
Length of Training: Organizing for Social Change: 5-day, residential, comprehensive training held in locations throughout the country; Advanced Organizing for Social Change: 3-days; Supervising Organizers Worshop: 3-days Cost of Training: Organizers for Social Change: Varies by training site- between $800 to $1,600; Advanced Organizing for Social Change: $900 Commuting; Supervising Organizers Workshop: between $750- $1,050. Other: The Midwest Academy offers its trainings around the United States. During 2012, trainings will take place in Illinois, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Washington DC and New York. It also offers onsite consultation and training for organizations. Organization: National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) Location: 675 S. Park View St., Ste. B, Los Angeles, CA 90057 Contact information: 213.380.2783 Website: www.ndlon.org Description: The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) improves the lives of day laborers in the United States. To this end, NDLON works to unify and strengthens its member organizations to be more strategic and effective in their efforts to develop leadership, mobilize, and organize day laborers in order to protect and expand their civil, labor and human rights. NDLON fosters safer more humane environments for day laborer, both men and women, to earn a living, contribute to society, and integrate into the community. NDLON offers training in community and worker organizing, popular education leadership development, grassroots communications, and general education around worker and migrant rights. Target Audience: Organizations and communities Length of Training: 2 hours to weekend long institutes Cost of Training: Cost dependent on organization's finances Other: Training is primarily designed for those engaged in corner day laborer organizing or migrant rights work but are available more broadly. Organization: National People s Action (NPA) Location: 810 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL 60642 Contact information: 312-243-3035 Website: www.npa-us.org Description: National People's Action (NPA) is a network of grassroots organizations with a fierce reputation for direct action from across the country that work to advance a national economic and racial justice agenda. NPA consists of 29 organizations across the country, reaching from farmers in rural Iowa to youth in the South Bronx. NPA holds trainings on different subjects such as community organizing, communications and base building. These trainings are often developed as opportunities arise, or in response to interest from NPA affiliates and non-affiliates. Trainings currently include: Spring 2013 Page 17
99% Spring Nonviolent Direct Action Trainings: These trainings are offered as part of the 99% Spring. Over 40 national groups are partnering to train 100,000 people in nonviolent direct action during this week. Many of the trainees will be preparing for direct action at several corporate shareholder meetings this spring. Organizing Money Training Group: Many organizers who are interested in learning grassroots fundraising recognize that what it takes to make them successful is regular accountability around their practice. This group will be a monthly discussion plus an assignment, with learnings discussed at the next meeting. NPA Weeklong National Organizing Training: After a hiatus, NPA is experimenting with new trainings for organizers. This will be a solid introduction to the organizing skills and concepts necessary for organizing in a rapidly changing world. NPA is partnering with the Illinois-Indiana Regional Organizing Network (IIRON) on this training. NPA 3-day Advanced National Organizing Training Target Audience: Varies by training. 99% Spring: general public; Organizing Money Training Group: Organizers, directors, board members, and development staff, of both NPA affiliates and non-affiliates; NPA Weeklong National Organizing Training: Novice organizers and Leaders, both NPA affiliates and non-affiliates; NPA 3-day Advanced National Organizing Training: mid-level organizers, both NPA affiliates and nonaffiliates. Length of Training: 99% Spring: 1 day; Organizing Money Training Group: 2 hours on the last Friday of every month (beginning in March); NPA Weeklong National Organizing Training: 5 days; NPA 3-Day Advanced National Organizing Training: 3 days. Cost of Training: 99% Spring: no cost; Organizing Money Training Group: no cost; NPA Weeklong National Organizing Training: TBD; NPA 3-Day Advanced National Organizing Training: TBD Organization: New Organizing Institute Location: 1850 M St. NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006 Contact information: 202-558-5585 Website: www.neworganizing.com Description: The New Organizing Institute s (NOI) basic belief is simple: if people have the skills to engage others, the tools to build powerful campaigns, and a community of practice to help them learn and grow, they can win real change, make measurable improvements in people s lives, and restore faith in government and democracy. Trainings are offered in the areas of organizing, new media and data and include: Fundamentals of Online Organizing: This teaches the core practices of online engagement from top practitioners. Participants will be introduced to key concepts and skills, including: Writing powerful emails, Building a ladder of Spring 2013 Page 18
engagement, Fundamentals of social networking, Online fundraising and Running an efficient, integrated program. Advanced Online Organizing: Advanced Online Organizing is a 2-day course for current New Media practitioners who are looking to build their knowledge and skill set. It covers advanced strategic and tactical topics, examine some of the newest, cutting edge practices, and examine recent movements to see how social media and online engagement can drive and support real-world actions. Media BootCamp Without Borders: This training is designed to help socichange organizations and organizers working in the immigration movement develop skills to create winning online campaigns. Data BootCamp: This is an opportunity for aspiring political data managers to learn the tools of the trade. From setting goals and measuring progress, to targeting voters for field programs, to using data to drive decision making, this course will equip students to manage data programs for electoral or advocacy organizations. Voter Targeting Fundamentals: This training will focus on the fundamentals of political data and voter targeting. It will cover how online voter files are created and used, using Excel for data hygience and analysis, setting vote goals, and incorporating NCEC, polling data and predictive models into targeting considerations. Target Audience: General public Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Length of Training: Fundamentals of Online Organizing: 2 days; Advanced Online Organizing: 2 days; Media BootCamp Without Borders: 7 days; Data BootCamp: 6 days; Voter Targeting Fundamentals: 2 days Cost of Training: Fundamentals of Online Organizing: $250; Advanced Online Organizing: $250 Other: The New Organizing Institute also offers a number of Online trainings through its New Organizing University. Courses include topics such as Campaign for Electoral Success and Online Data Bootcamp. Courses are held over a 3 month period and cost $700, with scholarships available. Organization: ORGANIZE Training Center Location: 442 Vicksburg St., San Francisco, CA 94114 Contact information: 415-648-6894 Website: www.organizetrainingcenter.org/index.html Spring 2013 Page 19
ORGANIZE Training Center (OTC) is devoted to building and strengthening people power by training and mentoring labor and community organizers, consulting with labor and community organizations, and providing workshops for community and labor leaders. OTC is guided in its work by the values of the small "d" democratic tradition, and the moral, and social and economic justice teachings of the world's great religions. Training programs include: One-year full-time placements under the supervision of a skilled organizer, with accompanying educational activities, for individuals interested in becoming full-time organizers. Contracts with labor, community and other organizations to provide workshops tailored to their specific interests. These workshops range in subject matter from the values and theory underlying organizing to specific topics such as campaigns, strategy and tactics, member-based fundraising, negotiations, effective meetings, organizational renewal, one-to-one and small group meetings, and others. Contracted workshops range in duration from one-half to four-days. The sponsoring organization charges tuition, and keeps the difference between OTC costs and what is raised. Program of guided reading and discussion, with possible fieldwork observation, that is conducted one-to-one in-person, by phone, by internet, or by a combination of these. Target Audience: Varies with program Level(s): Beginner; Advanced Length of Training: 1-4 day workshop trainings; one-year organizer trainings Cost: Varies according to program, contact OTC for more information. Organization: Pacific Institute for Organization (PICO) National Network Location: 171 Santa Rosa Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 Contact information: 510-655-2801 Website: www.piconetwork.org Description: The Pacific Institute for Organization (PICO) is a national network of faith-based community organizations working to create innovative solutions to problems facing urban, suburban and rural communities. PICO helps equip community leaders with the skills they need to reach out into their neighborhoods, identify common concerns, research possible solutions, and create public policy at the local, state and national levels. PICO sponsors National Development Seminars 3 4 times each year. This intensive 6-day seminar provides leaders with an in-depth review of the theory and practice of congregation-based organizing. Each year PICO also offers a National Development Seminar in Spanish. Additionally, local PICO federations provide leadership training for neighborhood residents and congregation members throughout the year using interactive and experiential adult education tools. Leaders learn how to build and sustain strong organizations, research Spring 2013 Page 20
and analyze community issues, develop budgets, plan for their communities and work with public officials to implement changes in public policy. Target Audience: General Level(s): Advanced Length of Training: 6-day trainings Cost of Training: Varies, contact organization for more information. Organization: People s Institute for Survival and Beyond Location: 601 N. Carrollton, New Orleans, LA 70119 Contact information: 504-301-9292 Website: www.pisab.org Description: The People s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB) is a national and international collective of anti-racist, multicultural community organizers and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social transformation. The People s Institute believes that racism is the primary barrier preventing communities from building effective coalitions and overcoming institutionalized oppression and inequities. Through Undoing Racism / Organizing Workshops, technical assistance and consultations, The People s Institute helps individuals, communities, organizations and institutions move beyond addressing the symptoms of racism to undoing the causes of racism so as to create a more just and equitable society. Trainings include the following: Undoing Racism Organizing Workshop: Through dialogue, reflection, role-playing, strategic planning and presentations, this intensive process challenges participants to analyze the structures of power and privilege that hinder social equity and prepares them to be effective organizers for justice. Reflection, Assessment, Evaluation Team (R.A.E.): The People s Institute is committed to an assessment process, guided by community leaders, that is based on the community s values and self-determined goals. R.A.E. helps an organization or group state, observe and measure its vision and values with as much energy and commitment as it measures its objective goals and outcomes. This assessment process is based on The People s Institute core anti-racist organizing principles. European Dissent: Since 1987, a collective of white anti-racist organizers initiated European Dissent to explore ways in which to practice The People s Institute principles in their personal, social, family and work lives. The members of European Dissent are persons of European descent who dissent from the racist institutions and values designed to benefit them. Since its inception, white anti-racist groups developed throughout the country. The People s Institute Youth Agenda (P.I.Y.A.): Identifies and mentors young anti-racist organizers in colleges and in the neighborhoods where The People s Institute does its work. Since 1996, youth have modified the Undoing Racism / Organizing process so it is relevant and applicable to Spring 2013 Page 21
youth. In 1997, they adapted The People s Institute principles and analysis to conduct a summer Freedom School, modeled on the citizenship schools of the Civil Rights era. Since then, P.I.Y.A. Freedom Schools reached over 2,000 children and youth in New Orleans, Seattle, Duluth, Minneapolis, Oakland and other locations. Target Audience: people and leaders, administrators, staff, leaders, teachers, lawyers, judges, social workers, health providers, etc. in schools, universities, colleges, juvenile justice, criminal justice, any social services including child protective services, health and human services, senior services, to name a few, public health and health care, non profit organizations, foundations, etc. The organization will work in cities, urban areas, on reservations, nationally and internationally. It also works with African Americans, Whites, Latinos & Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Pacific Islanders. Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: A few hours to two and a half days. Cost of Training: Sliding scale fee. Please call the office to get details. Other: Each workshop can hold up to 40 participants and must be racially mixed. The training team will be mixed according to the participant's mix. Organization: Praxis Project Location: 1750 Columbia Road, NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20009 Contact information: 202-234-5921 Website: www.thepraxisproject.org Description: The Praxis Project approach is shaped by a framework that makes community organizing, public policy advocacy and capacity building central. It is committed to building power in communities that are often marginalized in policymaking. Projects and Initiatives with the potential for building long term infrastructure for change are a priority as addressing root causes is a long term project. Technical Assistance and Strategic Consultation: Even with the best training, advocates need support in implementing their advocacy and policy Initiatives. The best technical assistance is the right help at the right time, a sort of policy triage that flexibly and effectively anticipates the changing, fluid needs of advocates. Praxis provides strategic consultation to help advocates "think through" critical issues in their initiatives via phone and on-line that allows advocates to call and/or e-mail requests for consultation and puts them in touch with qualified/experienced staff or consultants. In some cases, this support can be provided locally on site to groups. Learning Circle and Movement Building Trainings: Praxis also brings community organizers and advocates together for reflective space. groups are often trained in service provision, education or public health. They need new and different skills to enact policy changes media advocacy, community organizing, legislative advocacy, etc. However, building skills is not Spring 2013 Page 22
enough. These advocates also need a supportive community in which they can explore new models, forge new alliances and learn from each other's experiences. Praxis offers these spaces as Learning Circle and Movement Building Trainings. Praxis is dedicated to the principles of popular education. Staff is experienced in training and education approaches that value participation and experiential learning. Target Audience: based organizations, advocates and policymakers Level(s): Beginner, intermediate, advanced Length of Training: On site trainings are specially designed for each audience, and length of time is determined according to needs of each organization. The Learning Circles and Movement Building Trainings vary in length from week to weekend long sessions. Cost of Training: Training and technical assistance costs vary and are determined with staff. Scholarships are available for Learning Circles and Movement Building Trainings. Other: To schedule a training, visit the website or contact Training and Capacity Building Director, Liz Derias at lderias@thepraxisproject.org or 202-234-5921. Organization: Project South Location: 9 Gammon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30315 Contact information: 404.622.0602 Website: www.projectsouth.org Description: Project South is a grassroots organization whose programs focus on communities of color affected by social control and economic degradation created by historic and current trends of privatization, exploitation, and structural racism in the US. We believe in bottom-up movement building for social, racial, and economic justice on local, regional, national, and global levels. Trainings include: Building A Movement (BAM) sessions: tailored to the participants and provide organizing skills, historical context for movement building, and long-term strategy development and planning. Methods include popular education, interactive and asset-based curriculum, and experiential practice. Popular Education for Movement Building: is a way for people to use their experiences in order to create change. Project South uses popular education to build action, analysis, and leadership based on experiences of history, people most affected, and active engagement. The process of acquiring and applying critical consciousness to collective actions lead to social justice and societal transformation. The curriculum Project South has created is based on popular political education and is interactive, relevant, and community friendly. The Popular Education organizing workshop grounds popular education in a political and historic foundation from a grassroots organizing strategy. Transition and Collective Models: Project South has learned and experienced many lessons moving from a founder s transition to a collective leadership infrastructure. Collective leadership infrastructure transforms power Spring 2013 Page 23
dynamics in organizational infrastructure. Project South respects and values the collective experiences, and we represent the whole and not the individual. Trainings and consultations in this area create space to deepen and expand our understandings of collective leadership that works. Youth Development for Organizing: Young people are active on all the frontlines of social injustice and inequalities. The importance of engaging our young people and young adults in movement-building work is vital. Our youth development curriculum includes multiple examples of youth-led workshops on priority issues and intergenerational materials focused on history, critical thinking, and organizing skills. Target Audience: Youth, Organizers, Women, People with disabilities, and members Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: Custom-tailored with an average of 2-5 hours, weekend sessions, or 8-month Organizing Institutes Cost of Training: Costs are negotiated case by case Other: Project South tailors its education and leadership development sessions to the needs of the organization. Programs and biannual newsletters are on its website. Organization: Rockwood Institute Location: 426 17th Street, Ste. 400, Oakland, CA 94612 Contact information: 510-524-4000 Website: www.rockwoodleadership.org Description: The Rockwood Institute was founded to provide individuals, organizations and networks in the social benefit sector with powerful and effective training in leadership and collaboration. Each year Rockwood delivers its programs to leaders working in grassroots and policy reform sectors that help improve the wellbeing of our communities and world. Rockwood teaches skills and tools that help these leaders overcome organizational challenges; inspire and align individuals and organizations toward producing quality outcomes; develop collaborative skills; decrease "burn-out"; and create organizations that celebrate sustainability and diversity. It is the largest provider of multi-day, transformative leadership trainings for social change nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in the United States. Trainings include: The Art of : Rockwood's signature five-day program is an intensive retreat workshop for social change leaders. Each participant receives a "360- degree" performance evaluation to clarify areas for their individual leadership development. Professional trainers deliver a curriculum that provides leaders with (a) clarity of vision in their work; (b) partnership skills, including listening, speaking, conflict resolution and negotiation; (c) "personal mastery" and emotional intelligence skills; (d) teamwork development skills; and (e) performance skills. Spring 2013 Page 24
The Art of Collaborative : This training draws together and supports leaders working in specific social sectors, such as women working in racial justice organizations, leaders in environmental health and justice, and leaders advancing global climate change. These 5-day retreats emphasize understanding power dynamics, strategy and performance, as well as personal and organizational sustainability. The program serves both first time Rockwood participants and AoL graduates. The Advanced Art of : This advanced 4-day seminar is designed for leaders who have completed the Art of and want to continue building their leadership skills so that they can bring Rockwood practices more fully into their organizations and networks. Each participant receives an "Interpersonal Style Survey," as well as professional training in coaching, communication, time management, mediating conflict, and creating sustainable work lives and organizations. Strengthening the Practice: This 2-day refresher course is designed for leaders who have completed the Art of and Rockwood's Fellowship and Leading from the Inside out programs. Through this course, leaders reconnect with some of the foundational leadership practices such as Purpose, Resourcefulness, and Partnership. Organizational : This special training is custom-designed to serve the needs of leadership teams within a given organization who want to increase their internal capacity for collaborative leadership. Using "real-life" organizational contexts and challenges, the program is designed to align leadership, vision, goals and communication styles to create a balanced and collaborative leadership circle. In many cases, organizations have utilized Rockwood's OL program as a first step in the process of a larger organizational development effort. Leading from the Inside Out Yearlong: Each year Rockwood offers this acclaimed invitation-only program for established senior national leaders from diverse issue areas who have demonstrated their abilities to foster change in their fields. The admission process is highly competitive and prioritizes those committed to cross-organizational and -sector collaboration. Yearlong fellows participate in three five- to six-day retreats over the course of the year. The program is designed to create a dramatic shift in participants' capacity to lead their organizations and networks effectively-and to collaborate across the boundaries of issue area, organizing orientation, race, class, resources, geography and other demographics that often block collaboration or encourage competition between social change organizations and networks. Fellowships: These multi-session programs are often presented in conjunction with funders who wish to support the collective efforts of leaders within a specific issue-based sector. Fellowships typically include participation in the Art of program, individualized coaching sessions, and advanced gatherings designed to create a shift in the collaborative potential of national and Spring 2013 Page 25
regional advocacy sectors. To date the Rockwood Fellowship program has served more than 120 leaders in LGBTQ civil rights and media policy reform. Building Capacity for Organizational Resilience and Renewal (BCORR): provides resources and support to leaders engaged in strengthening and transforming their organizations. In partnership with national foundations focused on long-term change, BCORR contributes to leader and organizational transformation by: providing capacity building resources to select leaders as they transform and strengthen their organizations. Target Audience: Rockwood currently offers a menu of services for nonprofit, philanthropic, labor and socially responsible business leaders, as well as elected officials. Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: 1 to 5 days Cost of Training: Please see the website for specific trainings and their accompanying costs or contact Stacy Kono, Director of Programmatic Partnerships at stacy@rockwoodleadership.org. Organization: Social Justice Location: 1916 Park Avenue, Suite 305, New York, NY 10037 Contact information: 212-939-9770 Website: www.sojustlead.org Description: Social Justice runs several distinct programs designed to support social justice leaders and organizations to use Transformative Organizing to increase the impact of their local work and to build a more effective movement. These programs are grounded in SJL's 5 Core Practices and tailored to the needs of the specific sectors, geographic areas, and organizations we work with. Current programs include: New York Transformative Organizing Initiative (NY TOI): Focused on leadership development and building stronger social justice infrastructure in New York City, the NY TOI is SJL's most extensive program with specific training levels for staff and leaders based on the unique roles they play in their organizations. Florida Transformative Organizing Initiative (FL TOI): The Florida TOI is designed to increase the effectiveness and impact of individuals, organizations and alliances in Florida through a collaboration with the Florida New Majority. National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) Sol Initiative: Through a collaboration with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Generative Somatics, SJL is implementing a long-term Development Training that will support participants from existing and emerging organizations within the NDWA to learn and apply the Transformative Organizing model. Black Organizing for & Dignity (BOLD): BOLD is a national training program developed through a collaboration with the Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) to help rebuild Black (African-American, Caribbean, Spring 2013 Page 26
African, Afro-Latino) social justice infrastructure and leadership in local communities and within the broader social justice movement. Activate!: Activate! is a community organizing fellowship created by SJL to train a new generation of organizers with the skills, analysis, competencies, and relationships to lead a renewed social justice movement. Transformative Program - Special Cohort for Funders and Donors: Aimed at bringing transformative practices and skills to the progressive philanthropic sector, the Transformative Program for Funders and Donors is designed to help the philanthropic community develop and deepen relationships of trust and to envision and practice more coordinated philanthropic work. Target Audience: Staff and members of organizations Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: Most of the training is done through multi-year programs made up of 3-4 retreats, full-day training sessions and individual and organizational coaching Cost of Training: Vary by program Organization: Southern Echo Location: 1350 Livingston Lane, Suite C, Jackson, MS 39213 Contact information: 601-982-6400 Website: www.southernecho.org Description: Southern Echo is a leadership development, education and training organization working to develop effective accountable grassroots leadership in the African-American communities in rural Mississippi and the surrounding region through comprehensive training and technical assistance programs. Southern Echo conducts residential training schools, workshops and community meetings in Mississippi and other southern and southwestern states, and publishes manuals, reports and slide shows in support of this process. Training sessions are designed to support the work of grassroots community organizations and include: Organizing: Southern Echo provides residential training schools and workshops on the Fundamentals of Organizing which are designed to enable low-wealth grassroots communities, including activists and public officials, to develop the tools and skills to build viable and sustainable local organizations and leaders through which to empower communities, to hold governmental institutions accountable to the needs and interests of community, to impact the formation and implementation of public policy, and to create accountable models of governance. Strategic Planning: Southern Echo provides residential training schools and workshops on Strategic Planning which are designed to enable grassroots community organizations, leaders and activists to develop the tools and skills through which to develop a clear vision, effective strategies and meaningful program of work. This process requires community people to articulate a clear Spring 2013 Page 27
historical and political analysis of where we have been, where we are now, where we need to go and how best to get there. Public Education: Southern Echo provides training designed to enable parents, student, educators and public officials to develop the tools and skills needed to impact the formation and implementation of education policies at the state and school district levels, to interpret and draft education laws and policies, to enforce the rights of students and parents and the duties and responsibilities of educators, and to build local organizational capacity to expand parent and student engagement in the education process. Census and Redistricting: Southern Echo s Census and Redistricting training includes: laws and procedures that control the census data collection process, how grassroots communities can fight for a fair and complete census count, how census data impacts redistricting plans and the capacity to elect accountable officials, laws and regulations and mapping tools and skills used to create fair redistricting plans, and organizing grassroots communities to impact the formation and adoption of redistricting plans. GIS Mapping, Charts and Graphs: Southern Echo provides training in the use of Geographic Information Systems and graphics software to enable grassroots community workers to create maps, charts and graphs that synthesize complex demographic and statistical data for use in the production of popular education materials for parents, students, educators, public officials, the business community and the media. The training also focuses on how to produce materials that can impact the formation and adoption of public policy. Organizational Development: Southern Echo provides grassroots organizations with training in Organizational Development that includes: laws governing forprofit and non-profit corporations, duties and constraints on tax-exempt nonprofits, allocation of decision-making within alternate organizational structures, active versus passive boards, staff development, the critical connection among vision, strategies and program, role of proposed, operating and final budgets, how to construct budgets to account for the work, and fundraising and resource development. Voter Engagement, Voter Protection: Southern Echo provides non-partisan workshops to community organizations and public officials on the voting process that includes: how to run a political campaign; Get Out the Vote; vigilance before the polls open and after they close; poll watching and poll working; absentee balloting, curb balloting, and voter assistance; challenge ballots, affidavit ballots and ballot inspections; what to do when a voter s rights are violated; and election challenges. Environmental Justice: Southern Echo conducts residential training schools for community organizations and public officials on how to use develop a comprehensive planning process and craft zoning laws and maps to create environmental safety zones around homes, school, churches and gardens to protect community health. The training process enables participants to learn to Spring 2013 Page 28
do the strategic thinking that informs the planning process and to build zoning ordinances and maps that reflect the values incorporated in the comprehensive plan. Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies: Southern Echo provides training to parents, students, educators and public officials on research-based positive behavior intervention strategies to provide to students and families, teachers and schools, support systems to keep children in class where they can learn rather than out on the street on their way to the criminal justice system. Training focuses on assessments and remedies rather than punishment and exclusion, due process rights, dropout prevention, conflict resolution, and implementation of teacher support teams. How Government Works: Southern Echo provides training to community organizations, leaders, activists and public officials on: the structure of municipal, county, state and federal governments; the impact of separation of powers among branches of government; the process for enacting laws and ordinances; differences between legislative and administrative processes; and how the federal and state constitutions, laws and ordinances, rules and regulations and customs and practices control the formation and implementation of public policy. Target Audience: The trainings are primarily intended for grassroots community organizations and leaders of color, on an intergenerational basis, in low-wealth communities. It often includes educators and public officials who are supportive of the needs and interests of the communities in which the grassroots organizations and leaders of color are working. As much as possible Southern Echo encourages organizations to bring the different generations to the table as peers to build the intergenerational process. Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: The length of trainings depends on the needs of the organizations involved in the training and the resources available to support the training process. Trainings run from as short as 2 hours to as long as 5 days. Cost of Training: Southern Echo negotiates costs on a case by case basis. Similarly, on a case by case basis it negotiates with the organizations under what circumstances scholarships may be available. Organization: Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) Location: 2609 West 63rd Street, Chicago, IL 60629 Contact information: 773-471-8208 Website: www.swopchicago.org Description: Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) staff and senior leaders provide formal leadership training at least 3 times per year in Spanish and in English. Each training series explores topics such as values, power, self-interest, problems and issues, mediating institutions, public and private relationships, relational meetings and life Spring 2013 Page 29
lived in the tension between "the world as it is" and "the world as it should or could be". Potential attendees are identified by SWOP staff and leaders through their participation in their local institution or SWOP actions, or through one-to-one meetings. Target Audience: Leaders within SWOP's institutions, leaders and organizers from partner organizations Level(s): Because SWOP focuses on the fundamentals of organizing, beginner to advanced organizers and leaders will deepen their skills through this training Length of Training: 4 days Cost of Training: Training free for SWOP member institutions, price negotiable for nonmembers Other: Training in Spanish and English. Organization: Training for Change Location: PO Box 30914, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Contact information: 215-776-8444 Website: www.trainingforchange.org Description: Since 1992, Training for Change has been committed to increasing capacity around the world for activist training -- training that helps groups stand up more effectively for justice, peace and the environment. It delivers skills directly that people working for social change can use in their daily work, through our public workshops and consultation with non-profit and activist groups. Trainings include: 3-day Train-The-Trainer Workshop is the flagship program, offered multiple times throughout the year. The Training for Social Action Trainers is an intensive workshop designed for experienced facilitators wanting to revitalize their work, new trainers wanting to inspire, teachers, community leaders, activists or anyone who needs to take their skills to the next level and learn how training can be used more effectively. For those who have completed the TSAT, we offer several additional workshops to further hone your training skills. The Advanced Training of Trainers dives into issues of cross-cultural work, handling conflict and strong emotions and will improve your ability to design workshops on the fly (emergent design). The final workshop in the series - How to do Transformational Work - takes the participant a step further in their development as a trainer to learn how to help participants in their own workshops tackle self-limiting beliefs that are holding them back. Super T" is a rigorous 17-days of training designed for experienced trainers who want to take their work to a new level of creativity, range and effectiveness, as well as new trainers who want to learn basic principles. The series is ideal for a trainer's sabbatical and is very popular with facilitators outside North America. The schedule includes 4 consecutive workshops with a day's rest in between, sequenced for maximum growth for trainers and facilitators. Target Audience: General public Spring 2013 Page 30
Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: 3-17 days Cost of Training: Sliding scale (between $150-$375 for 3-day workshop; between $750- $2050 for 17-day workshop) Organization: Wellstone Action! Location: 2446 University Avenue West, Suite 170, St. Paul, MN 55114 Contact information: 651-645-3939 Website: www.wellstone.org Description: Wellstone Action ignites leadership in people and power in communities to win progressive change. It is the largest training center for the progressive movement in the nation, with eight distinct training programs for community members, campaign staff, candidates, and elected officials. Its particular expertise is in the intersection of elections, organizing, and advocacy this is called the Wellstone Triangle, and it anchors Wellstone Action s approach for building the power of the progressive movement. Target Audience: Varies by program Level(s): Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced Length of Training: Varies by program Cost of Training: Varies by program; most programs have a sliding scale based on income, and Wellstone Action is committed to training all progressive leaders, regardless of ability to pay. Other: Offers trainings nationally. Organization: Western States Center Location: P.O. Box 40305, Portland, OR 97240 Contact information: 503-228-8866 Website: www.westernstatescenter.org Description: The mission of the Western States Center is to build a progressive movement for social, economic, racial and environmental justice in the eight western states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The organization hosts two main organizing trainings: WILD - Western Institute for Development: WILD is an intensive year-long organizing and leadership development training program. The goals of WILD are to: Sharpen the organizing skills and political analysis of emerging leaders in a cross-constituency, cross-issue and peer-supported environment; Create a shared language for organizers from different backgrounds to talk about organizing, power, and vision to contribute to the progressive movement in the West; Develop participants proficiency in base-building, member and leader development, and volunteer recruitment and retention; Build relationships Spring 2013 Page 31
between organizers and leaders in the region with a commitment to long term action for change. Activists Mobilizing for Power (AMP): AMP is a unique three-day training and networking event for community-based leaders, staff, and volunteers of groups organizing for justice in the West. Workshops run all day to provide an intensive experience in the subject you ve chosen. Workshops are designed to be highly interactive and to provide hands on tools for your organization to use after you leave AMP. AMP participants represent a spectrum of experiences and backgrounds. They are diverse with respect to race, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and skill level. Trainers, drawn from around the region and beyond, are among the most knowledgeable in their areas. Target Audience: Emerging organizers and activists from the Center s eight state region Level(s): WILD (Beginner); AMP (Beginner to Advanced) Length of Training: WILD (one year with four in-person convenings); AMP (three days) Cost of Training: WILD: $500 - $750 depending on organizational budget. Cost is already heavily subsidized. No scholarships; AMP: $150 for registration, food and lodging. Cost is already heavily subsidized. Scholarship limited to groups the Center is working with Other: Located in Portland, Oregon. Spring 2013 Page 32