We can't wait to see you at RootsCamp! This post is a little long, but it's got all the where, when, what, why and how of RootsCamp. Please make sure you read it through and save it, so that you won't miss any of the key parts or fun activities at RootsCamp this weekend.

40 participants have converged in Berkeley, CA for NOI's first ever, Advanced Data Training. As this is being written, we have entered into the 74th hour of our training, and caffeine has hit a maximum level. Fabio mugs for the camera No, we're not learning about that kind of model Participants are learning from the nation's top progressive data practitioners about models, universes, and utilizing tools like MySQL, VAN/PDI, Access, and Excel. We checked in with some of our

Two weeks ago, 49 committed progressives left New Media BootCamp with the skills to become leaders in engagement organizing. This Sunday, we'll launch Advanced Data Training. And over the coming months, we'll train hundreds more at Issue Campaign BootCamps, Advanced Data, and Field Leadership trainings. Here at NOI, we know there's a great need to train a new generation of organizers. Right now, in New Media and Data especially, there are more jobs than qualified candidates. That’s why I'm

Say you’ve gotten tired of yelling at Washington, and have decided to join the large movement of people trying to make national change through local elections. Great. But which election should you focus on? Don’t feel that you need to focus on a single city council race, or that the only meaningful local office is mayor. From School Board to Electric Commission, there are hundreds of thousands of local offices that can implement change in people’s daily lives. But how would you even go

"BootCamp changed my life." That's the most common phrase I hear from Alumni, and it's something I say myself as a member of the inaugural BootCamp class of 2006. I will never forget the nervous excitement I felt reading all of the bios of my fellow Bootcampers and scanning the very packed seven-day agenda. What on earth was I getting myself into? In short, one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

For the last six years, the New Organizing Institute has been at the forefront of training the next generation of online organizers in the political and community organizing. I should know because I was in NOI's very first New Media BootCamp class in the Winter of 2006. When I look back on the last 6 years of working in New Media and organizing, it's not an understatement when I tell people that an email from a listserv changed my life in January of 2006. Back then, I was working for

There are more compelling storylines in the current events in Wisconsin than I can follow. But one in particular caught me the other day, and it's not one that's being widely discussed. I don't usually read a lot of Op-Eds. But someone close to me recently sent an article by David Brooks, which very "reasonably" laid out the reasons that government workers should be stripped of collective bargaining rights. One key premise in Brooks' article states that public unions are at an unfair

Day 1 of RootsCamp was amazing. Almost 900 of the world's finest organizers came to the Marvin Center at George Washington University to share what's worked, what hasn't, and to regroup for the year ahead. Judging by the conversations , there were also some new relationships being forged and plans being schemed. Photos and blog coverage below. Send your photos to photos@rootscamp.org, and tweet any blog posts with the #roots10 hashtag so we'll see it! We're just wrapping down Day 2,

We can't wait to see you at RootsCamp ! This post is a little long, but it's got all the where, when, what, why and how of RootsCamp. Please make sure you read it through and save it, so that you won't miss any of the key parts or fun activities at RootsCamp this weekend. Where is RootsCamp? George Washington University's Marvin Center , Third Floor, 800 21st St. NW. The Foggy Bottom stop on the Orange and Blue lines is the closest Metro stop. There is limited parking, so we encourage you

Since we launched the MVO nominations at the beginning of the month, more than 100 people have submitted nominations in four categories. Some of the nominees are well known, while others hail from brand new organizations or small but crucial efforts. Organizer nominees like Celina Barrios and Nick Buis may seem to have little in common. They work on different types of campaigns, in wildly different parts of the country. They have different roles. But both made a real difference for someone,

Sure, the safe bet can pay off. But it rarely generates a major victory, much less a surprise outcome. Unintended results inform our future actions and lead to huge breakthroughs... IF we're honest about what we tried, why it didn't work, and what we learned.

I thought you might like to get a sampling of what's being said about this year's Most Valuable Organizer nominees.