Training and Organizing

CFS works with local communities, organizations and schools to create intergenerational spaces through which youth and adults explore issues of injustice, develop organizing campaigns, and work towards building a sustaining social change movement.  This work is done through trainings, national convenings, and research and evaluation.

Trainings

The Chicago Freedom School offers trainings that builds the capacity of adults to work with youth as partners and shares organizing approaches that are anti-oppressive and rooted in history.  Specific training dates are listed below.  For full details about the customized trainings we offer, download the CFS Training Menu.

UPCOMING TRAININGS:

Being A Trans Ally: A Training for Organizers, Youth Workers, Teachers and Social Service Providers

Are you interested in making your organization, school, workplace or community more inclusive and supportive of transgender, genderqueer and gender non-conforming people? Through interactive exercises and dialogue, this day-long training will explore how transphobia at individual, cultural and institutional levels prevent people from accessing necessary educational, social service and organizing opportunities–and discuss ways for professionals, teachers and organizers to intervene. Participants will come away with practice, tools and resources to better enable your work as an ally.  This training will be facilitated by Liberation Education and Facilitation (LEAF) Chicago and sponsored by the Chicago Freedom School.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

10am-4pm (lunch provided)

Chicago Freedom School, 719 S. State St., 3rd floor (CFS is an accessible space)

Fill out the registration form here!

Fee: $35-65, sliding scale.

$35.00 – Trans Ally Training Fee < $50K budget $45.00 – Trans Ally Training Fee $50K – $100K budget $55.00 – Trans Ally Training Fee $100 – $150K budget $65.00 – Trans Ally Training Fee over $150K budget

UNDERSTANDING ADULTISM and CREATING PARTNERSHIPS with YOUTH

Adultism is a form of oppression that privileges adults over youth and children. It perpetuates age-based stereotypes that limit the potential for intergenerational power-building.   When people practice adultism, young people are viewed as objects instead of resources.   This training will help adults learn more about how to dismantle adultism culturally, institutionally, interpersonally, and personally in order to create healthy partnerships with youth.  Participants will be challenged to learn what they can do to be an ally to young people in schools and organizations.

The next “Understanding Adultism” training is:

Saturday, March 3, 2012
11 am – 2 pm
CFS Center for Social Change, 719 S. State St., Ste. 3N

Pre-registration is required.   Complete the registration for the Adultism training online here.

The non-refundable fee for the Understanding Adultism training is $20. You may pay in person by check or cash on the day of training or via credit card below under “Training Fees.”  Only pre-paid registrations are guaranteed a space in the workshop.

This workshop is intended for adults who are working with youth in schools, neighborhoods, organizations, and places of worship.  Please contact Hannah Jacoby at hannah@chicagofreedomschool.org with any questions.

ANTI-RACISM TRAINING FOR WHITE ALLIES

Join the Chicago Alliance for Racial Equity (CARE) for a training on how white people can be effective allies to people of color.  The workshop addresses how white privilege is manifested in individuals and society, how to develop practices and tools that interrupt racism, and how to take action against racism as individuals and as a collective.

The next Anti-racism Training for White Allies is:

Saturday, TBA
11 am – 5 pm
CFS Center for Social Change, 719 S. State St., Ste. 3N

Pre-registration is required. Please complete the registration for the Anti-racism Training online here.

The non-refundable fee for the Anti-Racism Training is $35. You may pay in person by check or cash on the day of training or via credit card below under “Training Fees.”   Only pre-paid registrations are guaranteed a space in the workshop.

This training is intended for people who identify as white who want to work as allies to people of color.  Please contact Hannah Jacoby at hannah@chicagofreedomschool.org with any questions.

TRAINING FEES:

Please pay the appropriate fee for the training you would like to attend here:

$20.00 – Adultism Training $35.00 – Anti-Racism Training for White Allies

REV UP:   PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SUPPORTING YOUTH ACTIVISM

CFS offers a four-day training institute for youth organizers and youth workers who are interested in exploring how to incorporate social change approaches into their work.   Organizers who are working with youth on campaigns or issues are invited to this institute which will feature workshops led by social change organizations across the city and opportunities to network with others in the same field.

The next “Rev Up” training will be held April 10 – 13, 2011, at the Chicago Freedom School Center for Social Change, 719 S. State St., Ste. 3N, Chicago, IL.   Contact Alex Poeter (alex@chicagofreedomschool.org) if you would like to be added to the mailing list or wish to register for the training in April 2012.

Fee includes a non-refundable $100 registration deposit.

Spring 2012 Rev Up! Training - Register online.

Download flyer for Spring 2012 Rev Up! Training

Check out a Rev Up! Sample Agenda

Please pay for your registration for Rev Up!  here:

$325.00 – Rev Up! Early Bird Registration Fee (on or before March 26) $375.00 – Rev Up! Regular Registration Fee (March 27 or later)

Partnerships

CHICAGO ALLIANCE for RACIAL EQUITY (CARE)
CARE, a multiracial and intergenerational initiative that provides workshops through which white allies explore the concepts of white privilege and white supremacy, obtain skills that help them interrupt racism and white supremacy within their own organizations and communities, and collectively work with people of color to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy.

CARE has published an editorial letter entitled, “Is Racial Profiling Racist?” in response to recent cases of racism and white supremacy in the news and to promote public dialogue.

EDUCATION FOR LIBERATION
As a member of the Education for Liberation Network, CFS collaborates with organizations throughout the United States to organize national conferences, develop new education models that foster leadership development among students and utilize education as a means to promote social change and help build the capacity of movements.