Preparing to Win:: Developing Community Leaders, Organizers and Allies

Preparing to Win:: Developing Community Leaders, Organizers and Allies

Black & White Print. Preparing to Win draws on a decade of experience developing 14 Community College and University Degree and Certificate programs in Community Change Studies. This emerging field of study creates new educational pathways into family-supporting careers and leadership roles tackling America’s greatest domestic issues -- poverty, race, and the desperate need to strengthen our communities, our democracy and social justice. Over 1000 students are currently enrolled in Community Change Studies programs. Over 80% are people of color, 75% income eligible for Pell grants, and 15% are homeless at some point in their studies. Because of their backgrounds, they also are particularly well prepared to build strong relationships in low-income communities and to identify common interests and understandings with their peers, while also serving as role models for them. The great majority of students enter CLP programs wanting to “give back” to their communities but unsure how. Through a combination of classroom and experiential learning, they clarify their life goals and develop the personal strengths, knowledge and practical skills they need to become effective agents of positive change. The foundational competencies and College Degrees and Certificates they earn are major steps toward careers and leadership positions with community-based organizations, other nonprofits, public agencies, unions and business. They are equally useful background for careers in politics, the ministry, journalism, and other occupations which provide CCS graduates with opportunities to serve as agents of community and social change.Nelson Mandela pointed out that “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” The CLP Network’s programs apply that powerful weapon to create leaders who are equipped to meet today’s formidable challenges. Very fortunately, young people worldwide are already demonstrating incredible commitment and courage as they lead mass movements on racial justice, the climate crisis, gun control, DACA and immigration. Community Change Studies equips them to develop the longer-range strategies, allies, organizations and growing power needed to win lasting victories on the awesome issues we face. Preparing to Win.d is an unusual combination -- part analysis, part ‘how to” guide, and part public policy advocacy. It is designed to help readers either (1) develop similar Community+College partnerships and Change Studies programs; or (2) discover ideas and lessons from CLP’s experience which may help as they look for ways to strengthen their training programs, the courses they teach, or the public policies they can influence. It also should be of interest to others who are looking for ways to overcome the challenges we face.To maximize its usefulness, Preparing to Win is available in 3 formats –•On-line for free on CLP’s website www.clpclp.org where it can be downloaded however it’s most useful, as a whole book or in sections which include ideas, lessons or tools which a reader wants to capture and use;•On Kindle for $;•As a paperback available through Amazon for $.