We believe that a more just world is possible, but it cannot come without help.
Rising Organizers is the only institution in the country to focus on training new and emerging leaders in community organizing skills.
We provide believe investing in as many progressive leaders as possible strengthens the social justice movement overall — not just for our country's current moment, but as we build toward a better long-term future.
Our mission
Rising Organizers grows grassroots movements by training new and emerging leaders to build power in their communities, developing community among organizers, and fostering long-term commitment to organizing and political skills.
Our vision
We believe in a future where everyday people hold the power; where everyone has the tools, confidence, resources, and relationships to improve their communities and to hold decision-makers accountable to serving those communities.
Our values
These are the principles, attitudes, philosophies, and orientations that we believe are centrally important in our work.
We are committed to building movement leaders. We seed and nurture relationships among people, organizations, and networks to build collaborations that can shift power.
We are deliberately anti-racist and intersectional in all we do. We know that power structures reinforce the oppressive relationships between race, gender, class, disability, and immigration status. We are actively in solidarity with movements for liberation and work to dismantle the complex ways that racism, sexism, classism, and imperialism impact our communities.
We practice humility. We believe that anyone can become an organizer, and that people themselves are the best experts on their own communities and experiences. We build on and learn from organizing traditions and movement leaders both past and present.
We believe organizing belongs to everyone. We offer free services so all may have access.
We follow the lead of our people and commit to staying responsive to their communities’ real needs. We believe that flexibility is necessary to meet people wherever they are, and more important than fidelity to our own established processes.
We believe that Rising Organizers spaces should be free and liberatory. Everyone should be confident that they can express themselves and take action without fear.
We believe that joy and humor are essential to achieving justice. In our work and in our relationships with each other. Joy not only sustains us but also guides us toward our vision of a just world.
“Attending the training allowed me to further strategize how to achieve my goal. RO also provides an open place for me to discuss challenges I’ve faced in goal setting and engage in meaningful dialogue with RO members and participants.”
What We've Achieved
Since our founding in 2016, we have trained nearly 3,000 people through our public trainings program.
We have completed nine cohorts of our community organizing intensive fellowship, with a combined 126 alumni.
We have partnered with dozens of organizations and universities across the DC Metropolitan Area and nationally to provide trainings, strategic advice, and more.
Tiffany (Spring '18) became the Senior Campaigns Manager at Climate Power. She is also the Asian American Action Fund Social Media and Young Professional Director.
Nancy (Spring '19) became a Youth Development Worker with La Clinica del Pueblo, advocating for Latinx youth in Maryland public schools. She was recognized as a Prince George’s County 40 Under 40 Leader for her work.
Yany (Fall '17) became the Advocacy Manager at Engage Miami, where she develops civic engagement and participation among young people.