Why This Matters

Effective organizing requires organizers to continuously refine their skills and capacities. Consequences of failing to consistently support the growth of entry through senior-level organizers are staff burnout and ineffective campaign strategies. Most troubling, it contributes to the underrepresentation of marginalized people in leadership positions within the community development and social justice movement overall by making success and advancement more difficult to obtain. The Center for Community Leadership helps organizers to build both their abilities and their resilience so they can stay engaged in social justice work for the long-term.

The Academy

Introductory Course

The Introductory Course offers participants an overview of community change and organizing. During the course, participants deepen their understanding of social conditions as the context for organizing; explore different models of organizing historically and currently; develop their understanding of how to engage community in improving their own conditions; develop skills for building the leaders of community; and increase capacity for organizers to lead successful campaigns that win concrete changes for people. The course meets from 10 am to 1 pm, two Fridays each month starting in September and runs through the end of June of the following year.

Session Topics include: base building, leadership development, work planning/time management, meeting facilitation, campaigns strategy, and more.

2021-2022 Tuition: $2,000 ANHD members $2,500 non-members.

Applications are currently closed; please check back in Spring 2022.

Advanced Course

The Advanced Course is for experienced organizers to read, reflect, and explore ways to deepen their analysis and practice of community organizing. We designed the course to help organizers elevate and deepen their institutional and individual opportunities for growth. It is structured by five topics that all look at developing staff and creating a culture of excellence; the five topics include Base Building, Leadership Development, Political Education, Coalitions and Campaigns, and Institutional Growth.  For each topic, the class explores theoretical frameworks, reflects on current practices for their strengths and challenges, identifies new practices to try, and then reflects on implementing them. The class is participatory and discussion-oriented, rather than lecture-style. Participants, the instructor, and additional advisers all contribute to the on-going development of the course. The course meets from 10 am to 1 pm, two Fridays each month starting in September and through the end of June of the following year.

2021-2022 Tuition: $2,000 ANHD members / $2,500 non-members.

Applications are currently closed; please check back in Spring 2022.

The Apprenticeship

The Organizing Apprenticeship is a unique opportunity for community members to elevate their leadership within community-based organizations. Host organizations apply and nominate a member leader to work with them in a 10-month paid position, including benefits. Apprentices will be trained as community organizers in cohort-based model, form a strong bond with fellow organizers across issues areas, and deepen their knowledge of the organizing and advocacy in New York City. Host organizations gain increased staff capacity to further local campaigns while also receiving supervision support throughout the 10-month program.

2021-2022 Apprenticeship Stipend: $30,000
2021-2022 Host Fee: $20,000

Applications are currently closed, please check back in Spring 2022.

Supplemental Workshops & Trainings 

All participants in either course of the Organizing Academy have free access to all ANHD trainings for the duration of their class (September-June).

*Given the current public health situation in New York City, we will be monitoring to see the feasibility of holding in-person classes during the 2021-2022 year. While we are prepared to continue running our programs digitally, it is our hope that we can resume in-person classes before the end of the current course year.

Our Alumni

Post-graduation, we continue supporting CCLers and the organizing movement with ongoing educational and networking opportunities. Alumni stay connected through our LinkedIn page and through our Facebook Group. If you'd like to be added, please contact Jennifer Lopez (Jennifer.L@anhd.org).