Organizational Learning Series
Political Education
These virtual workshops draw on AORTA’s extensive experience in supporting movement groups and organizations in building and developing a shared analysis and vision. Through these workshops, AORTA advances a deeper understanding of our sociopolitical conditions and a vision for how to respond to those conditions.
These workshops are designed for groups and organizations that:
want to cultivate a deeper connection to movements for liberation
are hungry for shared analysis and alignment
are seeking to understand why these topics matter to their organization
want to deepen the resilience and power of their social change work.
Read on for more details about the workshops and booking process and check out the video introduction to political education at AORTA.
Please note that due to tax issues, we are unable to work with clients outside of the U.S.
Another Workplace is Possible: Visions, Mindsets, and Practices of Democratic Groups
A liberated future requires humane workplaces where people have a say in decisions that impact them, power is shared, members can self-govern, and people can resist replicating patterns of domination within the organization.
We have noticed an important and exciting set of transitions, experiments, and shifts connected to shared leadership and democratic practice, across sectors, geographies, and scales. In this workshop, we will root in an emerging vision for democratic workplaces; build awareness of traits that exemplify a democratic worker or manager; offer storytelling for insight and inspiration rooted in our experience and learnings from others; and name some of the challenges and contradictions in sharing power in our groups. (Workshop Length: 3 hrs)
Liberation for All of Us: Queer and Trans Liberation as Collective Liberation
Attacks on trans and queer communities are on the rise; come learn why—and how all of our liberation is at stake. This training will unpack the ways that political violence against trans and queer people is foundational to a right wing strategy that attacks all oppressed communities and makes us all less safe. We will look at how anti-trans animus is inextricable from other systems of oppression, and how fighting back is crucial to all of our movements. Learn how to integrate a critical queer and trans lens into your work; shine a light on some of the often-hidden forces that attack, obstruct, and co-opt our liberation; and better understand the political landscape that impacts all of our lives. (Workshop Length: 3 hrs)
Uprooting White Supremacy in Organizations
Our Uprooting White Supremacy Training for organizations is a 2-hour online political education opportunity where we unpack the common ways that white supremacy tends to show up inside of social change organizations. AORTA will share specific examples from our work with hundreds of nonprofits, grassroots organizations, academic institutions, worker co-ops, and progressive businesses; highlight common challenges and missteps in policy and practices; and lay the groundwork for ongoing discussion and change work within your organization.
Check out a sample agenda, review our extensive FAQ, and more about pricing, scheduling, and consulting by clicking the Learn More button below.
Workshop Descriptions
Political Education FAQs
How do I sign my organization up?
To submit a scheduling request, fill out this short form.
What is political education?
AORTA defines political education as the process of developing shared analysis, language, and vision around:
how power is operating
Where we are located in the struggle
What we need to move towards liberation
Why does AORTA do political education?
We do political education because it builds leaderful, democratic organizations. All members of an organization are able to analyze political conditions, think about strategy, and articulate a political position and direction. Political education contributes to strong formations that can build power, win campaigns, and act in alignment with internal values.
What is the purpose of these political education workshops?
The purpose of these workshops is to inspire organizations to advance in the direction of liberation by shifting power relations and stretching into new ways of being in the world. This advancement requires a deeper understanding of our sociopolitical conditions and a vision for how to respond to those conditions, both of which these workshops offer.
I have more questions about the workshops. Who should I contact?
For any questions about the political education workshops, please email trainings[at]aorta.coop. For questions regarding Uprooting White Supremacy in Organizations, please schedule an intake call with Roan.
CLIENT SERVICES + PROGRAMS
Interested in learning more about our custom client work or programs designed for organizational teams? Check out our additional offerings below.
From facilitating 200 person coalition campaign strategy meetings to monthly 1 on 1 coaching with young workers, AORTA is called into facilitate, coach, consult, and train in movement spaces across the country. Our work spans a wide variety of expertise including deep organizational culture change, strategy, and planning.
Confluence is a 4 month intensive program to help participating organizational teams bridge the gap between their organizational values, practices, and structure.
Tidelines is an 8 week program to designed to help shared leadership teams build greater capacity for shared leadership (e.g. shifting from solo ED to a different model; building a culture of collaboration; designing structures for democratic governance organization-wide).