Training for Trainers
Formerly the Training for Social Action Trainers (TSAT)
Training for Trainers
Durham, NC - March 19-21, 2025. Applications due January 13, 2025.
Training for Trainers
West Virginia - April 24-26, 2025 (Central Appalachia Regional Training Project). Applications due March 13, 2025.
Training for Trainers
Outside Philadelphia - May 28-30, 2025 (Pennsylvania Regional Training Project). Applications due April 4, 2025
No dates? Dates don't work for you? Is there a wait list?
To share your interest in future Training for Trainers workshops, use our Interest Form, as an alternative to a full application.
Group training and facilitation skills are key to powerful organizing and movement building. These skills develop leaders, strengthen decision-making, shape strategies, and build the capacities needed to organize for justice. Whether you’re a local volunteer leader or a national training director, there are few spaces to hone pedagogy as a craft. Our Training for Trainers is an opportunity to grow your training toolbox, learn frameworks for group facilitation, and practice our experiential approach to training and leading groups. Participants leave this workshop with practical tools and increased awareness of themselves as trainers and facilitators. Graduates are eligible to attend our advanced training for trainers workshops.
We offer the Training for Trainers as a public workshop and privately with movement partners. Public workshops are offered nationally, as well as regionally. See below for information about our regional training projects.
As a participant, you will...
- Gain greater awareness of yourself and your strengths as a facilitator
- Learn flexible training tools, principles of workshop design, skills for working with diversity, and how to use experiential education methods effectively
- Get a chance to take risks, experiment, and refine skills in a supportive environment
- Receive personal guidance from experienced trainers in a small group setting
- Meet and learn from peers and facilitators
Fee
The fee includes meals during the workshop and simple lodging for those who request it.
Who Should Apply?
This workshop is highly sought after, and we often have long wait lists. Many strong applicants apply multiple times before getting a spot to attend. If you’re not sure if this workshop is right for you, feel free to be in touch before you submit an application!
Workshop Format
- Day One – 5:30-9:30PM (dinner provided)
- Day Two – 9:00AM – 9:00PM (breakfast offered before session, lunch and dinner provided)
- Day Three – 9:00AM – 5:00PM (breakfast offered before session, lunch provided)
The workshop is designed as an experiential package with each session building on the previous one. To create the best learning environment possible, WE DO NOT ALLOW PARTIAL ATTENDANCE – you must commit to take the entire workshop.
This is a participatory, practice-based workshop. Central components include the role of a trainer (or facilitator), creating group safety and cohesion, using experiential activities to elicit the wisdom of the group, working with diversity, and principles of workshop design. There are multiple opportunities to ask questions, explore challenges, and practice facilitation. This is a fun and rigorous workshop – as participants stretch themselves, strong emotions can surface.
Though the hours can be long, we’ve found that our training style helps keep people engaged and energized. We provide short and extended breaks within our agenda, including breaks during meal times, and encourage participants to take care of themselves so that they can stay fully present. Please contact us in advance if you have questions about the hours or format of this workshop.
Application and Acceptance Process
If you’d prefer to apply by phone instead of online, there is a phone number included in the application.
Regional Training Projects
Central Appalachia: Majority participants accepted from the mountains and foothills of PA, OH, WV, VA, KY, and TN.
North Carolina: Majority participants from the state of NC.
Pennsylvania: Majority participants from the state of PA.