Education for Social Change Leaders

Engaging in social change efforts is undeniably challenging. Social movements contend with sophisticated and resilient historical, political, and economic structures that wield considerable resources and control over spaces of power. Moreover, our political and economic systems perpetuate oppression on a global scale, simultaneously marginalizing the majority while co-opting attempts from movements and groups striving to challenge the status quo. In this formidable landscape, social movements face an uphill battle.

Internal dynamics within social movements exacerbate these problems. Misalignment among organizational leaders threatens to tear movements apart with projects that are misaligned from broader strategic objectives and goals, resulting to futile work and energy expended.

Furthermore, at times movements and organizational leaders lack the skills, strategy, and expertise in social movement building. The harsh reality is that movements lack the support, the preparation, and the craft they need in order to truly challenge the bastions of power and bring forth the change that our world desperately needs. Compounding these issues is the stark reality that most movements are under-resourced and under-populated. Lack of access to infrastructure, funding, people, and time impedes their ability to realize their vision for change. This scarcity further limits their capacity to address pressing societal issues and bring about the change they want to see in the world.