​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,
Technical Assistance & Training 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.

Online Learning and 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, somatics, breath work, 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.
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. 
Wow! What to Say? I think this was the first time since physical distancing started that I felt truly part of a community again and I am so deeply grateful for that. I don't know how you all pulled that off over Zoom but it was such a healing and magical experience. Movement Matters really cultivated a space that felt safe and open virtually, where we could take care of ourselves and hold space and be with one another. I also so appreciated the way we were given information beforehand about the content and prepping our space, etc. It helped me really be present in the Learning & Action Circle and also feel more grounded from the beginning. I am truly grateful for you all! 
Nawal Rajeh,
​Technical Assistance & Training Alumni.
To request information about our Learning and Action Circles, connect with us.
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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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