The Sojourner Truth School
for Social Change Leadership
The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership is affiliated with the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in Washington, D.C.
IPS serves as the School’s fiscal sponsor. We have filed to be our own 501(c)(3) and are currently in the waiting process.
VISION
We are living in dire and frightening times. Values that many Americans hold dear are threatened daily and the foundations of our very democracy are at risk. People who believe in peace, justice, fairness, inclusion, earth stewardship, the civil rights of marginalized groups, solidarity with those who are targeted, and welcoming refugees must rise with strength and power to effect real change.
The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership (also known as the “Truth School”) offers classes to individuals and groups with the goal of promoting and facilitating the skills required to build a movement. The School teaches the organizing skills necessary to equip people—young, middle years, and old—to be active, effective, and empowered.
We believe that knowledge and education bolstered by support and guidance lead to empowerment—and empowered people make change. When people have the skills and confidence they need to organize a vigil, run for elected office, write guest editorials for local and national newspapers, engage in civil disobedience, visit their elected officials, or talk with care and sensitivity across differences, the result is real and lasting change.
WHAT WE DO
Our sole focus is teaching and training. Our classes are designed to meet the needs of climate change activists, labor organizers, aspiring political candidates, those considering civil disobedience, people of faith seeking to express their outrage, folks involved in refugee and resettlement work, members of the LGBTQ community, people active in the Black Lives Matter movement, writers and artists who want to use their talents to create change, young people, and seniors seeking a way to be active (or to be active again).
The Truth School is saturating the area from Greenfield to Springfield, MA, with classes occurring several times a week throughout the year (except during July, August and December). Classes range from 90 minutes to several hours and many key classes will be repeated monthly.
Our trainers have expertise in their fields; experience teaching, training, and mentoring; and a commitment to a participatory model of teaching and learning. The trainers include educators, social change activists, elected officials, journalists, social workers, members of the clergy, and others with valuable skills to share.
The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership is putting the talents and skills of experienced local experts in the service of movement building.