Camp Courage: Sign up to participate in our Bay Area training in Oakland on May 2-3
Inspired by the "Camp Obama" trainings that powered neighbor-to-neighbor organizing across America in 2008, Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principles and skills of community organizing to activists working to restore marriage equality to California.
Drawing on techniques honed for decades by progressive social movements, Camp Courage teaches empowerment, team building, leadership development, and grassroots organizing skills.
Camp Courage is designed primarily for new activists or those who have never engaged with the broader community about marriage equality as well as veteran LGBT activists and allies.
Camp Courage trainings have already been held in Los Angeles, Fresno and San Diego. All three events have received phenomenal reviews from participants, with evaluations averaging 9.26 (on a scale of 1 to 10).
To see highlights of the Los Angeles training, watch the YouTube video below.
WHAT: Camp Courage, for marriage equality activists and organizersCamp Courage will cover basic community and political organizing skills, including:
WHERE: Oakland (location address provided after registration confirmed)
WHEN: Saturday, May 2 (8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.) AND Sunday, May 3
(8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
NOTE: There will be a reception on Saturday night, location TBA.
- Finding your voice by telling your “story of self”
- Leadership development
- Principles of successful organizing
- Developing collaboration and building effective teams
- Techniques of voter persuasion
- Organizing a phonebank
- Canvassing
- Tabling
- Throwing house parties
- Online organizing
A background in community organizing or an organizational affiliation is not a requirement to attend Camp Courage. The only requirements are energy, commitment, and a desire to broaden your leadership abilities.
Camp Courage is organized by Torie Osborn, Mike Bonin, and Lisa Powell. Osborn is a senior advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the United Way, and former executive director of the Liberty Hill Foundation and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Bonin is a former regional field organizer for Obama for America, a veteran campaign staffer, and a community activist. Powell is an attorney, longtime trainer, community leader, and founder of United Lesbians of African Heritage.
Our Bay Area training is the fourth of several planned around the state in the coming months. If you are interested in our future trainings, please email CampCourage@couragecampaign.org.
If you have any questions, please email: CampCourage@CourageCampaign.org
In addition to the major sponsors -- CREDO Mobile, the Human Rights Campaign and the Dolby Family -- that have provided the crucial funding to make Camp Courage possible, several amazing organizations will be represented at Camp Courage Bay Area, supporting the event or sending staff to participate or present:
ACLU of Northern California, Alameda Labor Council, API Equality, API Family Pride, Bay Area Coalition of Welcoming Congregations, California Faith for Equality, California Nurses Association, City of Refuge, COLAGE, East Bay LGBT Democratic Club (EBL/GDC), Ella Baker Center, Equality California, Equal Roots, Erase the H8, FAIR, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA), GLIDE, GroundSpark -- The Respect for All Project, GSA Network, Harvey Milk Democratic Club, HONOR PAC, Jewish Mosaic, Jordan/Rustin Coalition, Marriage Equality USA, MoveOn.org Political Action, National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), National Union of Healthcare Workers, One Struggle One Fight, Our Family Coalition, Pacific Center, Queer People of Color Conference, Rainbow Chamber, RYSE Youth Center in Richmond, San Francisco City of Refuge, San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Shades of Equality Coalition, Sistahs Steppin' in Pride, Stop8.org, Temenos Catholic Worker, Unite the Fight, Zuna Institute - National Advocacy Organization for Black Lesbians and various Bay Area alumni/ae of Obama for America.