Participant Logistics and Preparation:
2023 Advanced Popular Education Training (APET)

THURSDAYS: February 2nd, 16th, & 23rd
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM (*EST)
​LAC: Thursday, March 9th, 1:00 - 3:30 PM (*EST)
Welcome Advanced Popular Education Training participants! We are genuinely excited that you will be part of our February 2023 learning circle!

We are coming together for three days of learning, reflection, and planning so that we can:
  • examine and deepen our values, approach, and grounding;
  • examine how we have applied popular education to our work (and our own life) so far;
  • understand our own strengths, challenges, and areas of growth (personally and in our member-leadership development);
  • understand our organization's/project's strengths, challenges, and areas of growth; and
  • immediately apply what we learn and create in this space to our current initiatives, campaigns, and constituency building projects and strategies.

​To do this all of this we will be leaning into our creativity and our breath, our past and future vision, and what we must embody while centering the work we are moving forward.  

​Below you will find logistics and details about the 2023 Advanced Popular Education Training (APET), including the individual 1-on-1 accompaniment sessions, the post-training Learning & Action Circle (LAC), as well as the manual/specialized box of materials and the shared participant G-Drive folder where all of the online training resources will be posted. 

Please note: we expect that all participants will attend the APET and the post-training LAC in their entirety. Each session has been planned thoroughly in sections that build on each other. Limited participation will affect individual learning, organizational learning, and the learning of the group as a whole. Inform us ASAP if unexpected events come up so that we can plan accordingly.
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​We will do our best to support you, your well-being, and your learning. We are here for you. 
Connect with us if you have any questions.

2023 Advanced Popular Education Training (APET)

click on the tab items to access the information
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  • ​TRAINING HOURS: 11: 00 AM - 5:30 PM (*EST)
    1 hour break/lunch:     The schedule will vary. Approximately from 1:15 - 2:15 PM​
    There will be scheduled smaller breaks during each session.
    Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9184162715
    ​Optional Q&A:     5:30 PM - 6:00 PM (*EST)

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    SESSION 1: Thursday, February 2nd

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    | 1-on-1 accompaniment sessions & application of ritual activity |

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    SESSION 2: Thursday, February 16th

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    SESSION 3: Thursday, February 23rd 


    ​We will open the space every morning at 10:50 AM (EST). APET trainers and MM team members will be available to answer any questions. 

    Remember that we have designed an initial 1 - 1.5 hour individual accompaniment session for each APET participant between SESSION 1 and SESSION 2 of the advanced training. This will be discussed in detail during our first day together. Read the 1-on-1 Accompaniment tab on this webpage for more information.

    We have also added a 30-minute optional Q&A at the end of every session (5:30 - 6:00 PM EST). Each optional Q&A will be recorded and posted on the Participant G-Drive Folder.

    Training Recordings
    We will be recording each training session to ensure that anyone who cannot attend (due to unforeseen difficulties or an emergency) is able to catch up and rejoin.​

    If you miss any portion of the training sessions you will receive an email from us with the recording link and password. However, please remember that your absence will be felt by the entire group, and that it will keep you from fully integrating and processing what we learn together. Connect with us if you have any questions or need to access the training recordings.

    PLEASE NOTE: If personal logistics (childcare, health issues, work, etc.) begin to limit your participation, talk to us. We will do our best to support you and your learning. Inform us ASAP if unexpected events come up so that we can plan accordingly.

  • Preparation and Space Creation
    This online training will combine "in person" virtual sessions with individual "homework" and "1-on-1 accompaniment" to allow you to learn new skills, deepen your current knowledge, integrate all of the learning, put it immediately into practice in your current work, and process the results with MM team members and other training peers. We feel strongly about the application of new skill sets into your current work during the course of the training as the individual accompaniment will not be fruitful if this vital step is overlooked. We encourage you to discuss this with your organization, group, and/or team and ensure that you will have opportunities to practice the content you are developing between SESSIONS 1 and 2.

    We ask all participants to come ready to share, to create community, to learn from each other, to energize each other in positive ways, and to laugh.

    ​We also ask that you come prepared to examine and move past discomforts and challenges in participating in liberatory, creative/arts-based, and non-linear transformational spaces, especially virtually. We will be engaging in movement, play, being silly, and will be using “non-traditional” techniques to create a space for individual and collective growth; we need everyone to show up open to the process and prepared to contribute for the benefit of all. Remember that willingness is the first step towards visioning and molding the space that we want to create together.

    Your APET materials box contains     art-making supplies to support both your comfort and learning during our online training sessions. All of the items in the box have been carefully selected to provide solid ideas for space creation, ritual design, and code development activities that we will ask you to develop and apply to your own community work during our month together.

    Lastly, we will incorporate somatics-based activities throughout the APET to support everyone's physical-emotional-imaginal well-being. We will also share an "Aftercare Support Menu" with techniques to help your body relax and move through discomfort and possible activation. These activities will also provide you with examples to use with your own members and communities to cultivate trust and relationship building as well as self-regulation and healing.

    Please note that we will be taking screen shots/photos during each training session that will be used to create slide shows that will be presented when we return from breaks. We may also use a few group and/or individual photos on our website. Let us know if you have any preferences that we should keep in mind.

    The creation of a learning space is an integral part of popular education and we at Movement Matters take this element very seriously and joyfully. ​If you have any hesitations about this, connect with us before the 2023 APET so we can answer your questions and support you.
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  • Your Learning Space​
    We recommend that you begin setting up your learning space well before the first session of the training. Creating a learning space that facilitates *your presence* is the most important element of our virtual circle. Within the confines of your living or office area, arrange a joyful, comfortable space for you to be open, curious, creative, energized, and inspired. You will need a space large enough to move, stretch, and play.  An additional intention-space (or altar) with flowers, water, candles, and photos/symbols/reminders of your ancestors and your communities may also help, especially as we will be presenting art pieces that celebrate our own lives, work, and learning. Give yourself permission to care for your breath, care for your body, care for your heart.

    Recommendations:
    1. Very comfortable chairs, couches, floor mats/blankets, cushions and any sitting or standing supports that will help you feel relaxed, reassured, and focused as you breathe, move, dance, learn, and share virtually.

    2. A playlist of music that moves you to feel joyful, calm, energized, centered, focused, inspired. Music that reminds you of who YOU are and that moves you to sing or dance. (Set up the playlist so that it begins slowly, builds energy, and then ends also with slower pieces so you can easily use it to mirror the flow of the sessions. Remember to familiarize yourself with the playlist so you can easily access the songs you need when you need them while doing individual work or on breaks during the training sessions.) We may ask you to share a favorite song with the group.

    3. Loose, stretchy-type, layered, comfortable clothing. We will be moving and dancing together. If you desire, wear items you really like and/or have meaning to you and adorn yourself in ways that make you feel good and inspired to share your whole self with the group.

    4. Energizing food/snacks. Water, tea/coffee/juices. We will have 1 hour "lunch" breaks usually from 1:15 - 2:15 PM (*EST). It may be good to prepare your food ahead of time so you can spend the majority of your break relaxing.

    5. Materials that will support your creativity and comfort while you are learning, such as coloring pencils, special markers, water colors, scissors, glues, adhesive tapes, sticky notes, chart paper, varied pieces of cutout colored paper, stickers, journals/notebooks, favorite pens, stones, twigs, leaves, wool, twine, beads, old magazines, graphics, tarot cards, etc. 

    6. Camera Set-Up:  We will incorporate stretching, movement/dance, and standing together throughout our sessions. Set up your cameras/computers/phones, microphones/speakers/headphones and your learning space so that everyone can see as much of your body/yourself as possible and also see as much of the art pieces and activities you are creating and presenting in this training. Preparing for this will help us all flow much more smoothly.

    ​Remember that your willingness to share yourself with the group is the spark that will create the magic and that will move all of us to also share ourselves and be witnessed. 
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  • Training Manual and Specialized Materials Box
    Each of you has received a carefully (and lovingly) assembled box from us that contains training materials as well as a hard copy of the training manual. Please familiarize yourself with all of the contents of the package, make it your own! This way we can all begin from the same place.

    You will be using many of these materials during the training, particularly for the creation and/or inspiration of popular education based activities (rituals, codes, etc.) that you will develop and lead with your own members and/or community groups this February and beyond. We will discuss the materials and their use in detail during our training sessions.

    Participant Google Drive Folder
    ​    We have created a shared Google drive folder where we will add the materials and resources we will be using during the entire advanced training: 2023 APET Participant G-Drive Folder. There you will also find the Participant Roster in case you would like to get to know your peers.

    ​We will also use digital versions of the manual and other resources during the online trainings, all of which you will find in the     Participant G-Drive Folder. We invite you to take the time to look through the shared folder as we will continue adding to it throughout the training.
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  • Training Assignments
    We will ask you to complete important assignments before our sessions together. Assignments for SESSION 3 have been sent by email, have been posted in the shared Participant G-Drive Folder, and are posted below.

    ​We strongly advise you to ensure that your organization/team members are clear on your need to devote focused time and space for the completion of the training assignments. Let us know if we can be helpful with this.

    Connect with us if you have any questions about the assignments or materials.
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    SESSION 3, Assignment 1: Gather or Arrange the Following
    A. Candles (and matchsticks/lighter) that we will light together and blow out together.

    B. We will continue to incorporate breath work and stretching/movement throughout SESSION 3. Set up your cameras/computers and your space before the training so that it is easy and comfortable to shift between sitting, standing, moving, and/or laying down.

    SESSION 3, Assignment 2: READ or Listen Closely to the Session 3 Case Studies
    We have updated the case studies/scenarios in your manual, the new versions, SESSION 3 Case Studies, can be found in your shared folder. Come to SESSION 3 ready to engage with a small group in the creation of exercises to add/uncover new information and deepen analysis using these scenarios.

    ​SESSION 3, Assignment 3: Constellations Closing Activity; Seeding and Nurturing What I've Learned/Gathered
    CREATE & SHARE 1 final star that represents the seeds and knowledge you are taking with you from this training, how you will be following through in nurturing and applying these seeds and knowledge, and who/what you will be leaning on to do this.

    We will close our final training session this Thursday, February 23rd using our constellations activity. We ask that you come to SESSION 3 having prepared and ready to share your final star. We will provide 5-10 minutes to finish your star and/or gather your thoughts for the closing presentation. Come ready to close together.

    We also invite you to continue adding-to and/or adjusting your constellation through our Learning & Action Circle on Thursday, March 9th. 
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    SESSION 3, Assignment 4: Reflect on the Popular Education Bridge and Codes
    For many of you, the development and use of codes to move through the popular education bridge was new. Similarly, developing activities to draw out existing knowledge felt like a (good) challenge.

    We want you to continue to reflect on the tools you were learning and creating in our last session. If you have time and space, reconnect with your small groups with new ideas or insights. The Movement Matters team has been doing the same and will come to this Thursday's SESSION 3 with solid ideas to build on the exercises you shared with us last Thursday (SESSION 2).

  • 1-on-1 Accompaniment:
    ​To ensure that the content from the APET is grounded and tailored for each participant, we have incorporated some 1-on-1 time where you will have a chance to work with the Movement Matters team on developing and implementing popular education activities, materials, and processes that are tailored for your home communities and/or work.

    Your initial 1 - 1.5 hour individual accompaniment will take place between SESSION 1 and SESSION 2 of the advanced training. *Between these two sessions, you are also expected to design and apply a popular education ritual practice for a group with which you are working. The individual accompaniment session is intended to help you either develop this ritual practice or reflect on your implementation of it.

    The dates blocked out for this first set of 1-on1's are:

    : Monday, February 6th
    : Tuesday, February 7th
    : Wednesday, February 8th
    : Thursday, February 9th,
    : Monday, February 13th
    : Tuesday, February 14th

    You will find a 1-on-1's Scheduling Sheet on the Participant G-Drive Folder.
    ​    ​Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9184162715

    We will discuss the 1-on-1 accompaniment element of this advanced training more at length during SESSION 1 on Thursday, February 3rd. Begin making room in your calendars for your first 1-on-1, AND begin scheduling a meeting to lead the ritual practice you will create with a group you are currently accompanying/organizing/supporting.

    You are welcome to use the second 1-on-1 meeting at your discretion after SESSION 3 of the advanced training, on February 23rd. The time is available to you immediately if there are concepts you want to dive into more deeply while they are fresh in your mind.

    As always, connect with us if you have any questions. We are here for you.
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  • ​LEARNING & ACTION CIRCLE (LAC):
    THURSDAY, March 9th
    1:00 PM - 3:30 PM (*EST)

    ​    Zoom Link:     https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9184162715

    ​To continue the integration of the learning and to support you in processing any application of the activities you created, we will be offering a 2.5 hour Learning & Action Circle. All 2023 APET participants have committed to attend this final session.

    Movement Matters' LACs are carefully curated spaces for popular educators and organizers to build and hone our skills and apply what we learn on an ongoing basis. To find out more about our LACs, visit: Learning & Action Circles.

    ​LAC Materials
    You will find the materials and resources shared during the LAC in the Participant G-Drive Folder. 
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    LAC Recording
    If you miss any portion of the LAC you will receive an email from us with the recording link and password. However, please remember that your absence will be felt by the entire group, and that it will keep you from fully integrating and processing what we learn together.

    Connect with us if you have any difficulties accessing the shared Participant G-Drive Folder or if you need to access the LAC recording.
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  • ​*Staff members on-call. Text or call us if you need to get in touch.

    Marta Vizueta Bohórquez (she-they)
    202-425-2325 (text or call)*
    marta@movementmatters.net

    Asha Carter (she-her)
    asha.carter@gmail.com

    David S Haiman (he-him)
    202-361-1561 (text or call)*
    ​david@movementmatters.net

    David V. Hunt (he-him)
    david@davidvhunt.com​

    Nawal Rajeh (she-her)
    202-255-9500 (text or call)*
    nawal@movementmatters.net

Connect with us if you have any questions.
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​Movement Matters is based in Washington, DC. ​
We work regionally with various communities and with national partners.
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