The Institute for Change Leaders (ICL) teaches the skills that organizers need to win social change. Our core curriculum comes from Marshall Ganz, a Harvard professor who codified the relationship-building organizational framework we teach after years of organizing with the Civil Rights and United Farm Workers movements.
The Institute offers an innovative curriculum on how to organize to achieve change, based on the mastery of five key leadership practices: telling stories, building relationships, structuring teams, strategizing, and acting. The program is an intensive, hands-on learning process. It is led by a team of trained facilitators from all backgrounds and neighbourhoods, including labour activists, newcomers, Indigenous people, and people with lived experience of poverty and marginalization.
We offer a number of different training options, in-person or online, from multi-day courses on the fundamentals of community organizing to single evening sessions on specialized skills like social media and public speaking.
Take a look at our course offerings below. Don't see what you're looking for? Drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll work with you to develop a custom program that meets your needs.
Développer vos compétences pour créer le changement
Our flagship two-day training on the fundamentals of community organizing teaches how to build power and win change.
Advanced Skills for Change
Take your community organizing skills to the next level with this advanced 2-day workshop.
Art & Social Change
Learn to use artistic expressions—including music, film, art, and performance—to tell your story and motivate others to action.
How to Lobby your Elected Representative
Olivia Chow teaches you how to effectively lobby your MP, MPP, or city councillor.
Social Media for Organizing and Activism
Learn how to put social media to work for your campaign.
Communication Skills for Social Change
Learn to communicate effectively, refine your messages, improve your presentation skills, and grow your profile.
Principles of Persuasion
Using proven principles of persuasion, learn how to make a presentation, pitch, or chat more effective.
Leadership, Communication and Decision-Making
Learn what you need to excel at leadership when there is no handbook.
