Building publicly skilled leadership is at the heart of RCNO
Training Center's work. RCNO has trained more than 15,000 clergy, lay and community
leaders since our inception in 1987.
Here is a glance at some of the topics covered
in RCNO's national training conferences:
The Civil Rights Movement: A Model for Change This session explores successful African American organizing efforts that were holistic
in nature. Trainers examine key elements of the Civil Rights Movement and provide helpful
insights that can be applied to contemporary organizing efforts.
Power and Its Relationship to Community Power is a fundamental aspect of all human experience. However, many African American
organizations refrain from pursuing it as an organizational objective. This session
demystifies the meaning of power and its applicability and its importance in community
organizing.
Institutional Relationships Power in the United States is exercised through institutions. Institutions generate a
majority of external pressures facing our families (economic, political, cultural). This
session will provide specific, practical methods for quelling some of the pressures coming
from institutional forces.
Leadership Qualities and Characteristics Leaders are developed over time. This session helps participants to identify the
leadership qualities and characteristics necessary to produce successful community organizing
efforts.
Community Problems and Issues Community organizations often find it difficult to distinguish the difference between a
problem and an issue. This session will clarify the difference between a problem and an issue
in practical terms. It offers a practical guide for moving a problem into an issue.
Steps and Stages of Building a Community Organization Building an effective community organization takes time. This session outlines a
step-by-step process for building a powerful community organization. It also identifies
key organizational development milestones and behavioral patterns that emerge during the
organizing process.
Money and Fundraising This session will help the participants realize the importance of raising money for their
organization. There is a familiar phrase that says, "Ơne who pays the piper, names the
tune." This session will help ensure that participants learn to name the tune.
"RCNO training is why I do what I do today. My involvement
and my being so enthused have helped me capture other people's attention about policy actions."
Ernest Austin,
Co-Founder and Lead Organizer,
Ex-Offender Action Network,
California
