Greater Boston Interfaith Organization-Metro Industrial Areas Foundation Class on Community Organizing and Leadership

An intensive course on Power, Broad-Based Organizing, and Leadership. Content will include simulated exercises and role-play combined with lecture and discussion. Course will be taught by Greater Boston Interfaith Organization/Metro IAF organizer Kathleen Patron, along with guest GBIO leaders.

• Understanding power — How to build power and how to use it to effect change.“The experience profoundly changed my life. I felt powerless and saw others as powerless, but this training showed me we all have the ability to make change. It gave me hope and life. I realized that other people are waiting to be asked what they care about. When we understand that our interests matter, that others share them, that we are not alone, we can act. Working together, change can happen.” — Michaiah Healy, Reservoir Church

• Broad-based organizing — Broad-based organizing as an alternative to traditional activism. What it means to carve out a specific winnable issue and act strategically to get results.“I learned a lot about myself, particularly that I don’t give up easily and that’s a good thing. It was helpful to get new insights about how to think strategically and how to identify leaders who can do that.” — Beverly Williams, Bethel AME

• Understanding leadership — How to develop leadership in ourselves and others. Why 1:1’s and house meetings are central to building power and key to developing leadership.“I learned important ways to become a leader and got ideas on how to develop more leaders.” — Debbie Wengrovitz, Temple Isaiah

Hosted by Reservoir Church. Deadline to register: 4/29