Overview
The Ella Baker Black Organizers Group is for aspiring Black (African-American, Caribbean, African, Afro-Latino) organizers wishing to improve their skills to make an impact for racial justice. This small group immerses participants in the fundamentals of social change organizing, base building, leadership development, and campaign planning.

Selected participants will develop their skills through group workshops, campaign simulations, and working with guest speakers. Through out-of-class assignments (e.g. readings, videos, and exercises) participants will hone their ability to be successful Black organizers.

This program is for:
Aspiring Black individuals who want to organize Black communities. This program is ideal for those who want to develop the political analysis and fundamental organizing skills to center Black issues in our state.

Schedule
We have two cohorts one in the Spring and one in the Fall.

Objectives
Through this program, participants will be able to:

• Apply best practices from Black-led organizers, movements, and Change Agents throughout history

• Build the base among both Black and multiracial communities

• Facilitate leadership development among Black communities

• Coordinate issue campaigns with a sense of urgency (e.g. tackling the wealth gap, mass incarceration, and educational inequity)

• Improve personal productivity and ability to “get things done”

• Analyze how to challenge institutional and systemic racism and white supremacy (e.g. organizations, policies, narratives, etc.)

• Create detailed action plans, thorough strategies, and a diverse tactical repertoire

• Foster committed action-oriented groups

• Translate values into a public narrative that motivates others to action

Organization
This program involves a mix of facilitated class discussion, individual reading, involvement in an external “organizing project,” group work, etc.. Below is the full breakdown of expectations.

1. In-person sessions
Through structured learning, participants will review course readings/videos and how they connect to their organizing project. Sessions will involve full- and small-group discussions, practice of skills, and guest presentations.

2. Practicing skills
All participants will do field practice assignments, join/create an issue campaign, or coordinate a neighborhood team in order to practice the skills used in the program.

3. Out-of-session assignments
Participants will occasionally be asked to work on an assignment in-between sessions. Some assignments could include: readings, watching videos, writing why they wish to run, researching policy, etc.

4. Coaching sessions
Interested participants may also have meetings with a coach during or after the program to better understand the process of organizing.