The Praxis Project: Residential Series

Learning Circle: Residential Training

"We left with a clear, concrete idea of how to move our policy. It was great that there were three of us there because we were able to get so much done! Thank you!"

Community Organizing: Building Base, Building Power
September 14-17, 2006
Concord Retreat Center in Yellow Springs, WV
Application deadline July 7, 2006

The Praxis Project Learning Circles are designed for participants to build their capacity to advance health justice in their communities. The trainings create space for continuous reflection, planning and action and draw on the principles of popular education and other liberatory, people-centered pedagogy. Our goal is to support community-led action for change by providing the right mix of interactive learning, hands-on experience, and participant networking. We value opportunities for cross-pollination and mutual learning -- whether at the individual, organizational, or campaign level.

Praxis will offer a residential session this summer at Concord Retreat nestled in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia about an hour from Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport and Washington, DC Participants will receive support from experienced organizers, develop action plans to support their work, forge networks, and build skills - all in a breathtaking retreat setting. To register click on the link below for the training you wish to enroll in.

Who Should Attend. The Praxis Project's residential trainings are designed for activists who view advocacy and policymaking as essential tools for improving their communities. While the Praxis Project accepts applicants who work on a wide range of progressive issues, we especially encourage applications from those who organize people to enhance the health, well being and safety of the community they live in. Examples of such work include access to health care; alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems; nutrition and fitness; reproductive health and rights; violence; environmental pollution; as well as the related areas of racial justice, immigrant and refugee rights, economic justice, disability rights advocacy, and LGBTQ issues. We are committed to closing the health gap facing communities of color, and through the residential trainings we hope to forge alliances for building healthy communities. Given the training area's focus on supporting concrete work, priority is given to those organizations that are in the planning or initial implementation phases of a local or statewide policy advocacy campaign.

Focus on Supporting Organization's "Real Life" Work. As Praxis Project trainings create space for participants to engage in organizational reflection and site specific planning, organizations are encouraged to send more than one participant to a training event. We also ask that organizations consider sending individuals with some concrete involvement in the work relevant to training content area. Although individuals interested in building skills in these areas are welcome, Praxis residential trainings are designed to support planning and skills building for actual advocacy to be/being undertaken.

Costs. The Praxis Project is fortunate to have funding that subsidizes much of the curriculum development, staffing and logistical support for its residential trainings. However, this funding does not cover all expenses. As a result, we are able to offer these three-day residential trainings at a cost of only $500 per participant, which includes tuition, lodging, meals, and airport transfers in the Washington, DC area. As we encourage organizations to send participants in pairs, two participants from the same organization or coalition can attend for $800 or $400 per participant.

Scholarships are available to a select number of participants that can demonstrate financial need. Participants not receiving travel scholarships are responsible for transportation arrangements and costs; the Praxis Project will provide as much information as possible with regard to transportation services and schedules.

Participant Selection. We typically receive more requests for trainings than we have participant slots. As a result, we may not be able to accommodate all applicants. Participants are selected with an eye toward ensuring diversity within the participant pool.

Criteria:

The session can help support the organization's current work. Priority is given to those organizations in the planning or initial implementation phases of a local or statewide policy advocacy campaigns including but not limited to the areas of health justices specified above.
Ability of the organization to leverage training. Specifically, a group or coalition's ability to expand the benefits resulting from participation in the Praxis Project training and the resource materials made available to participants through sharing with other coalition partners and organizational affiliates.
Capacity to translate training content, resource materials and network connections into enhanced coalition and campaign operations, and improved capacity for community change.
Organizational commitment to grassroots organizing and policy advocacy as part of their practice and change model.
Diversity of our participant pool with regard to geographic region, gender, race, sexual orientation and other relevant factors.

Take a tour of the Concord training site.

To register click on the link(s) below for the training for which you wish to enroll.

For additional information or questions regarding the residential training series, please contact Ditra Edwards, Training Director or (202) 234-5921.

Building Strong Networks and Coalitions
Thursday June 15, through Sunday, June 18, 2006
The application process for this residential training is now closed.

Community Organizing: Building Base, Building Power
Thursday Sept 14, through Sunday, Sept 17, 2006
Participant Application

Even when we have a clear idea about the community initiatives we need, we must still have enough power and support to get them enacted. This session will focus on base building for community change and provide participants with hands-on organizing experience and follow up mentoring. Participants will gain key organizing skills including outreach, retention and issue and strategy development to effectively engage people in efforts for long term, community-based change.