Launched in 2016, the Wisconsin Leadership Development (WiLD) Project trains community organizers, both new and seasoned, to engage others around their own core values, structure effective leadership teams, and make strategic choices that lead to measurable, effective action for change. Our signature workshop utilizes five basic organizing leadership practices that draw upon a rich history of community organizing, social movements, and campaigns. This framework is taught at the Harvard Kennedy School by Dr. Marshall Ganz, a celebrated civil rights organizer, and has been adapted in cultures and contexts launching grassroots efforts around the world. While typically offered in person over [...]

Fresh off the 2020 Presidential Election, and still in the thick of the pandemic, what would be the interest for community organizing in the new year? With in-person gatherings off the table, and the struggles for racial, economic, and environmental justice rising, the Wisconsin Leadership Development (WiLD) Project forged ahead in building a community of practice online.

In March 2020, the WiLD Project adapted to the global pandemic by moving our signature organizing workshop online. Within a moment of great uncertainty, we saw an opportunity to come together and inspire leadership. As shown in this evaluation report, the results were promising.