Want to advocate for change but don’t know where to start?

Organizing for Change is a training program that will equip volunteers with the knowledge & skills necessary to effectively advocate in campaigns and with pro-democracy organizations.

Our approach to volunteering and organizing

We’ll equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective volunteer and messenger for the pro-democracy movement.

And, most importantly, we’ll give you the confidence you need to not only volunteer regularly but also to seek out leadership opportunities or start your own campaign.

Get notified the next time this class opens

Sessions and Topics

  • Overview

    Organizing for Change trainings will take place online over Zoom with 6 one hour modules or classes that will take place weekly.

    During each class, participants will receive instruction in skills necessary to confidently take political action. Additionally, participants will receive user-friendly materials.

  • Organizing 101

    Organizing 101 (Basic Political and Policy Advocacy) will center on the methods of taking action for political advocacy. This program will be for people who have never taken action before, or have just begun, and are unsure about where or how to get involved.

    Topics covered will include:

    • How government works and why political advocacy makes a difference
    • How to work across difference and have effective persuasive conversations
    • Basic actions of canvassing, phone banking, text banking, writing letters to the editor
    • How to communicate with elected officials
    • How to use social media as a political tool
    • How to find volunteer opportunities and how to sign up for democracy movement organizations
  • Organizing 102

    Organizing 102 (Leading Other Volunteers) is for those who participated in Organizing 101 or have clear outside experience with the basic actions presented in Organizing 101.

    Topics covered will include:

    • How to tell story of self, us and now
    • Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement
    • Effective 1:1s and How to make a hard ask
    • Radical Hospitality
    • How to host/lead events: House parties, Canvasses, Phone banks, Text Banks, Letters to the Editor Party
    • How to structure and lead a team for volunteer opportunities

Meet Your Facilitator

Amanda Pustz is an experienced organizer located in Madison, Wisconsin. She began her career organizing middle and high school classrooms as a history teacher as well as advising student advocacy groups after graduating from Kalamazoo College. State and national events pulled her to get politically involved, both with her teachers’ union and with electoral politics…[full bio]

Politicians won’t fix government. You will.

Over the last 10 years, 24,000+ volunteers have helped power 197 wins to fix our broken system, fight corruption, hold politicians accountable, and give voters more power.