National Organizing Workshop

The National Organizing Workshop (NOW) is a program that inspires and prepares members to build relational power and to ensure there is an empowered base in every community to demand changes, hold leaders accountable, and transform how power operates in their community. Together with members from across the country, members will solidify their own personal vision for this work, refine skills that they need to organize for equity, and participate in a local issue assembly with other LEE members on the ground. 

The NOW is a multi-day workshop led by organizing experts from across the nation. Participants will also engage in two mandatory virtual pre-work workshops and a virtual orientation to help prepare for the experience.

Workshop sessions include:

• The Organizing Cycle: Participants will be able to understand the progression of an effective community organizing campaign.
• Base-Building: Participants will learn to use individual relational meetings as a means to increase organizational power.
• Distributive Leadership: Participants will be able to apply the concept of distributive leadership to their own civic leadership structures.
• Power Mapping: Participants will be able to conduct a simple power analysis of their community, given a particular issue.

During this transformational workshop, members will be able to grow their professional network and engage with organizers from across the country. This event will include an interactive mix of sessions, breakouts, problems of practice, and simulations. By the end of the workshop series, participants will develop a plan to contribute to current organizing efforts in their communities focused on achieving educational equity. 

Participants will immediately be able to apply their lessons in their community. LEE staff will also be available to provide follow-up support and resources to NOW participants.

Who Should Join

• You’re an active organizer in your community.
• You are passionate about equity issues in your community and you want to build solutions with your community.
• You’d like to grow your skill set in facilitating social and civic change.
• You have been nominated by a LEE coach.