Learn the skills necessary to organize, trouble-shoot, empower, and strengthen your local movement for cleaner energy. Groups offering trainings: Sierra Club & The Beyond Coal campaign, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Green Corps, Greenpeace, Piedmont Environmental Council Virginia, Keeper of the Mountains Foundation
Trainings
Story of Self, Chris Linsmayer, Green Corps Sat 9-10:20 McBryde 126
- How can you lead others if they don’t know who you are, where you come from, and what your values are? Mastering the art of public narrative allows you to establish firm ground with your constituency in which to collaborate, lead and find common purpose. Each of us has a story to tell that can move others to action. Story of Self is the first part to public narrative where you will learn to convey why you are called to leadership in your movement.
Coalition Building and Power Mapping, Eleni Healey, Green Corps Sat 9-10:20 McBryde 234
- Coalition building is one of the most important tools that an organizer can use in building a strong and successful grassroots campaign. We will discuss how to identify, reach out to, and engage with key coalition partners.
- Get an inside look at how an individual/organization can build long-lasting relationships with the local media as a means to win one’s campaign. Topics include: asking a reporter out to coffee, how to initialize the relationship, time frame in which to follow & best practices.
How to reach far into a community for support & mastering phone banking, Emily Sherman Sat 10:40-12 McBryde 202
Lobbying: NOT a Curse Word / Federal Efforts to End Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining, Mike McCoy, Appalachian Voices Sat 10:40-12 Squires 342
- Mike McCoy of Appalachian Voices will lead a discussion on how talking to elected officials and relevant agencies is a crucial part of the larger movement to stop mountaintop removal coal mining. Come learn why lobbying is no longer a curse word when it is citizen lead and how you can be a more effective agent of change by bugging your representatives.
De-escalation Techniques (NVDA), Caroline Hansley Sat 10:40-12 McBryde 204
Training for Trainers, Sam Corron Sat 10:40-12 McBryde 134
Effective Lobbying, Aaron Mintzes, Earthworks Sat 1:20-2:40 McBryde 202
- We will cover the important concepts in effective lobbying focusing especially on the United States Congress. Some discussions of the current political climate as well as state level lobbying techniques will also be discussed. Attendees can participate in role-playing break out sessions with mock elected officials.
Consensus Model for Decision Making, Alex Davenport & Lou Lepping, Mountain Justice Sat 1:20-2:40 Squires 234
- Part 1 of 2: How to run an effective meeting, and implementing the consensus model to make group decisions. Topics explored are: meeting set-up and structure, and the ins and outs of the consensus model.
Campaign & Event Planning, Emily Sherman, Kara Dodson, Sam Corron Sat 1:20-2:40 McBryde 204
Meeting with Decision Makers, Eleni Healey, Green Corps Sat 3-4:20 Squires 300
News and Media Relations, Grant, Christine, and Alex Sat 3-4:20 McBryde 204
Facilitation Methods, Alex Davenport & Lou Lepping, Mountain Justice Sat 3-4:20 SQ 232
- Part 2 of 2: This workshop explores in more detail how to run an effective meeting by utilizing strong facilitation skills, a solid agenda, and a clear decision-making process.
Developing Leaders: Organizing yourself out of a job, David Pinsky, Greenpeace Sat 3-4:20 Squires 236
- In order to build a movement that creates social change and wins campaigns, you need a team of leaders. This training will give you the keys to success for organizing yourself out of a job by identifying and developing leaders in your group.
Anti-Oppression, Bill Price, Sierra Club (Environmental Justice) Sun 9-10:20 McBryde 202
- Privilege, power, and how the mainstream defines the “rules.”
Canvassing for fundraising and support on an issue, Ryan Bowen Sun 9-10:20 McBryde 209
