Learning to be a community organizer is learning to be in control of your life. Community organizing training is about unveiling the mainstream power dynamics that exist to keep marginalized people “in their place” and then realizing that we have the power to bring those dynamics into balance.
People learn through G.O.T. Power, MSPJC’s training program, that we can’t and shouldn’t sit back and wait for those in authority to make changes for us—but that we are the ones who know best what our communities need. The most powerful and lasting way for change to occur is by doing it ourselves.
Our training program is Grassroots Organizers Training for Power. G.O.T. Power is a movement-building program that trains individuals and organizations in the skills of community organizing and develops movements to shift the balance of power in communities.
If you have the desire and commitment to make our city a better place, G.O.T. Power will give you:
• real-world skills you need to be effective in your organizing.
• expert advice and support from leaders in the field.
• a wide range of practical resources, hands-on tools, and locally relevant information.
• a support system of other people who share your vision for a better world.
Who Participates?
G.O.T. Power attracts participants from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are paid community organizers; some are community activists in their spare time; and some are in social service fields and want to incorporate a community organizing perspective into their work. Many others are people who want to learn more and get more involved in their communities. What unites them all is a vision to make our city a better place by building powerful organizations of the people directly affected by the problems in our communities.
What is Offered?
Our future organizers enter the program through one of our Core Organizer Trainings, which teach the basic skills of organizing to allow people to effectively lead their communities and win on issues that are important to them.
Organizers deepen their skills and further their development in a series of ongoing Support and Development Trainings that are available for current G.O.T. Power enrollees, graduates and the community at large.
Graduates of our Core Organizer Training are eligible for the Training of Trainers intensive workshop. This is designed for trainers, educators, activists and organizers who want to deepen their training and facilitation skills.
The MSPJC offers many workshops publicly, but we also offer our workshops to organizations and people working around a specific issue—with workshops tailored to meet the organization or group’s individual needs. We are able to offer one of our Core Organizer Trainings, or we can design a workshop to meet your organization's or group’s specific needs.
Trainings are offered on a sliding scale according to individual incomes or organizational budgets. MSPJC members receive a significant discount for all trainings
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More About the Trainings
Our flagship training model, the Core Organizer Training teaches individuals the foundational skills they need to become a grassroots community organizer.
Topics covered include:
Intro to Organizing, Organizing your Community, Campaign Planning, Facilitating Meetings, Media, Transforming Conflict and Direct Action.
Support and Development Trainings are offered to Core Organizer enrollees, graduates and individuals and organizations in the larger community to enhance our organizing skill sets. Trainings available include: Mindful Communication, Consensus Building, Advanced Facilitation, GOTV, Civic Engagement, Anti-oppression and Diversity, Nonviolent Action, Framing and Messaging, Citizen Lobbying, Canvassing and Phonebanking and more. Support and Development Trainings are designed to both build skills and provide personal support structures for G.O.T. Power graduates or anyone engaged in organizing and community change work.
Training of Trainers is a three-day intensive training available to graduates of the Core Organizer Training who wish to deepen their skills of training and facilitation. In the spirit of popular education, we want you to have the skills to facilitate and train your community. This training will give you new experiential tools, facilitation practice and individualized support from expert trainers.
All trainings are offered in English or Spanish as requested. Trainings can be customized for organizations or groups working on specific issues. Contact center@midsouthpeace.org to inquire about the next scheduled training or to request a training for your organization or group.
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