Local Leadership Institutes
These trainings are designed to help each organization develop a larger Core Team that is trained and committed to strengthening its institution and engaging its members in public action.
The work of building stronger Mediating Institutions (churches, synagogues, parent-teacher organizations, unions, etc.) cannot be done by a few institutional leaders or staff alone. The Institutes provide 12 hours of content based on the philosophy and practices developed by the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) in over 50 years of organizing experience. The topics include:
- Why organize? – examining the history and traditions of our religious, union and parent-teacher organizations.
- The fundamental organizing skills – individual relational meetings, Listening / Solidarity Seasons, research, negotiations and action.
- Strengthening our institutions – systematically engaging people in a culture that is relational, action-oriented and reflective / learning.
- Problems versus issues – moving from general problems to concrete, winnable issues.
- Using relational power in the public arena to negotiate for the common good.