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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT GROW AND USSA

What is the Changemaker Weekend?

The Changemaker Weekend teaches fundamental organizing skills as well as leadership development for students.  The trainings are led by other student activists from around the country who have won concrete victories on their campuses using the skills taught during the weekend.

Who is putting the Changemaker Weekend on?

Students from Students Against Sweatshops, Environmental Alliance and the Duke University Greening Initiative have pooled resources to bring the Changemaker trainers to campus.  We are bringing the workshop primarily because we consider this kind of training to be essential for maintaining the strength and sustainability of our groups.  However, the workshop is open to all groups because we believe that everyone can benefit from the skills being taught. 

How can I participate in the Changemaker Weekend?

Sign up now and show up on February 4th at the training site.  If you do not sign up before February 1st, we cannot guarantee you a space in the training.

Why do I want as many people as possible in my organization to attend the Changemaker Weekend?

Making change requires working with others.  A common vocabulary and skillset can greatly augment the ability of your group to work effectively and cohesively.  The Changemaker Weekend will present a vocabulary and skillset developed over 50 years by top student leaders.  If you think your group could benefit from the proven organizing skills taught during the Changemaker Weekend, you need to get as many people from your organization as possible to attend.  It is far better to get the members of your group to the Changemaker Weekend than to try and relate what you learned at your next group's meeting!

This doesn't mean you shouldn't come if no one else from your organization is!  It just means that if you are the only one, you may find the task of relaying the skills you learned at the GROW to your fellow organizers a taxing one.

How can I get other people in my organization to attend the Changemaker Weekend?

Let them know about it NOW!   The biggest barrier to participation is that it takes up a full weekend.   People need to get it on their calendar as soon as possible in order to free themselves up February 4th-6th (like get homework done ahead of time).

When you present the Changemaker opportunity to your organization, you might want to print out pages from this website to show them.  Try to figure out why it would be useful for the organization's immediate goals.

Why do I have to attend the whole Changemaker Weekend?  Can't I just come for part of it?

The Changemaker Weekend is an experience.  You will get to know the other participants well through discussion, brainstorming sessions and group work (which is one of the best reasons for attending: getting to know all the progressive leaders from many different organizations on campus.)  Changes in the participants from session to session disrupts the development of familiarity and comfort as well as the skill development the training aims to achieve.  For this reason, we ask that you please make a commitment to plan your work ahead and schedule your activities around the Changemaker Weekend.   Remeber, this kind of a workshop doesn't come to a campus near you every day.

Of course, exceptions can be made if necessary. Please contact Mary Grant if you want to discuss your situation.

If I'm coming from out of town, where can I stay?

Originally coming from the depths of the urban 'amazon' jungle of Lima, Peru, Gonzalo is fluent in both Spanish and English.  He is the new Alumni Organizer for EnviroCitizen.  Some of Gonzalo's organizing experience comes from interning and volunteering with the Rainforest Action Network, SEAC (The Student Environmental Action Coalition), and other environmental and social justice groups.  He worked on the Matt Gonzalez for Mayor campaign in San Francisco, CA, which was a huge grassroots movement in the city that received international attention.  He also organized the People of Color Summer Training Academy.  Most recently he became Anti-Oppression Working Group Coordinator for SEAC. 

Kate Zaidan has been organizing for environmental and social justice on both a local and national level for 6 years.  She's a graduate from Antioch College and transferred from the University of Dayton.  Between those two campuses, she has fought an anti-dissection campaign, a fair trade coffee campaign, a campaign to eradicate Styrofoam food containers from the schools cafeteria, a campaign to initiate campus wide composting, the Tampaction Campaign to provide healthy alternatives to tampons to Antioch Students, as well as being active in Antioch's community garden, White Allies Group, Community Government, and an active participant in several other peace and justice groups, both on campus and in the Yellow Springs Community.

In 2002, Kate was elected National Council Coordinator for the Student Environmental Action Coalition and acts as chair of SEAC's board of directors. Since being involved with SEAC, she has helped to organize three national conferences, co-coordinated SEAC's Tampaction Campaign, worked to develop resources for SEAC's other campaigns , helped to develop SEAC's coordinators and trainers program, and has sat on the steering committees for the FAIR Network and the Independent Progressive Politics Network.