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The vision of the Wisconsin Apprentice Organizers Project (WI-AOP) is to strengthen a culture of organizing for social, economic and racial justice in Wisconsin by increasing the diversity, number, and skills of community organizers, as well as strengthening the connections among them. Towards this vision, we have established a paid apprenticeship program in which experienced organizers will mentor new organizers as they work full-time for six months in community organizations.

Description:
Apprentice organizers are placed in organizations in Milwaukee and Madison and work from mid-June through mid-December. The apprenticeship will include monthly, in-depth training sessions in addition to the guided, daily on-the-job training apprentices will receive with their mentors as they work in community based organizations.

Apprentices learn the skills of community organizing, including buildling public relationships, understanding and building power, conflict utilization, how to build a successful campaign, identifying and building community leaders, community analysis, fundraising, and other skills.

A priority is made to recruit apprentices from low-income communities and communities of color.

History:
The idea for WI-AOP first emerged in 1997 as a project of the Verna Hill Memorial Fund, a sponsored project of the Wisconsin Community Fund. This Fund was first formed to honor the legacy of Verna Hill, a legendary community organizer in Madison. It is now called the Verna Hill/Dorothy Shannon Fund to honor two great women. The Fund has provided the seed money and energy for establishing the WI-AOP.

WI-AOP draws its inspiration from the successful Organizing Apprenticeship Project in Minnesota, which trains and places paid apprentices with experienced mentors in community organizations. In Wisconsin, WI-AOP will look to the successes and strategies of the Minnesota project for inspiration, but not as an exact blueprint.

Contact person: Julie Andersen, Coordinator, (608) 251-4548, (email)

Address:

1202 Williamson Street, Lower Level Madison, WI 53703 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified