good training, really hard job - Field Organizer Change Corps Employee Review

As 2016 alumni, I wholly believe the time I spent working at Change Corps are the building blocks for my career in organizing and political action. The three steps of the program include training, campaign work, finished with lifelong job referrals for Change Corps graduates. Through working in this model, you start with learning and you finish with doing. And you're working on some of the most important and urgent issues. During my time I worked to pressure corporations to adopt better enviro policies, save the ACA, fight against the global gag rule, protect Planned Parenthood, and register people to vote in communities of color. My cohort are some of the best people I know, to this day. They're all doing awesome things after graduation, all across the country. From environmental advocacy to election work, or working in education reform.

While it's not really a "con" to the organization, there are reasons why working for Change Corps isn't right for everyone. And they're upfront about it. They work as a partnership, not a democracy, meaning they prioritize input from people who have the most experience. They pride themselves on being thrifty (you share hotel rooms, sometimes beds). And organizing is inherently hard work, especially in the response style organizing Change Corps does. But if you are committed to making change happen, Change Corps is the best place to start as an entry level organizer. Learn a lot, make great friends, do good work. Then after a year, you'll pretty much graduate with three years of organizing experience.

Pros: I learned tons of organizing skills, did tons of networking, and got to travel lots of places. I have benefited in skill set, but not on my emotional well-being. I also have realized that just because an organization is progressive, doesn't mean they follow all of those progressive values.

Cons: No respect for workers' rights. No discussion of race, class, or privilege, or any training on this. They also refuse to address any of this, even when we, as a group, raised these concerns. Nor did they address any discrimination that we felt. Instead they decided to suppress the complaints and strife by firing people or encouraging them to quit. Management has no conflict resolution skills whatsoever. People are now fearful to voice concerns because they fear for their jobs. Also, recognize that there are long hours, and days off are not respected at all. Limited projects and campaigns to work on. Seriously, we've worked with two different organizations the entire year and that's it.