Training For Change In Atlanta

 This past Sunday American Friends Service Committee had the pleasure of working with the Atlanta chapter of Zulu Gatekeepers to facilitate a community organizing 101 workshop. Participants learned the basics of how to build a new group, develop and launch an issue based campaign, identify allies, and build power in Atlanta communities.

The turnout and energy was so great that we have decided to start offering regular organizing workshops again in partnership with Zulu Gatekeepers. Workshops will focus on base building strategy, media messaging, the art of activism, and campaign development. We will work to keep workshops free to community member's and grassroots organizations.

Training for Change in Columbia SC!

This weekend AFSC's Atlanta Economic Justice Program had the exciting opportunity to provide an organizing 101 workshop in Columbia South Carolina. The workshop was attended by a diverse number of organizational representatives that spanned an exciting spectrum of issue focuses. One of the themes of those attending was to importance of breaking out of issue and organizational silos.


The workshop was organized and sponsored by the Carolina Peace Resource Center.

Providing organizing trainings has always been a priority for AFSC and whenever possible we try to provide that service for groups trying to build in the South.

Organizing For Change

Last night American Friends Service Committee facilitated an Atlanta Free School work shop on the basics of community organizing. 

Together we learned about tried and true effective activist strategies for organizing folks in your community to build the power we need to win. There is much wisdom to pick up from organizing tools of the past as we look to build the movements of the future.

We eplored strategies for base building, developing appropriate targets, strategies to neutralize or move opposition, understanding the spectrum of allies and opponents and developing short and long term goals.

We had a good mix of folks who want to get into activism or get involved with communities, causes, movements, newbie organizers, and experienced organizers looking to learn new info or brush up on their org skills. 

We also had hot chocolate:)

Occupy Atlanta Facilitates Organizing Workshop

This week a number of workshops have been facilitated at one of Occupy Atlanta's Sites, Task Force for the Homeless. One of those workshops, Organizing 101, is designed to help folks understand the language and models for movement building.

One exciting aspect of the occupation movement is the large numbers of folks that are becoming politically engaged for the first time in their lives. The Organizing 101 workshop is design to help match commitment and passion with skills. Organizing 101 is one of many workshops AFSC offers the communities at no cost.