HRC yesterday announced its sponsorship of “Camp Courage,” an intensive two-day training institute inspired by ”Camp Obama” and organized by the California-focused Courage Campaign. The training program will provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. Camp Courage kicked off in Los Angeles on January 25, attracting 221 participants to its first training in California.
Watch the highlight video from the LA Camp Courage:
The San Diego training will take place from April 18 – April 19. Dates for the San Francisco training will be released shortly.
Rick Jacobs, founder and chair of the Courage Campaign:
We are building a progressive movement by empowering the new leaders and tens of thousands of grassroots activists who have emerged since the passage of Prop. 8 and the Obama victory. As part of our long-term strategy to promote progressive change in California, we plan to train not only our members, but the grassroots activists and organizers who have emerged all over the state since the election. Camp Courage provides the tools and training to translate their raw enthusiasm into real results.
Harry Knox, Director of the Religion & Faith Program at HRC, will also provide a training leading into the San Francisco camp. Knox will help local clergy on how to build advocacy for marriage equality into their routine ministry functions and train participants to utilize low-cost, high-impact public education techniques that extend their justice ministries.
Torie Osborn, Mike Bonin and Lisa Powell will lead the weekend trainings. Osborn, a lifelong social justice activist who has most recently served as a lead organizer and volunteer for the Obama for America campaign. Osborn also is a Durfee Foundation Stanton Fellow, and senior advisor to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Bonin is a longtime campaign staffer and community activist who was a Regional Field Organizer for the Obama campaign. He also served as campaign manager and later chief of staff for Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl. Powell is an attorney, longtime trainer, community leader and co-founder of United Lesbians of African Heritage.
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