definition /wīld/ noun: 1. uncultivated

At the core of Wild Project workshops is an approach utilizing 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.

Participants are intentionally recruited in small groups of 5-7 people where they will learn together and explore campaigns that will make a meaningful impact within their own organization, community, or cause. Each participant will learn the following five practices with the goal of returning home to apply their learnings:

  1. How to articulate a story of why you were called to lead, a story of those whom you hope to mobilize, and a story of action: self, us, and now.
  2. How to build intentional relationships as the foundation of purposeful collective actions.
  3. How to structure a team with shared purpose, ground rules and roles for effective leadership.
  4. How to strategize turning resources into the power to achieve clear goals.
  5. How to translate strategy into measurable, motivational, and effective action.

The workshops are coordinated by Dan Grandone, who brings 20 years of experience as a community organizer and leadership trainer. Dan has adapted this framework in cultures and contexts across the country and internationally, and served as a Teaching Fellow with Professor Ganz. Additional trainers are recruited from the Leading Change Network—a global community of practice with extensive experience leading workshops.

A priority of the Wild Project is building capacity of new trainers in this framework. Since launching, we’ve seen the growth of an expanding number of trainers who with coaching support have taken an active role in leading training sessions!

Workshop opportunities include:

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

4-DAY IN-PERSON TRAINING

10-WEEK ONLINE COURSE

TAILORED WORKSHOPS & COACHING

See Upcoming Workshops
See Upcoming Workshops

leadership & training team

leadership & training team

leadership & training team

Trainers are recruited from the Leading Change Network, a global community of practice that brings extensive organizing experience in leading workshops and developing local training capacity. Hundreds of workshop participants have also been developed to take active roles in facilitating small group work and leading training sessions.

Dan Grandone is Founder and Coordinator of the Wild Project, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

DAN GRANDONE

Founder and Coordinator

Nneka Akubeze is Coordinator of the Wild Project's Youth Organizing School, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

NNEKA AKUBEZE

Coordinator, Youth Organizing School

Abel Cano is a Trainer with the Wild Project, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

ABEL R. CANO

Trainer

Kortni Malone is a Trainer with the Wild Project, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

KORTNI MALONE

Trainer, Curriculum Development

Anita Krishnan is a Trainer with the Wild Project, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

ANITA KRISHNAN

Trainer

Jacob Waxman is a Trainer with the Wild Project, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

JACOB WAXMAN

Trainer

Miya Cain is a Trainer with the Wild Project, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

Miya Cain

Trainer

Nicole Robinson is an Evaluator with the Wild Project, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

Nicole Robinson

Evaluator

Kenneth Cole is a Trainer with the Wild Project's Youth Organizing School, whose mission is growing a beloved community of changemakers through leadership development and organizing workshops.

Kenneth Cole

Trainer, Youth Organizing School

what participants say

what participants say

what participants say

We were looking for a training approach that would allow us to focus on our core values and provide a foundation in organizing based on developing lasting relationships among the people in our communities who care most about public schools. The Wild trainings have exceeded expectations—our teams are learning the basics of effective organizing, they have used these practices to build stronger relationships further empowering our statewide advocacy network. Grassroots groups are taking the Wild framework back to their teams and customizing it to strengthen and grow their efforts. We have found the professionalism and dedication of the Wild training team to be inspiring and invaluable.
Heather DuBois Bourenane, Executive Director, WI Public Education Network
We applied these powerful organizing tools to our culture and the tragic situation we faced in Wausau, WI. We built relationships across the Hmong and white communities, formed a team, strategized and organized one of the largest public gatherings of Hmong people in our city’s history. On May 31, 2016—1,000 people stood in solidarity against bullying!
Mao Khang, First Woman Elected, Hmong 18 Council of WI
Wild changed my perception of the world. The training gave me the chance to share a space with those who have seen the worst and are using their experience to make the world better. This is the most inspirational and humbling experience I’ve had. It has changed my life for the better!
Tanisha Sabhaney, UW-Madison Student Alumni
The Wild Project has made a major impact on the way I approach organizing. Since my involvement, I’ve been able to train dozens of native leaders, learn new skills, and enhance the Native Vote program. I’m excited to see how we build a stronger Wisconsin together.
Matt Dannenberg, Former Program Director, WI League of Conservation Voters
The Wild training has proven to be one of the most diversely attended, nurturing, challenging, and human-honoring community organizing trainings I have attended over my 30-year journey in social justice.
Tammy Rivera, Executive Director, Southside Organizing Center
Wild helped me understand the power of our personal stories. As a researcher and advocate focused on standing up for children and achieving equity, the power of narratives (both individual and collective), the personal connections they create, and their use in organizing more effective coalitions, have made me a more effective agent of change.
Ken Taylor, Former Executive Director, Kids Forward

partner organizations

partner organizations

partner organizations

The Wild Project engages a diverse spectrum of organizations and communities who seek to make lasting change.

We have intentionally engaged a diverse spectrum of communities, including African American and Latinx leaders, the Hmong community, Native American tribes, small family farmers, high school and college students, and neighborhood organizations and groups working to impact education, health care, racial equity, economic justice, mass incarceration, and the environment.

ORGANIZING TIPS, UPCOMING WORKSHOPS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION–ALL IN YOUR INBOX

special thanks to our funders

special thanks to our funders

special thanks to our funders

The Wild Project is able to offer leadership and organizing workshops in part due to the support of the Brico Fund.
The Wild Project is able to offer leadership and organizing workshops in part due to the support of the Wilber Family Foundation.
The Wild Project is able to offer leadership and organizing workshops in part due to the support of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
The Wild Project is able to offer leadership and organizing workshops in part due to the support of the Movement Voter Project.
The Wild Project is able to offer leadership and organizing workshops in part due to the support of Tides.