Mission

 

To advance the thinking and the practice of network organizing - a form of network-centric, placed community organizing and community building - both within the LCW network and in the larger world.

 

 

            At Lawrence CommunityWorks, we’ve established the beginning of a set of practices around place-based social networks, called Network Organizing, which is powerful and constructive specifically for the transformation of places. As this overall approach continues to evolve, there is growing demand in the U.S. to learn, adapt and implement it.  The Network Organizing Forum (NOF) will help to us to meet this external demand.

 

            The NOF also emerges from a need to address very real internal issues facing Lawrence CommunityWorks. As we learn by doing, the NOF will build LCW’s capacity to take these new lessons out into the field and continue to push the practice forward.

 

 Core Functions

 

a.       Program-related trainings: To service the program-related training needs of the network as defined by network members (ie PODER, Reviviendo Fellowships, new staff orientations, Guide Training etc.)

 

b.      Additional trainings: To design and operate additional educational and training opportunities for LCW Board, staff and members, based on practice-driven learning from LCW in the areas of network organizing, civic engagement and leadership development

 

c.       Skill Building trainings opportunities: To provide a range of skills-based training and education opportunities for LCW Board, staff and members in areas as defined by members, and with vendors who are evaluated by members.

 

d.      External Training and TA: To plan and coordinate technical assistance on elements of network organizing as requested by external parties, including Lawrence-based immersion experiences as well as off-site Technical Assistance and Training for CBOs, foundations and others who have an interest in replicating aspects of network organizing practice.

  

 

e.        Development and Documentation of the Network Organizing practice: To plan and execute documentation and dissemination strategies designed to capture and disseminate practice-driven learning from the LCW network.