About the Campaign Organizing and Leadership Institutes

The Institutes are designed to create a unique learning and interactive experience. The course work will inspire you to refine your organizing and leadership skills, both as an individual leader and an influencer of others – coalition members, colleagues, partners, and supporters. You will be motivated to actively share your training experience and become empowered to teach, coach, and lead others in the California movement to end commercial tobacco.

The Schedule

The Institutes are held on Zoom. The November Institute is scheduled Thursday and Friday, November 17-18, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The February 2023 Institute schedule is slightly different, beginning on the afternoon of February 7, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., and then followed by two days of training, February 8 and 9, each day from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Training Content

The Institutes focus on building a participant’s capacity in five key training areas:

• Your Story, Your “Why” – understanding the role stories play in organizing and helping you to find your voice.
• Health Equity – understanding the cultural context, the role of social determinants of health and tobacco, and how advocates can connect tobacco control to social justice.
• Leadership – identifying and refining your unique leadership approach to make a difference.
• Community Organizing and Engagement – laying the groundwork and building on existing systems that lead to more non-traditional stakeholders and supporters.
• Strategic Communications – leading with your voice and helping others, whether in a public space, city council meeting, or with press.

Application Process

The Institutes are open to all CTCP-funded projects and participation at each Institute is limited to 50 people. The application for both the November and February Institutes can be found below. You will be provided the option of applying for either the November or February Institutes.

November Institute Application Deadline: Friday, October 14, 2022. Applicants will be notified by October 24.
Apply for November Institute

February Institute Application Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2022. Applicants will be notified by January 6.
Apply for February Institute

Contact Lindsay Cunningham at [email protected] with any questions.

FAQs

What level of experience are you are you looking for? Are the institutes just for veteran tobacco free advocates or can someone who is new to the movement to end commercial tobacco apply?
Individuals of all experience levels with community organizing and/or tobacco policy are encouraged to apply.

Are the Institutes open to coalition members?
At this time, the Institutes are for staff of California Tobacco Control Program-funded projects. There may be an opportunity in the future for coalition member participation.

Can contractors, subcontractors, or consultants of CTCP-funded projects apply?
Possibly, depending on your connection to CTCP-funded projects. Please contact use separately to discuss.

Can more than one person per project apply for the Institutes?
Yes. There is no restriction on how many staff members may apply from a project.

Will the Institutes provide non-English language interpretation services?
The provision of interpretation services will be based on the language needs of the selected participants.