In the fall of 2015, we launched Don’t Kvetch, Organize! and have since trained over 1,100 people across the country through the course. Below are what a few of them had to say about the experience:
What our alumni are saying:
“I feel ready to embrace taking action with confidence, as a leader. I understand the crucial nature of boldness and courage as I work alongside others to bring change. Listening, storytelling, and building relationships one by one is the route to strategic action. I not only came to understand the power of action but also that it needs to be interwoven with hope and belief in a positive outcome aligned with Jewish values.”
“I learned a great deal about organizing effective and sustainable campaigns.”
“This has been an amazing fast-track introduction to the Social Justice organizing world. I notice the difference now when I read about any campaign…how to think about it, what I think is being done well or not so well, what I think might enhance it, instead of passively noting a campaign but not feeling attached/interested in any direct way.”
“I learned organizing skills that are applicable and valuable to so many kinds of work, both professional and volunteer. The organizing skills taught in this course are really life skills that everyone should know.”
“One key message that I am taking away from this course is the idea that Judaism is a radical tradition. The themes of justice and equity are embedded throughout Jewish tradition. Woven into even the most mainstream of rituals (like Shabbat, for example). Before this class, I felt like I had a few explicit connection points between Judaism and my social justice values. Now I feel like the whole of Jewish tradition is a connection. I am excited to continue to wake up to the radical potential in everyday Judaism–drawing upon it as I continue my work.”
“Applying the course concepts to a real challenge helped me refine my thinking and demonstrated that I truly understood the concepts. I’d been around organizing, and people who were organizing, but never had anyone explain to me exactly what organizing is and what it can do. This course did that for me.”
