Training Creates Clarity of Purpose, Removes Obstacles
Don Floyd, IIRON Lead Organizer & Director of Training
Beginning this summer, IIRON will join with National Peoples Action to greatly expand our training program into a national event, drawing leaders from organizations throughout the country to experience a transformational week of challenge and learning.
Northside P.O.W.E.R. members take over the lobby of the Chase Bank Branch at the corner of Howard and Clark Streets. Photo by Erin Nekervis.
IIRON/NPA National Leadership Training will be held August 12th through August 17th at the Cedar Lake Conference Center in Northwest Indiana.
As readers of this blog know, community organizing is about regular people—the 99%–stepping boldly into the public arena to act on their values with clear demands on specific issues of justice. But there are external forces and internal fears that can keep this from happening. Sustaining viable organizations and successful action in the face of these obstacles requires clarity of purpose and a commitment to move beyond one’s comfort zone.
Far too many activists who try to create social or political change find themselves running into brick walls, expecting good decisions to be made because “it’s the right thing to do.” They often become disillusioned or burned-out and walk away from the fight for justice.
National Leadership Training is specifically designed to challenge participants to overcome these forces and fears—to clarify their understanding of power, to identify motivations and self-interests, to build powerful public relationships, and to act more effectively for change.
National Leadership Training is a transformative experience for the individuals who attend and, ultimately, for the institutions and organizations they represent. Leaders return to their communities committed to their own continued development and to the goal of creating a re-vitalized membership and a strong public voice for their congregation, union, or other community institution.
The Core Faculty of National Leadership Training is composed of professional organizers with decades of experience in training and developing leaders, building powerful grassroots organizations, and winning campaigns on significant community issues. Trainers are committed to providing an intensive, interactive training experience, utilizing tested concepts and tools for building a powerful public life, while challenging each participant to realize their full leadership potential.
The week of training will include sessions on: power, self-interest, one-on-one meetings, effective meetings, money, power organizations, base building, issues, power analysis, direct action, agitation, root causes, propositions, planning & reflection, and more.
National Leadership Training is a residential program. Participants remain on campus and attend all sessions during the week. Sessions begin on Sunday, August 12, at 7 p.m. and conclude on Friday, August 17, at 5 p.m. Meals are provided, beginning with Monday breakfast and ending with Friday lunch.
Cedar Lake Conference Center is located 35 miles south of downtown Chicago in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Both public and private transportation is available from Chicago to Northwest Indiana. A shuttle van will operate from Northwest Indiana to the conference center on the first and last days of the training. If you require assistance with transportation, please request more specific information when registering.
The Training Fee of $800 includes double-occupancy room and board. A discounted fee of $425 is available for all IIRON and NPA affiliated organizations. Additional tuition assistance may be available for affiliates and prospective affiliates. Space is limited for the August training and those interested are encouraged to register as early as possible.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, or to register for National Leadership Training, please contact the staff of your local IIRON or NPA affiliate, or email IIRON Training Director Don Floyd at dfloyd@iiron.org.