The nonviolent resistance strategies of the civil rights movement not only succeeded in legislation being passed – it succeeded in changing hearts and minds across the nation. Groundswell Institute, a LGBTQ* retreat center two hours north of San Francisco, is organizing a weekend-long training focused on using these strategies to create positive change in communities. The Bayard Rustin Community Organizing Bootcamp takes place May 12 - 14and will have workshops focused on three areas: anti-racism education, effective political engagement, and community organizing. An experienced and diverse group of educators will lead these trainings, ensuring there will be content applicable to attendees, whether they are new to community organizing or have years under their belt.
The goal of the weekend is to have participants leave feeling not only educated, but also energized to make change. Daytime workshops will be balanced with relaxed social scenes in the evening, including dancing around the campfire and soaking in Groundswell’s large group spa. A large emphasis has been made on making sure the program is accessible and there are both partial and full scholarships available for any who need them, as well as a carpool. Groundswell Institute expects around 80 diverse LGBTQ* individuals to attend and then bring home new skills and tools to their own communities.
The Bayard Rustin Bootcamp is named after Bayard Rustin, a black gay man who was one of the key architects of the civil rights movement. It is part of a series of programs aimed towards helping LGBTQ people become leaders in their communities. Nestled in the beautiful Anderson Valley, Groundswell Institute is a nonprofit retreat center dedicated to helping queer people lead healthier, more fulfilled lives and giving them the tools to create positive change in the world. The retreat center is partnered with a residential ecovillage that maintains an eco-conscious farm and stewards the land through regenerative ecology.
Find out more at www.bayardbootcamp.org.
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