Leadership Training

Local Leadership Training

These trainings are designed to help each organization develop a larger Organizing Team that is trained and committed to strengthening its institution and engaging members in public action.

The work of building stronger Mediating Institutions (churches, synagogues, parent-teacher organizations, unions, etc.) cannot be done by a few institutional leaders or staff alone.  Trainings provide 12 hours about the philosophy and practices of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF).  Topics include:

• Why organize? – examining the history and traditions of our religious, union and parent-teacher organizations.
• The fundamental organizing skills – individual relational meetings, Listening / Solidarity Seasons,  research, negotiations and action.
• Strengthening our institutions – systematically engaging people in a culture that is relational, action-oriented and reflective / learning.
• Problems versus issues – moving from general problems to concrete, winnable issues.
• Using relational power in the public arena to negotiate for the common good.

Regional Training

The NW IAF now conducts a 6-day Regional Training each fall. National and Regional Trainings are intended for two groups of people:

1) Leaders of institutions that are members of a local IAF affiliate or are actively exploring membership;

2) Leaders or members of those organizations who are engaged in a local IAF affiliate and who have attended local Leadership Institutes.

If you are interested in attending the Industrial Areas Foundation’s Regional Institute please contact the Spokane Alliance office.

National Training

For over 30 years the Industrial Areas Foundation has been holding leadership development sessions for members of broad-based organizations across the country.  These sessions provide instruction on the organizing practices and principles developed by Industrial Areas Foundation member organizations in its 66-year history.  National Training is 7 days long and is held in March and June or July each year.

The Alliance pays the tuition portion of $2,000.   Participants, through their own institution or individually, are expected to pay for room and board and travel costs.

To get training dates, please go to our Events Calendar.

The Institutional Leaders Caucus (ILC)

The ILC is a gathering of lead professional staff of institutions that are active or prospective members of the Alliance.

These meetings serve several purposes:

• Building relationships among leaders from a diverse group of institutions across the county and identifying common challenges and goals;
• Examining ways to make the Alliance organizing process as beneficial as possible for each participating institution (i.e. developing new leaders, deepening commitments to your organization’s values & mission, etc.) and how you relate to your internal Core Team as a mentor and leader; and,
• Giving the leaders of institutions newly interested in the Alliance an opportunity to meet others who are involved and find out more about the organization and its potential.

The Institutional Leaders Caucus meets on the 4th Thursday of the month (except July) from 11:30 - 1:00 at various locations.  Please check the calendar to find out the location of the next meeting, or call the office at 532-1688 for more information.