College students are faced with a serious set of problems. They have to navigate an unpredictable economy, an ever-evolving relationship with technology, a changing climate, and weakening social ties. Solving these problems requires skills that empower them to become leaders who can make their material needs for survival and their nonmaterial needs for well-being equally important.
To support student leadership development, Visionary Organizing Lab and Student Life Sustainability at the University of Michigan are partnering to host the Great Lakes Regional Training in Visionary Organizing—a 4.5-day immersive experience in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This training is open to undergraduate students from midwestern universities who are curious about social change or already engaged in addressing social and community challenges.
Our vision is to support a generation of students who can leave campus and practice Visionary Organizing in communities and organizations with others.
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From November 12-16, students will be engaged in experiential learning about the components of Visionary Organizing, leadership, imagination building, and relationship building. We will eat meals communally and nights can be spent however you prefer. All learning will be workshop based and through large and small group discussions will put students' personal experiences in conversation with larger historical and structural factors. The tentative schedule is:
Wednesday, November 12
2pm - 5pm | Arrival, hotel & conference check-ins, and orientation
5pm - 7pm | Community dinner & introductions
Thursday, November 13
10am-12pm | Connecting to and Trusting Our Inner Wisdom Workshop
1pm - 4pm | Locating Ourselves in Systems and History Workshop
5pm - 7pm | Dinner and community-building activities
Friday, November 14
10am-12pm | Recognizing and Nurturing Interdependence / Imagining New Possibilities Workshop
1pm - 2:30pm | Affirming Dignity Workshop
2:30pm - 5pm | Tour of VOL-informed sustainability projects at University of Michigan
6pm - 8pm | Dinner and community-building activities
Saturday, November 15
10am-12pm | Experimenting with Transformation workshop and group work
1pm - 4pm | Experimenting with Transformation workshop and group work
5pm - 7pm | Dinner and community-building activities
Sunday, November 16
10am-11am | Optional individual/team work time
11am - 1pm | Students present visions & community-based projects
1pm - 3pm | Students commit to next steps
3pm - 4pm | Wrap up & departure
Note: Breakfast and lunch will be provided every day.
APPLY HERE
Interested in attending and have questions? Email us at bookings@visionarylab.org with your questions.
Click here for frequently asked questions.
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By the end of this training, attendees will be able to:
Understand the six components of visionary organizing and identify specific, tangible ways to practice them in their day-to-day life with an emphasis on strengthening relationships, adapting to change, and practicing personal and community resilience.
Experience of examples of visionary organizing in practice on UM’s campus
Hone new skills for collaborating across difference
Analyze root causes of community problems and imagine new, sustainable possibilities
Create and articulate a tangible vision for their community’s future
Develop a roadmap for working toward that vision as current students and future alums
Participate in an ongoing practitioner network
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Visionary Organizing is an approach to solving social, individual, community, and organizational problems that equally emphasizes our material needs for survival and our nonmaterial needs for thriving. It solves problems by applying six components to a problem and facilitates change by nurturing interdependence, transforming relationships, and creating new systems that can replace what already exists.
Because Visionary Organizing emphasizes creating new systems that can replace what currently exists, Visionary Organizing is perfectly suited to help students develop systemic solutions for a world characterized by an unpredictable economy, changing technology, a changing climate, and increasing polarization. By giving students tools to nurture interdependence and transform relationships, Visionary Organizing empowers students to transform themselves and their leadership capabilities in ways that will give them the strength and fortitude to create and lead systemic solutions to community based problems.
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Testimonials
“After the 3-day workshop with Visionary Organizing lab I learned a lot about how we can use our inner wisdom to make the changes that we want to see in our communities and focus on those projects for community- based change. I learned that we can follow our inner voices to know what’s rights, to know how we can take on our basic needs, and figure out how we as a community can work together to create projects, organizations, and ways of living that we really want to see.” -Ellie, University of Colorado
“We really took to heart the messages Visionary Organizing Lab shared with us on reimagining a new world for ourselves and we love that it culminated in the creation of a consent manual for our campus.” -Kieran White
“After the workshops with Visionary Organizing Lab I feel like I was able to see that a new world is possible where we can build each other up, be able to provide for each other for our basic needs, and be able to have that trust and vulnerability so that we can understand where problems are and how to work together to solve them instead of things being so Cutthroat and tearing each other down to try to get to the top. We were able to envision new worlds and new systems that can work for all of us. I feel like I learned so much through being able to do that and it just reinvigorated a passion for me on why this work is so important and how it's something that is tangible and can happen.” -Areyana Proctor
To see and hear more, click here.
THIS IS EXCITING! HOW CAN I HELP?
VOL needs your help in two areas: Student Recruitment and financial support to make the training possible.
We are committed to providing full room and board for each student, allowing them to fully focus on the experience without financial stress. If you are a student who wants to develop visionary leadership skills or know of students who should attend, you can fill out this form.
You can also help by becoming a sponsor at one of the five levels, or by making a donation in any amount that feels right to you. Your financial contributions make a direct contribution to develop visionary student organizers and leaders.
This level covers one half day of lodging and meals for attendees.
Grace was a thinker and community organizer whose approach to conversation developed generations of community leaders.
This level covers one day of lodging and meals for attendees.
Kesho has made enormous contributions to developing student leaders throughout the midwest through her work as professor.
This level covers the cost of attendance for one student to attend.
Tom Hayden was a University of Michigan student and a co-founder of Students for a Democratic Society.
This level covers the cost of attendance for one and a half days for attendees.
Dr. Brock has made enormous contributions to developing student leaders at multiple colleges in the midwest.
This sponsorship level covers the cost of attendance for two students.
Ella Baker made enormous contributions to developing community leaders when they were college students.
To contribute any other amount, please click here.
Note: The amount you pay for this regional training is a donation that directly supports this program—helping cover costs and ensuring that students can attend regardless of financial barriers. Your generosity makes this learning experience possible for many!
For more information or to learn how to register a student, please contact bookings@visionarylab.org.