2020 has been a catalyst for the adaptation of how we teach and coach organizing and public narrative.
We’re excited to share with you the story of one of these training adaptations, the FICPFM Organizing Training Fellowship which wrapped up last week.
As communities in the United States have been rising up to challenge racial injustice and mass incarceration, 76 criminal justice organizers have also been learning the skills of organizing in the first online Organizing Training Fellowship of the Formerly Incarcerated People and Families Movement (FICPFM), delivered by the Leading Change Network.
The Fellowship was launched to strengthen the power of directly impacted people – as individuals, organizations, and as a coalition – to win campaigns that fundamentally transform the criminal justice system and challenge mass incarceration.
Over six weeks, organizers built their capacity to organize by learning five leadership practices for base-building and winning campaigns, including storytelling, relationships, team building, strategy, taking action.
Just last week, 12 members of the original cohort graduated from a follow-up training of trainers program and will now be supported to train and coach others across the FICPFM Movement.
Click on the video below to hear directly from leaders about their experience.
Core and coaching teams
We would like to take this opportunity and thank the heroes who made this all possible. The dedication and contributions of the core and coaching teams throughout the program have made it the success that it is.
The core team consisted of Sarah ElRaheb, James Sleep, Jeff Russet, Kai Mateo, Abel R. Cano, Ana Babovic, and Mais Irqsusi.
The coaching team comprised Anjali Rodrigues, Nneka Akubeze, Kortni Malone, Miya Cain, Marissa Ocampo, R. Akwese Nkemontoh, Kai Mateo, Andrea Ornelas, Maggie Hughes, and Abel R. Cano.
Come and join us for a Training Showcase in November!
We invite you to join us for our first Training Showcase, where we’ll be joined by the Fellowship’s Lead Trainer, Abel Cano, to learn how LCN adapted the teaching of the pedagogy during COVID to the diverse needs of the FICPFM community.
What: Training Showcase: Organizing Fellowship Program for Criminal Justice Reform
When: 10:30-12pm ET, Friday 6th November
Where: Online
The training saw a number of adaptations based on reflections of the community, what language and approach would be most useful, what team composition would best support their learning and what framing could be offered at the opening of each module.
In the session you’ll learn:
- How the idea of the program came about
- How the program was structured
- Successes & challenges
- Specific adaptations for the community
- Key learnings and resources — including the Facilitator’s Guide.
This session will be particularly useful for those training and coaching the pedagogy, wanting to explore how these learnings could be applied to your context.
The session is open to LCN members. If you’re not already a member, join us here!