vision. learning. integration. transformation.
The Learning and Action Circles (LACs) provide a great opportunity for our ROC DC team, including myself, to hone in on specific skills sets that are central to our work in an intimate setting led by Movement Matters, and accompanied by fellow regional organizers who understand our challenges and strengths. My favorite part is the ongoing opportunity to continue to make new connections, and grow stronger bonds with other organizers and other organizations with similar goals and missions.
Candance Cunningham,
2019 Organizing Institute and Advanced Trainings Alumni.
2019 Organizing Institute and Advanced Trainings Alumni.
Learning and Action Circles
We heard clearly from our alumni that there is a strong need for anti-oppression spaces for organizers, popular educators, and community leaders in the DC region to continue building our skills and apply what we learn on an ongoing basis. The lack of staffing capacity at our change organizations often leaves us overwhelmed and barely able to keep up with immediate demands in front of us, with no ability to reflect and improve upon our work. That is simply unsustainable, especially now.
In response, in 2019 we launched the Movement Matters Learning and Action Circles (LACs). We envisioned these spaces as a shared workshop where each participant can bring their ongoing projects and have the opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas with peers, access resources, get support in planning and implementation, and deepen their own skills. The sessions are grounded in Movement Matters' Organizing Framework of: relationship, constituency, and power building. The LAC’s cement organizers’ capacities and skills in these areas and continue the learning from our Community Organizing and Popular Education Institute and Advanced Training Series. The LACs also incorporate additional time for healing and wellness. Using ritual, acupuncture, somatic movement, expressive arts, meditation, and other holistic modalities, participants have the opportunity to learn, harmonize, and restore in community.
In response, in 2019 we launched the Movement Matters Learning and Action Circles (LACs). We envisioned these spaces as a shared workshop where each participant can bring their ongoing projects and have the opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas with peers, access resources, get support in planning and implementation, and deepen their own skills. The sessions are grounded in Movement Matters' Organizing Framework of: relationship, constituency, and power building. The LAC’s cement organizers’ capacities and skills in these areas and continue the learning from our Community Organizing and Popular Education Institute and Advanced Training Series. The LACs also incorporate additional time for healing and wellness. Using ritual, acupuncture, somatic movement, expressive arts, meditation, and other holistic modalities, participants have the opportunity to learn, harmonize, and restore in community.
2020 Learning & Action Circles
Since the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic, we took a step a back and enhanced our approach to the Learning and Action Circles. To meet this moment we created two interrelated focus areas for our LACs:
Focus Area 1: The Work. Reflections and practices on how to shift and deepen our organizing and movement work of relationship building, constituency building and power building to respond to the current moment.
Focus Area 2: The Personal. Deepening our well-being, internal community building, and the use of expressive arts, movement, and ritual to keep us grounded and resilient in the face of the challenges posed by our work.
We created Focus Area 2 with the recognition that our personal well-being and the strength of our change work are interconnected especially in this moment of crisis and pandemic. We led our first online Learning & Action Circle with this "personal" focus area in early March.
Focus Area 1: The Work. Reflections and practices on how to shift and deepen our organizing and movement work of relationship building, constituency building and power building to respond to the current moment.
Focus Area 2: The Personal. Deepening our well-being, internal community building, and the use of expressive arts, movement, and ritual to keep us grounded and resilient in the face of the challenges posed by our work.
We created Focus Area 2 with the recognition that our personal well-being and the strength of our change work are interconnected especially in this moment of crisis and pandemic. We led our first online Learning & Action Circle with this "personal" focus area in early March.
All Learning and Action Circles are free of charge and only open to our training or technical assistance alumni. The LACs take place the second Tuesday and second Saturday of every month for 2 hours. To the best of our abilities, we provide our alumni with tailored support, including preparing for these sessions, so that they can get the most out of our time together and apply the learning thoughtfully and successfully to their work.
To request information about our Learning and Action Circles, connect with us.
Movement Matters is based in Washington, DC.
We work regionally with various communities and with national partners.
We work regionally with various communities and with national partners.
