Tzedek Social Justice Fund
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Tzedek Social Justice Fund

Growing Leaders to Build Change

Training Social Justice Leaders

Tzedek Fellows during training session

The Tzedek program features training that is dynamic, fluid, and responsive to the shifting and changing social justice landscape. It’s rooted in each Fellow’s unique  goals and includes custom mentoring, professional development opportunities, and networking.

Trainings are also shaped by the community, through on-the-ground conversations with social justice activists doing the work who share their perspective on  what is needed right now. The idea is not only to build healthy social justice workers, but healthy work cultures. Grounded in Tzedek’s values of compassion, critical inquiry, and collaboration, Fellows develop the skills needed to become strong and effective community activists, allies, and leaders.

Training at a Glance

The Tzedek program includes a month-long orientation and 30 hours a week of on-the-job training at one of our host organizations. The work experience is enhanced by 10 hours a week of personal and professional development programming designed by Tzedek and delivered by local, regional, and national trainers, including Tzedek’s expert staff. Fellows build on core competencies around three focal areas: LGBTQ Rights, Racial Justice, and Combating Anti-Semitism. A professional development stipend is also made available for additional learning opportunities. Learn more about What to Expect When You’re a Fellow.

Transcendent Learning

Fellows are as committed to their personal growth as they are to their professional growth. Tzedek training sessions are designed to build critical thinking skills, develop communication expertise, incorporate self care, and empower Fellows to lead.

Learning objectives include:

  • Understanding the intersection of prejudices including queerphobia, anti-Semitism, racism, ableism, classism, and regionalism.
  • Enhancing each Fellow’s ability to lead efforts for social justice.
  • Amplifying Fellows’ capacity to act as strong allies and accomplices .
  • Further developing skill-based practices such as blogging, training and facilitation, event organizing, social media, content creation, and leading dialogue.
  • Creating a long-term, transformative community among Tzedek Fellows, staff, founders, trainers, and partner organizations.

Sample Training Topics

  • Unpacking Structural Privilege and Oppression
  • Transgender Advocacy
  • Resilience-Building Tools for Thriving in Nonprofit Work
  • The State of Black Asheville
  • Self-Care for World Changers
  • Sharing Your Message, Telling the Movement’s Story
  • Training and Facilitation for Social Transformation
  • Combating Anti-Semitism from an Intersectional Lens
  • Moving from Implicit Bias to Equity in Social Justice Work
  • An Introduction to Nonviolent Communication
  • Grantwriting & Fundraising 101
  • Using Popular Education to Advocate for Immigrant Rights
  • Inner Vision: Understanding Ourselves through Mindful Practice
  • Processing Vicarious Trauma
  • LGBTQ Organizing Post-Marriage Equality

About the Trainers

Tzedek Fellows have the opportunity to work with and meet exceptional social activists at the local, regional, and national level. We draw from a diverse group of trainers who bring a wide range of perspectives. Our trainers include educators, community workers, social activists, and writers who have led the charge on social issues and changed the way we think. Our training program is coordinated by Director of Social Justice Education and Community Engagement, Heather Laine Talley, Ph.D.

Learn how to apply

Related Stories

  • Celebrating Tzedek Grantees: Youth Transformed for Life (YTL)
  • Creating Spaces of Possibility: An Interview with Ashley Cooper
  • What Is an Equity Audit? An Interview with Desiree Adaway

Tzedek (pronounced “tz” as in ritz, TZEH-dek) is the Hebrew word meaning justice, which is at the heart of our mission.

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