Introduction to Grassroots Organizing

June 3 – June 28, 2021

What will we learn?

This is a crash course in “grassroots organizing” that will cover an introductory set of skills for community organizers. Based on the work of Marshall Ganz, this organizing framework is rooted in building relationships to generate the power our communities need in order to achieve the change we want.

Over the course of three and a half weeks, participants will have the opportunity to develop their public narratives, learn how to build relationships and structure teams, strategize and power map a campaign plan, and draft a timeline for execution.

Who is this course for?

Open to new things: Participants should be movement-focused people who want to learn a framework for organizing. We welcome folks who are totally new to organizing, or who have been doing organizing for some time but don’t feel like they have a good structure for it.
Relational & people-focused: Ideal participants are excited to build relationships, to invest in the leadership of others, and to build teams of purpose-driven leaders.
Involved in movement work: We seek to support organizers who are currently part of an organizing effort or are seeking to build one alongside others they know.

Course Details

DATES

June 3–June 28

DAYS OF THE WEEK

Mondays & Thursdays, 6:00–8:00 PM ET

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Thursday, May 13. Admissions decisions will be sent out by May 17.

FEES

$200 – $600 Sliding Scale Contribution

We believe people with more wealth, privilege, and access to money—and who benefit from systems of oppression—should pay more.

If you work at an organization with more than 60 employees, please ask your employer to cover the full cost of this training. If there’s anything that would help you make the request, please let us know.

We know that this might be a new way of looking at things. Please reach out to grassroots@repower.org if you have any questions.

APPLY FOR TRAINING

Applicants

Ideal applicants come from all walks of life—we welcome everyone from activists looking to deepen their skills, to complete beginners who are passionate about organizing. Here are some attributes shared by all our applicants:

Relational: Whether you have experience working directly with leaders or not, we are interested in organizers who are curious and committed to working in collaboration with others. If you are interested in building power through organizations and campaigns, or in investigating innovative ways of organizing, you may be a good fit.

Organizing Insight: You don’t need to be a professional politico, but we’re looking for applicants with experience doing organizing work on the ground. That work can be tied to grassroots, electoral, and/or issue organizing. We seek to support organizers who are currently part of an organizing effort or are seeking to build one.

Dedication to Inclusive Politics and Intersectional Solutions: At re:power, we center race, class, gender and sexuality across all our trainings – it’s part of our practice of inclusive politics. We encourage organizers to be open to new ideas regarding inclusive politics, especially from their fellow organizers who will reflect our diverse communities.

Technical Requirements

You will need a technological device capable of connecting to the Internet. Windows machines, Macs and Unix boxes all welcome. We will be using Zoom and request that whenever possible, you turn on the video function.

FAQ

What do people do with their re:power grassroots organizing trainings?

Leaders trained in this curriculum have gone on to be organizers, leaders, trainers, and coaches in organizations all across the country and the world. Our participants work at institutions that organize at the local, state and federal level.

What’s the schedule? Can I come at different times each week?

The course begins on June 3rd and concludes on June 28th. There are two unique sessions each week, offered on Mondays and Thursdays at 6pm ET / 5pm CT / 4pm MT / 3pm PT. Each session will be offered only one time.

Each session will run approximately 120 minutes in length and may include optional homework.

How much time should I expect to spend on the course?

Participants should set aside about 5 hours a week for coursework—including attending live Zoom sessions, homework, and biweekly office hours.

Will we receive copies of the materials I saw in class?

Yes. Copies of the slides, handouts and other supplementary materials will be available to all trainees. We thank you in advance for your feedback.

I have a disability / need support or an accommodation.

We are dedicated to supporting all of our trainees in their learning. If you need an accommodation or additional support of any kind, please email grassroots@repower.org with “Accommodation Request” in the subject line and we’ll do what we can to ensure that you’re able to participate and to learn.

Past requests for support have included, but were not limited to: early access to materials, different colored hand outs, an alternative method for completing quizzes, requesting that facilitators speak directly into the camera, and more.

If you have any questions, please reach out to grassroots@repower.org.

Upcoming Trainings

June 3 @ 6:00 pm - June 28 @ 8:00 pm