Editor�s Note: We received this today from our friend, Ben MacConnell and pass it on to our readers, encouraging everyone with an interest in this worthy program to contact Ben directly. Thank you! - Les Blough, Editor

Dear Les Blough,  

Greetings!Hello again..

As you know, I am a community organizer working with a national network of twenty-one congregation-based  community organizations working toward social and economic justice called the  Direct Action & Research Training (DART) center. You may remember that I initially got your email address from  the Million Worker March directory as Editor of Axis of Logic.

I am writing to send along information on a paid community organizing training  program for anyone interested in launching a career in community organizing around  such issues as affordable housing, quality public education, living wage, youth  services, crime, etc. (see full description of paid training below).

The DART Center has been conducting a paid community organizer training program  for the last five years, and has enabled dozens of people to launch permanent  salaried positions in the field. It's an excellent opportunity for people interested  in grassroots, community organizing to gain paid training and then continue on  in the field. For example, we hired and trained Virginia Lynch through the DART  Organizers Institute in 2004, and upon graduation, we placed her on staff with  the Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment (PEACE) organization. Using  the training provided by DART, Virginia led an organizing drive that mobilized  over 800 people from 25 congregations and neighborhood groups to publicly call  for action on health care related issues. As a result of her work, the organization  won the approval of a permanent half cent sales tax that will provide over $35 million dollars annually to fund one new health clinic a year for the next five years and increase indigent patients seen from the current 2,000 to 45,000 patients  per year.

Please let me know if you would be kind enough to pass along the brief description  below to friends, student volunteers/interns, colleagues, list serves, field  organizers, or to anyone you know that might be interested in pursuing this line  of work. Our application deadline is right around the corner on January 1, 2007,  so I would appreciate any help you may be able to provide in spreading the word.  I am also attaching a one-page flyer in case that's helpful in any way in spreading  the word.

Thanks for your consideration and all that you do.

Sincerely,

 Ben MacConnell

 Recruitment Director

 Direct Action & Research Training (DART) Center

 Ph: (785) 841-2680

 Fax: (785) 841-0118

 ben@thedartcenter.org

 www.thedartcenter.org

 Message to forward: Applicants Wanted for Paid Community Organizing Training

  DART is now accepting applications for the 2007 DART Organizers Institute, the  paid, four-month field school for people interested in launching a career in  community organizing. Participants will undergo a combined classroom and field  training covering such topics as:

  � Entering a community

 � Identifying and training local leaders

 � Strategic planning and issue cutting

 � Relationship and community building

 � Direct Action on community issues

 � Fundraising

 � Congregation-based coalition building

  The DART Center, has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important  victories on a broad set of justice issues including:

  � Education reform in low-performing public schools

 � Job Training

 � Drugs and Violence

 � Criminal Recidivism

 � Living Wage

 � Neighborhood Revitalization, etc.

  The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15  weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training  program that includes: a $6,500 living stipend, transportation to the classroom  orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training.  Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom  training. After successful completion of the program, DART will work to place  graduates into fulltime salaried positions.

  Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto accept  Executive Director and Associate Community Organizing positions throughout the  country. We continue to train the best of those working to build the power of  low-moderate income communities to win victories on important issues in their  community.

  The program starts June 17, 2007 and runs through October 7, 2007. Host organizations  are located in several cities throughout Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, Kentucky,  and Indiana. Applications are being accepted now.

  Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer Trainees  (OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must demonstrate  a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term professional career. A  master's degree or similar life experience is preferred though unnecessary. Candidates  must have a college degree or be graduating prior to June 1, 2007. Also, candidates  must display a workmanlike diligence, be driven to produce sustained results,  have proven capacity to build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan,  act professionally, feel comfortable working with congregations, be accountable  and willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and action,  and work in a team setting. OTs must also have access to a car during their training  and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in Spanish/English is a plus and  people of color are encouraged to apply.

  To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to send your resume  to: Ben MacConnell, DART Network, 820 New York Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 or  by email: institute@thedartcenter.org. If you have any questions, please call:  (785) 841-2680. Also, you can download applications or view profiles from previous  OTs at the DART website: www.thedartcenter.org. The 2007 DART Organizers Institute

 Application Deadline is January 1, 2007.