Activist Training Weekend in D.C. Galvanizes Grassroots Network

By Barbara Hays, Chapter Development Director & Kourtney Stamps, Chapters and States Field Organizer

The National Action Center recently expanded the State Presidents Training Program to include three banks of activist training workshops—action, communication and membership—an addition that will help expand the grassroots efforts of existing chapters and bring new or reactivated chapters up to speed.

Eleven of the new state presidents, coordinators and executive directors—from Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Virginia and Wisconsin—attended the three-day training that began March 4. Many of them also brought other activists and leaders from their states.

Activists from four additional states met during the weekend to plan reorganizing and revitalizing their state organizations, which had lately been inactive. Many are planning state conferences to elect state leadership before the year is out.

In addition to elected leaders, 33 activists from 14 states braved the chill of an extended Washington, D.C., winter for intensive training in the area of their choice. Saturday's program—which offered action, membership and communications tracks—began with NOW Action 101 led by none other than NOW Action Vice President Olga Vives. She helped set the tone for the weekend by giving an overview of NOW's mission with a focus on taking grassroots action—our trademark in the women's rights movement.

After Vives' invocation, participants broke off into separate groups for specialized training. Action track participants evaluated current congressional legislation affecting women and families, and then formulated plans to take action in their communities as part of a grassroots activist network.

Membership track participants polished the skills needed to recruit and retain chapter members and turn them into activists and leaders.

The communications track covered a broad spectrum of skills, from writing press releases and updating websites to preparing for live interviews.

Sunday's program reconvened the large group to develop a year-long plan for their states based on the knowledge and skills gained in their specialized tracks.

"It was so exciting to see some of the young activists, who on Saturday morning seemed uncertain and a little timid," said Vives, "and by Sunday noon they were determined, networking and making plans to energize NOW in their communities."

Before heading back to their chapters to set the world on fire with feminist activism, the participants met to debrief and share their thoughts about the weekend. Each participant noted at least one lesson or skill they would take home to implement.

"Before I got here, I was unsure how my friends and I would proceed with building our chapter, but now our thoughts are much more concrete," wrote one participant in an evaluation of the weekend.

"The training was really effective, and it certainly gave me more confidence with which to face future challenges."

The State Presidents Training Weekend has been part of NOW's chapter and state development outreach since 1992.

At least twice a year, new state leaders visit the National Action Center to take part in workshops designed to assist them with skills in media and lobbying, chapter-level administration, grassroots action, expanding diversity, working in coalitions, public policy and legislative issues, as well as budgeting and fundraising.

The next triple-track Activist Training weekend will be May 20 to 21 at the Action Center. The Saturday night session will be expanded to include a more comprehensive overview of the many issues new activists face when organizing in their communities.

Based on demand, the training will soon do "on-the-road" a similar training for activists who aren't able to come to D.C.