Turning Faith-filled Advocates into Organizers
Together we are powerful! We can influence Members of Congress to work for We the People, to pass legislation that brings us, our families, and our communities safety and security. As faith-filled advocates concerned with the common good, we have a moral duty to use our collective power to hold elected official accountable when they use authoritarian actions and billionaire finances to hoard resources and wealth that belong to all of us.
And so many of us are taking action! Over the past year, we've seen how people across the country are coming together to act to protect our communities and our freedoms. Published letters to the editor (LTEs) are calling out elected officials and their large corporate backers who favor record-high profits over the wellbeing of people in our communities. Nationwide public demonstrations have denounced massive tax breaks for ultra-wealthy folks at the expense of food programs, affordable health, fair wages, and more.
Don't miss the deadline!
Applications accepted until February 11, 2026
All interested advocates must complete an application to take part in the Organizing Institute. There has been significant interest amongst the folks in our field. To be considered for the first Organizing Institute cohort, be sure to apply before February 11, 2026!
The Organizing Institute Focus
NETWORK has launched the Organizing Institute (OI) to transform faith-filled advocates into power-building organizers! In four months, our OI will deepen your organizing skills, strengthen your capacity to build real power in your community, and equip you to respond effectively to the twin crises of the rise of authoritarianism and unaffordability. The Organizing Institute is designed for current Advocates Team members, and those who want to start organizing with NETWORK in their own communities. Through your participation, you will build and deepen proficiency in the areas below.
Recruitment
Recruit and retain new team members and others who care about the common good to take action with you.
Event Planning
Host and support events with strong visuals, media engagement, and opportunities to draw new folks in.
Team Building
Build powerful teams that inspire deep involvement and collaboration with all members.
Authoritarian Resistance
Respond boldly to authoritarian attempts to divide communities and weaken faith in democracy.
Nationwide Power
Learn from your experiences and share your knowledge with advocates across NETWORK's nationwide community.
NETWORK advocates care deeply about communities.
Too many hardworking people struggle to afford groceries, pay bills, and keep a roof over our heads while the ultra-wealthy get richer. The Organizing Institute trains advocates to organize in our communities so we all have a say in the decisions that impact our lives. While some government leaders prefer authoritarian action over the common good, we will speak truth to power. Masked federal law enforcement in our neighborhoods is immoral. Policies and rhetoric that pit us against our immigrant neighbors is scapegoating. Slashing food and health care budgets so ultra-wealthy corporations can get tax breaks is sinful. Together, we will build power for leadership that creates healthy, secure neighborhoods.
Our Team
With NETWORK's 50+ years of organizing for better federal policy with religious communities and grassroots advocates, students in the Organizing Institute can trust that they will learn from well-equipped organizing experts.
Our Grassroots Mobilization Team will be your primary leaders. Meg Olson is the Grassroots Mobilization Director. Catherine Gillette is the Senior Grassroots Mobilization Organizer, Sister Eilis McCulloh, HM, J.D., is the Grassroots Education and Organizing Coordinator, and Sister Emily TeKolste, SP, is the Grassroots Mobilization Coordinator.
The Organizing Institute
Sessions will be held every other week on Thursdays 1:00-2:30 PM Eastern time. We will have nine total sessions, with assigned content between sessions.
The Organizing Institute will mix readings, podcasts, webinars, and live interactive Zoom sessions where you’ll have opportunities to practice new skills.
Don't miss the deadline!
Applications accepted until February 11, 2026
All interested advocates must complete an application to take part in the Organizing Institute. There has been significant interest amongst the folks in our field. To be considered for the first Organizing Institute cohort, be sure to apply before February 11!
Important Details
Our Schedule
Orientation and Meet and Greet
Meet the trainers and fellow learners, set goals, and prepare for the learning we’ll do together!
Power-Building
Organizing is about more than showing up to a rally. Organizing looks at what it takes to make change and have an impact in our communities and nation.
Relational Organizing
The best organizing is relational. It's built through one-on-one and small group interactions. We’ll talk about how to use and build your personal networks to build power in your community.
Strategic and Effective Messaging
A good story can make all the difference in driving the conversations we’re having in our communities. We’ll cover how to build and share a story of your community that inspires and motivates people to join in the action.
Building Powerful Teams
Small groups can be so much more powerful, and more fun, than working as individuals. Here, we’ll discuss how to build teams that do good work and grow together to be stronger and more effective over time.
Building Healthy and Effective Coalitions
Building a powerful movement can require working with groups where there’s overlap but not complete alignment of values. This week, we’ll explore how coalitions build power, what groups in your community you can work in coalition with, and some tools for working well together.
Building Powerful Events
Rallies, vigils, and protests can be effective ways to bring new people into the movement and to re-energize the people already doing daily work. We’ll talk this week about how to make the most of your event as an organizing tool, a mobilizing tool, and a narrative tool.
Winning over Authoritarianism
This moment demands a different kind of organizing. In this session, we’ll look at how nonviolent movements in other countries have defeated authoritarianism and how we engage and prepare at this moment in our nation’s history.
Closing
In this final session, we’ll have room to celebrate together our shared accomplishments and explore anything that came up during our sessions that still needs to be discussed.