FAQs – What Can I Expect?
- What is it?
It is an immersive week into leadership training under the Faith-based Grassroots organizing model of Saul Alinsky, hosted and led by national staff at Gamaliel Foundation. This is the model we use in JONAH – engaging people around their values, centered upon the importance of relationship, reflection and collaboration, and empowering marginalized voices.
- Who’s it for?
- Anyone already leading a group/organization/team/congregation and would appreciate deeper learning and more tools.
- Anyone part of JONAH actions/committees.
- Anyone considering more intentional leadership.
- People who are ready to look at what is preventing them from becoming the leader they admire.
- Anyone concerned about issues in our community and in our world, and would appreciate connecting with others who are concerned about the same issues. This training is more than leadership training – it is learning to organize people and money to take action to make a change in an area you are passionate about.
- Why should I go?
It is rare this training is in Wisconsin and may never be in EC again. This training is offered 3x a year all over the country, but if you have been thinking about someday going to weeklong, now is the time! Also, this training is a positively life-changing experience that you can’t get in any other training format. It is well thought out, professional, mentored, and led by people invested in you.
- How will my attending benefit my community or congregation? How will it benefit me?
Our communities need leaders with tools to be a leader WITH the community. We need more people who see in themselves the importance of stepping into the unknown because what is happening in our community is important. We always need to be bringing up new leaders. The more people who have these skills the stronger and more connected our community is.
Congregations will benefit from someone with skills that can highlight its strengths and capacities and tools to grow where the congregation needs. These tools, this experience, will help you deepen the relationships you have with your congregation members and develop new leaders.
You will benefit by gaining clarity on what you are passionate about and why, what is holding you back, and where your power comes from. You will gain tools that will allow you to build your vision of a stronger community. You will become clearer and stronger in your work.
- What am I going to learn?
You will learn principles of grassroots organizing: how organizing works, how to build relationships, how to build teams, key characteristics of a leader, how break the issue of concern into smaller steps of action and build campaigns, how to run effective meetings, how to properly agitate people on your team, how to organize people and money for projects, and much more.
- Is this different from other trainings?
This training is focused on YOU first. Your story is part of every room you enter. How you show up determines how things turn out and how people connect. What you want depends on how much you are willing to put in the work to build it. When you are your best self that is how the community gets its most benefit from you.
- What is the schedule?
- Sunday evening start.
- 8 hours a day all week, with three meal breaks, time in the evenings for 1-1s, reflection, or time off.
- A community action on Thursday evening and other optional engagements in the evenings.
- Saturday morning final session.
- So, are you just sitting in a chair all day?
Yes, BUT if you need other accommodations, they can be arranged! Each session is highly interactive and with engaging training topics. Each session is about 2-3 hours, with a break between.
- If I live in EC, do I have to stay on campus?
YES – the experience works best when you are removed from your regular life, no distractions, and have extra time to build relationships with the 100+ other leaders from around the nation. You are required to stay on campus rather than go home in the evenings.
- Accessibility – walk, parking, plans to accommodate?
Pending…
- What if I can’t afford it?
We can help! Payment plans are an option, and scholarships on any level are available with enough notice.
- I’ve heard it’s intense! Is it a safe and welcoming environment?
The trainers are completely welcome of all peoples, have received trauma-informed training, and are deeply invested in making you the leader you want to be. That said, attendees should be ready to face what’s holding them back, understand the training is to help you see how you show up in the “real world,” have self-care methods for if triggers happen, and have a mentor they trust through the week.
- How does registration work?
For now – indicate interest and someone from JONAH will connect with you to answer questions and help you feel comfortable making the best choice for you. Then when Gamaliel registration opens in a month or two, you sign up and bill the training to WISDOM/JONAH. You will pay back JONAH or work it out with us. Materials for preparations will be emailed to you. JONAH staff will also help you find a mentor for your week experience.
- What if I have dietary restrictions?
All dietary needs can be accommodated, just mention them upon registration.
- Will there be childcare?
There will not be childcare. Our agreement with the University indicates that no children are allowed on campus. Participants have shared it is distracting to try and care for children at the same time while processing this amount and kind of information. Gamaliel strongly encourages attendees to find childcare for the full week.
Here is some other information about the training on the Gamaliel.org website: https://gamaliel.org/events-and-training/important-training-policies/