Effective organizing thrives when organizers grow. The Center for Community Leadership strengthens the movement by supporting organizers at every level—helping them sharpen strategies, avoid burnout, and build lasting careers. By investing in their development, we foster stronger campaigns and increase the leadership of marginalized communities in social justice and the community development field.

CCL offers cohort-based programs along with workshops and gatherings for organizers throughout the year.

Organizing Fundamentals

January to June 2027

• 6-month fundamental organizing skills training cohort for new staff organizers
• 2-3 trainings a month, with alternating full day and half-day sessions

Apply by December 4th

Organizing Apprenticeship

January to June 2027

• 6-month part-time, paid training and career development program for grassroots leaders new to organizing
• Organizations: apply to nominate and host a member leader or to be matched with an apprentice

Apply by November 12th

Advanced Power-Building Series

February-June 2027

• 5-part training and reflection space for experienced organizers
• Full day sessions once a month
• Apply for the full series or just the ones that meet your specific needs

Apply for the discounted full series by December 18th

Workshops & Gatherings

• Multi-level skills training, peer learning, and movement reflection
• On-going throughout the year

Let us know which programs you’re interested in here and we’ll be in touch with an application!

CCL programs are shaped by a guiding framework for community organizing as a power-building practice and strategy that works to win concrete changes in people’s lives and communities.

While our programs vary in length and format, they are grounded in these core elements:

Theory & Practice: While engaging in conceptual learning about the elements of community organizing, participants in CCL programs also practice what they’re learning on the ground and with the communities they’re organizing with. CCL instructors craft learning spaces where organizers can delve into community organizing history, theory, concepts, and key tools and resources to build up, apply, and reflect on their organizing skills.

Cohort-Based Learning: CCL courses bring together cohorts of organizers, providing opportunities for collaborative learning, digging into key questions, reflecting, and sharing about the work of organizing and their development in it. Our courses are spaces where organizers can build and deepen supportive relationships they can lean on in the ongoing movement-building work.

Expertise: CCL instructors are deeply committed to organizing and movement-building, having honed their expertise and craft over years of on-the-ground experience and organizational leadership. Grounded in their in-depth knowledge of organizing and a broader commitment to supporting the learning and development of individual organizers, their organizations, and the communities they work, CCL instructors facilitate a thorough curriculum and offer mentorship, coaching, and feedback to help participants improve their skills and practice.

Organizational Capacity Building: CCL programs are a valuable resource and investment in the onboarding, training, and ongoing development of organizers and organizational leaders, contributing to the overall capacity of ANHD member organizations and other partners and allies.

Networking and Peer Learning Opportunities: CCL courses, workshops, and trainings provide opportunities to gather and connect with a vast network of practitioners and organizations.

ORGANIZING FUNDAMENTALS

The Center for Community Leadership’s Organizing Academy (CCL) Organizing Fundamentals cohort is a 6-month training and support program for NYC-based organizers.

The CCL Academy Organizing Fundamentals course guides participants through an overview of community organizing as a power-building practice and strategy that works to win concrete changes in people’s lives and communities.

Participants engage in readings, discussions, and skill-building to develop their understanding of community organizing both historically and currently. Over the 6 months, the course covers frameworks and skills for community engagement, base building, leadership development, campaigns, coalitions, and movement building.

The program will begin with an in person Orientation on January 6-8th, 2027 from 10am – 4pm.

Supervisors will be required to attend a portion of the Orientation on January 8th.

Beginning in January and running through June 2027, the class will meet for 2-3 Fridays each month with alternating sessions that run from 10 am – 4 pm and from 10 am – 1 pm (please refer to the application for the full calendar). Most sessions will be in person at the ANHD office, located at 50 Broad St. As needed, some sessions will be held online or at an alternate location.

TUITION
Non-ANHD Member Organization: $2700
ANHD Member Organization: $2200

Applications are due December 4th at 5PM.

Apply here  

ORGANIZING APPRENTICESHIP

The Center for Community Leadership’s (CCL) Organizing Apprenticeship is a 6-month training and support program for community leaders interested in paid organizing work.

Participants in the Organizing Apprenticeship are trained as community organizers in a cohort-based model, form relationships with fellow organizers across issues areas, and deepen their knowledge of organizing and advocacy in New York City.

During the program, Apprentices:

• Work as an apprentice for 20 hours a week for 6 months (January-June) with a $13,000 stipend
• Gain on-the-ground community organizing experience with an organization
• Attend the CCL Organizing Fundaments sessions and other trainings and workshops to learn foundational organizing skills and principles
• Get career development support and resources through the ANHD and CCL networks

Applications are due November 12th by 5 PM.

Apply to be an Apprentice  

Host Organizations

Organizations can apply and either nominate a member leader in their organization to host as an Apprentice or go through a matching process to be matched with an interested applicant. Host organizations gain increased staff capacity to further local campaigns while also receiving targeted support throughout the program. Apprentices work with them in a 6-month paid position.

2027 Host Fee: $5,000 for 6-month part-time cycle (this goes towards part of the Apprentice stipend and program fees).

Applications are due November 12th by 5 PM.

Apply to be a Host  

ADVANCED POWER-BUILDING WORKSHOP SERIES

The CCL Advanced Power-Building Workshop Series is a five-part program that convenes organizers to deepen their understanding of how to align, build, sustain, and show collective power in their organizations and movements. Through day-long in person sessions facilitated by Susanna Blankley, we offer spaces to reflect, question, learn, experiment and plan with other organizers.

This workshop series is designed for organizers who already have an understanding and foundation in organizing, and are looking to sharpen, deepen, and expand their knowledge and practices. The modules are designed to delve into concepts, tools, and practices on core organizing principles and approaches. Participants must be actively engaged in organizing and ideally be working with an organization where they have substantial opportunities to apply their learning.

WORKSHOP DATES

The series consists of 5 day-long in-person sessions between February and June 2027.

• Aligning & Defining Our Power: Political & Popular Education | February 26, 2027
• Building Power: Base Building | March 26, 2027
• Sustaining Power: Leadership Development | April 23, 2027
• Demonstrating Power: Campaigns – Part 1 | May 14, 2027
• Demonstrating Power: Campaigns – Part 2 | June 24, 2027

We highly encourage folks to participate in the full series. The sessions build upon each other and are designed to support participants in deepening their understanding of the concepts in each module and their importance in effective and strategic organizing, as well as learning key tools and practices to apply your learning. If you can’t participate in the full series, though, you have the option to apply for just the sessions that best meet your current needs and capacity.

Applications for the discounted full series are due December 18th by 5 PM.

Apply here  

CCL offers organizing trainings and workshops open to the broader ANHD community by CCL instructors and other guest facilitators. Past trainings have included: Building Community Power – Organizing 101; Supervision for Organizers; Making Memorable Meetings.

Check out upcoming trainings from CCL and other ANHD programs, including the Affordable Housing Institute, on our ANHD Training Series page.

All participants in the Organizing Academy courses have free access to all ANHD trainings for the duration of their classes.

Since 2009, over 350 participants have gone through a CCL training program, and over 100 community organizations have been involved in this opportunity.

Examples of campaigns and coalitions participants have worked on include:

• #HomelessCantStayHome
• NYS Rent Law Reform
• Right to Counsel in Housing Court
• Basement Apartments Safe for Everyone Campaign (BASE)
• Policing Reform Campaigns & Ending Solitary Confinement
• Stand For Tenant Safety, Department of Buildings Reform Campaign
• Certificate of No Harassment (CONH)
• Comprehensive Immigration Reform
• Lift the Caps Street Vendor Campaign
• NYC Rent Freeze/Roll Back Campaign
• Predatory Equity Campaigns
• Climate Justice
• NY Healthy Nail Salons Coalition
• Bronx Wide Coalition
• Housing Justice for All

And so much more! Click here for the full list of community organizations we have worked with through CCL.

If you’d like to get updates about CCL, including when program applications open, registration for upcoming workshops and trainings, fill out this form to let us know.

If you have questions about the Center for Community Leadership or its programs, please contact our Capacity Building team at capacitybuilding@anhd.org.