Power-Up: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register as an individual?
No, our core trainings are not intended for individuals, as most of the lessons and exercises are designed exclusively for group participation. However, you still have time to put together your group, which can consist of friends or comrades in addition to colleagues or community members, and which can even consist of people living in different geographic areas!
What type of group should I form?
You should aim to have at least 10 participants in your group. Over time, we have found that groups get the most out of this program when they share what we often refer to as a “structure”: be it a workplace, a school, an apartment building, or similar. However, we have also had groups based around ideological affinity, coalition groups, and larger organizations with participants sometimes spread across the globe. The most important thing is that you find a group of people who are willing to put in the work of leveling up their organizing skills.
What if I am going to have to miss a session?
You can still register and participate in an O4P program if you are going to miss a session. However, keep in mind that we do run two tracks for our global audience, and it might be possible for you to attend the session you would otherwise miss during our second track time. Otherwise, please note that we do not share session recordings, which we have found over time to reduce the dynamism and participation in our live global sessions. Instead, we would ask that your group take detailed notes, and that somebody from your group takes the time to catch you up on what you missed. It is a cumulative course, with one lesson building on top of the next, and as such it is important to quickly get back up to speed if you miss any segment of it.
When will you run your next introductory training on the core fundamentals of organizing?
Our next program is starting on November 10th, click here to register. We will run Power-Up again in 2027. Dates to be confirmed.
We don’t have 10 participants! Can we still register for the course?
This program is designed for groups of 10+. However, you still have time to build out your group ahead of our deadline! Try to think creatively: group members can also be friends or comrades as well as colleagues or community members. Use it as an organizing challenge to get a couple more people on board.
Can members of our group participate in both or either of the two tracks you offer for your global audience?
Part of the purpose of hosting two tracks for each session is to make it easier for participants according to their different scheduling needs. Your group can switch tracks, or can join both tracks in each session, but you should try to make sure that at least 3-4 members are participating in each track, so that they can run an effective breakout session, and that in each track you have a group member who will create the breakout link and share it with others, as well as facilitate the exercise.
Can we meet in person? Do we have to meet on Zoom?
Lots of groups do this and it’s a great way to join the training. You can organise a meeting space with a big screen so you watch the plenary session together, then do the group exercises in person. If you are taking the training in person, send us photos of your group so we can show them off in the plenary.
Do you share the session recordings?
We do not make session recordings available. Over time, we have found that this leads to a larger number of people skipping sessions, and a smaller overall number of people engaging with the program. If you miss a session, please check in with your Group Lead and other team members to catch up. And your Group Lead should also be able to provide you with the presentation slides from the session. Remember, organizing is a team sport!
We have many colleagues who would like to participate, but they don’t have access to a stable Internet connection. What should we do?
If somebody is struggling to participate due to connectivity issues, we can always provide presentation slides after each session. We can also consider making exceptions to our general policy and sharing session recordings in certain instances. If you are a larger group in a single geographic area who is struggling to connect, let us know more about your specific situation to see if there is anything else we can do.
What kind of support does the Organizing For Power team offer throughout the program?
You will have access to our Participant Program and accompanying materials, short videos answering key questions, additional resources on our website, and our WhatsApp communities. Your Group Lead will have access to our WhatsApp chat, which is used for peer-to-peer problem solving with current program participants and past program alumni. If you have questions that are not answered by our materials or website, you can email us at info@organizing4power.org.
