Welcome

Welcome to the Midwest Academy Website. Since 1973 the Midwest Academy has been training progressive organizers and activists engaged in the struggle for Social Justice. From local neighborhood organizations to large, national, multi-issue membership organizations and coalitions, the Midwest Academy provides training that helps win real improvements in people's lives, gives them a sense of their own power, and helps change the relations of power.

With an emphasis on designing strategic issue campaigns and building powerful organizations in the process, the Midwest Academy teaches the basic principles of organizing within a progressive framework. In addition we examine the preconditions of past movements and look for current trends that provide openings for progressives today. 

You may apply online for our five-day Organizing for Social Change trainings or Supervison of Organizers Workshop or download an application and send it with your deposit. 

Our summer Intern Program provides an intense, exciting experience for young organizers entering the field. Applications are available online. Judy Hertz the director of this program begins interviewing applicants in mid February. Periodically we have other internships and fellowships that are posted as they become available. 

We'll come to you! From a few hours at a conference to week long sessions and ongoing consulting we will work with you to design a program that meets the needs of your organization.

Steve Max, our training director, regularly updates The Economic Context of Our Organizing with power point presentations that you can use with your organizations. Other economic updates will appear as they become timely. On this website we have included some materials from our training manual, Organizing for Social Change.  It is available at bookstores, many local libraries, and from Amazon.com. You may order bulk copies from our publisher, Forum Press.  

We are pleased to offer a job-listing page. If you are an employer looking for organizers, fill out the job posting form. 

Send us your name and contact information and we will include you on our E-Newsletter list. Please indicate if you are a Midwest Academy alumna/us and let us know what you are now doing! 

As always we welcome suggestions to improve current trainings and add new ones.

In Solidarity,

Jackie Kendall
Executive Director, Midwest Academy