Check out the behind the scenes recap of our Train the Trainers.
We spent the weekend leading our signature trainer development program, Train the Trainer: a series focused on deepening relationships with our national roster of dynamic trainers and refining our pedagogy. We want to take re:power Academy — our signature training program in grassroots organizing, technology, and campaign management — to new heights.
At a beautiful retreat location in Wisconsin, we had 24 trainers join us, representing some of the the most creative and strategic experts in digital storytelling, campaigning, data and analytics, and community organizing.
We’re proud to say that our roster of trainers reflect who we’ve identified as our people: people of color, particularly women of color, queer folks, and immigrants. They’re trainers who come from a wide range of experiences like:
- Advocating for paid family leave
- Leading campaign efforts like Asians for Stacey Abrams
- Taking cultural organizing to new levels
- Fighting for black liberation with BYP100
- Elevating youth leadership in the fight for immigrant justice with United We Dream
- Raising funds for reproductive justice
We’ll stop there — the point is, they’re fantastic and represent many facets of the movement for social justice. We’re excited about this roster of trainers who are deeply committed to lead with inclusive politics. Here’s a recap of what we did in our time together.
We started our time together by grounding ourselves in the mission, vision and values of re:power. The group quickly jumped into wrestling with big questions, inspired by the grounding — what does it mean to apply the framework of inclusive politics to trainer facilitation? What does it mean to facilitate in rooms that are a majority people of color and multiracial?
We discussed, in depth, what we mean when we say that we uncover leaders and that we trust community knowledge. We know the genius and leadership of people of communities in the frontlines must be centered in our work.
We dug deep into the core skills of training with an intersectional lens and how to navigate challenging group dynamics. We practiced telling stories in trainings, as well as facilitating team exercises. The participants engaged in some role-playing activities, scenarios, and reflections to show how much can be added to a training experience when you include a variety of activities for folks to learn from.
We talked about self care and how to do that work as a trainer. We made time for fun and relationship-building to show the connection that can happen within a group when you create space, in your training, for play and creativity. We’re talking bonfires, Pictionary, and playing by the (or falling into) the lake.
On the final day each trainer facilitated a session and received feedback from the team. We were beaming as we witnessed each trainer take risks, try new techniques, and grow in such a short amount of time. We grew with them too.
That’s a wrap — until next time!
Interested in joining our national roster of trainers? Email us at partnerships@repower.org.
Want to know more about what we’re up to in the world? Tweet at us at @repowerorg, and follow along as we come to a city near you!
