Rising Organizers

Rising Organizers was created in 2106 to train new and emerging activists who wanted to build grassroots power. We work to develop new progressive leaders and activists in order to create more effective progressive movements. In order to achieve this goal, we provide free training to help progressive activists achieve concrete goals in their communities, and to strengthen the progressive movement in the region. Our services address our country's current crisis, and build capacity for the future. We envision a United States where the progressive movement is strong and strategic, and where the people have the power to engage on the issues that ignite their hearts. The shock of 2016 galvan... read more Rising Organizers was created in 2106 to train new and emerging activists who wanted to build grassroots power. We work to develop new progressive leaders and activists in order to create more effective progressive movements. In order to achieve this goal, we provide free training to help progressive activists achieve concrete goals in their communities, and to strengthen the progressive movement in the region. Our services address our country's current crisis, and build capacity for the future. We envision a United States where the progressive movement is strong and strategic, and where the people have the power to engage on the issues that ignite their hearts. The shock of 2016 galvanized common citizens to get involved as never before. Many were young people and first-time political actors without experience-a valuable resource for sustained progressive action. However, the infrastructure for training, supporting, and channelling these energies is weak and spotty. Political parties and large advocacy organizations, many representing powerful interests, have deep pockets and armies of consultants and trainers to support their causes. Progressive grassroots organizations are systematically underserved by the training community. This lack of support has contributed to hopelessness and apathy among progressive constituencies, leading to declines in political participation. 2016 turned this on its head by shocking millions of progressive citizens into thousands of expressions of commitment and action, which now desperately need the help of experienced trainers and advisors. This is the core need RO is designed to address. The progressive movement is only as strong as its leaders and their capacity to mobilize more people, but many new leaders do not have access to core skills of community organizing. Our organization is committed to providing these emerging talents with access to basic competencies with a particular but not exclusive audience of young people, people of color and members of the LGBT community. By cultivating the skills, motivation, confidence, and vision of young progressives-who then turn their attention to local and national progressive organizing work-we are strengthening the larger social justice movement in all we do. Our strategies move people to action in several ways: Attendees of our public training become leadership fellows, and our fellows join Rising Organizers' teams that then carry out our local organizing training and movement-building work. This process builds channels to train community members and equip them with necessary resources and skills to build power in their communities. In building relationships with local groups, we are able to increase the supply of trained organizers and leaders who can support other local organizations, contributing to a stronger, larger progressive base.