Training for Social Action Trainers (TSAT) For People of Color

Join an intensive training for people of color using training and group facilitation in social justice movement building work wanting to take their training skills to the next level. This workshop covers fundamentals of experiential education and dynamic facilitation, designed for all experience levels – from brand new activists seeking skills to seasoned organizers and trainers honing their craft.

Training and facilitation skills are a key element to successful organizing and movement building. These skills develop new leaders, transfer skills and knowledge between generations, create more participation within groups, resolving conflict and provide the discipline needed for successful actions. Yet, few people who play the role of educator, trainer, or facilitator in their work are offered an opportunity to learn a framework for training that supports their experience or a chance to hone their skills among other trainers. Leadership by people of color is vital to the critical movements of our time. This workshop is designed to support participants to develop a stronger sense of confidence, options, tools, and approaches that will work for them to be effective in their leadership roles.

Note: This workshop covers the same content as our Training for Social Action Trainers (TSAT) with some adaptations meant to help participants get the most out of a people of color space.

WORKSHOP FEE This workshop costs $200-$700 US, sliding scale based on income. The fee includes over 23 hours of training, meals during workshop hours, and simple lodging for people who request it. To determine your fee, use the chart below.

If your income is…	$15,000	$15,001 – $25,000	$25,001 – $35,000	$35,001 – $45,000	$45,001 – $55,000	over $55,000
You Pay…	$200	$270	$350	$425	$550	$650

If you are being sent by an organization with an annual budget over $200,000, the fee is $700 US.

As a participant, you will ...

Gain greater awareness about yourself and your strengths as a facilitator;
Get a chance to take risks, experiment and refine skills in a safe and supportive environment;
Get the stimulation of fresh approaches and increased options;
Receive personal guidance from experienced trainers in a small group setting ;
Learn new tools that are easily adapted, principles of workshop design, skills for working with diversity and a better understanding of how to use experiential education methods effectively.

Who should attend this workshop?

We prioritize applications from folks from organizations and groups active in social justice movements and building power in their communities.

We accept applications from diverse movement roles – volunteer activists, rank and file leaders, staff organizers, cultural workers, spiritual leaders, artists – and invite applications from both new facilitators and experienced trainers.

If you’re not sure if this workshop is right for you, feel free to be in touch before you submit an application.

Goals

To enhance workshop facilitation and design skills
To increase the training tools you can use effectively
To gain greater awareness of yourself as facilitator
To meet and receive support from other trainers and learn about new developments in the field

Workshop Format

Exact times subject to change. The workshop begins with dinner and registration at 6PM Day One and runs until 6PM Day Three. The workshop hours for each day are as follows:

Day One, start 6:00 PM, end between 9:00-10:00 PM, dinner provided
Day Two, (8:00 or 9:00 AM breakfast) start 9:00 or 10:00 AM, end between 9:00-10:00 PM, lunch and dinner provided
Day Three, (8:00 or 9:00 AM breakfast) start 9:00 or 10:00AM, end by 6:00 PM, lunch and afternoon snacks provided.

Though the hours of this workshop are long, we’ve found that our training style helps keep people engaged, alert and energized through the time. We also provide short and extended breaks within our agenda and encourage participants to take care of themselves so that they can stay fully present. Please contact us in advance if you have questions or concerns about the long hours of this workshop. The workshop is designed as an experiential package with each session building on the previous session. We want to create the best learning environment possible for participants to absorb the combined learning of each session and therefore WE DO NOT ALLOW PARTIAL ATTENDANCE, you must commit to taking the entire workshop. The central components of this workshop help participants build their skills in the areas of creating safety and cohesion so that a group can do its best work together, using experiential activities to elicit the wisdom of the group and guide their learning, working with diversity within groups, and principles of design that support stronger workshops. Throughout the workshop there are multiple opportunities for discussion about specific questions or challenges that you may want to explore. This workshop is a fun but rigorous workshop and as participants stretch themselves to become better trainers, strong emotions can surface. We do our best to support you to take care of yourself in this workshop and get the most learning out of challenging moments.

Application and Acceptance Process

We aim to confirm participants at least a month before the training. We’re mindful that folks coming from out of town need time to book travel, and we’ll follow up as soon as possible about the acceptance process. Please don’t book travel or accommodations until we confirm registration.

We’re committed to accepting a diverse group for each training and to supporting folks with less access to resources to attend. People of color, working class folks, and folks from less-resourced organizations are encouraged to apply. We also aim to accept people with specific groups, projects, or organizations back home to apply what they learn. If you’d prefer to apply by phone instead of online, there is a phone number included in the application.

Judith C. Jones Fellowship for Trainers of Color

Graduates of Training for Social Action Trainers who identity as people of color are eligible to apply for our Judith C. Jones Fellowship for Trainers of Color. Learn more about the Fellowship, here.