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Local Communities become Training Ground for Organizing Work
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Jul 09, 2007As Summer Heats Up, the Next Generation of Social Justice Leaders Keep Cool While Organizing for Change Through National Program
Local Communities become Training Ground for Organizing Work
(Washington, DC) – Today, a diverse group of twenty-five young leaders from across the country follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, women right’s leader Heather Booth and other courageous community organizers as they participate in the innovative Generation Change program led by national social justice nonprofit, Center for Community Change.
Through this competitive summer program, the promising interns between 20 to 40 are introduced to community organizing as they receive intensive training from experts in the field while working at some of the nation’s top grassroots community-based organizations in Washington, D.C., Tennessee, New York and North Carolina.
Making door to door calls in sixteen floor project complexes in East Harlem, rural communities where farm houses are miles apart, sitting in Representative Nancy Pelosi’s office, attending city council meetings, and rallying at the White House, the talented young leaders call for community participation and demand for comprehensive immigration reform, fair taxation, affordable and safe housing, and overall social justice in this land of opportunity.
Generation Change is launched at a time of great need and hope and as the grooming of young people to work in political and organizing work becomes a national and growing trend. Experts predict a need of at least 640,000 new nonprofit managers over the next decade. “Generation Change is the Center’s initiative to nurture this country’s next generation of social justice leaders before this work retires with the baby boomers who make up the majority of this field, ”,said Susan Chinn, Director of the Leadership Development program.
In addition to the summer internship program, Generation Change also offers fellowship and mentorship opportunities. The fellowship program helps new organizers develop skills and find full-time positions, and the mentorship program enables mid-level community organizers to enhance skills and broaden their perspectives.
As young leaders graduate from Generation Change, they become part of a vibrant Alumni Association that is a growing national network of individuals and organizations committed to addressing poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity, especially at the community level. By 2011, more than 650 interns, fellows, and mentees will be supported annually.
For interviews with interns or Generation Change spokespeople, please e-mail Cheryl Aguilar at caguilar@www.communitychange.org. For more information on Generation Change visit: www.genchange.org
Since 1968, the Center for Community Change has strengthened the leadership, voice and power of low-income communities nationwide to confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements of tomorrow.
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