CIOP Formal Community Organizing and Leadership Development Training

in conjuction with the national Regional Congregations and Neighborhood Organizations network, Los Angeles, CA.

Jack Porter (left foreground) and Reverend Grady (right foreground) participate in CIOP Leadership Development Training

October 26-27, 2007  Bloomington, IL

"Allow me to congratulate you on CIOP's recent  training sessions that demonstrated the power we have in uniting together with one focus. We have studied Christ, but now we need to make the life of Christ our reality as evidenced by the dynamic exhortations of Rev. Eugene Williams  III, CEO and National Director of Regional Congregations and Neighborhood Organizations  Training Center.  The diverse groups  learned how to participate in the renewal of the community by working together with people of faith and faith-based organizations in order to  work for an environment and culture of peace by living for the sake of others through community organizing.  I am extremely grateful to have been a part of this epoch-making learning journey."

Rev. Dr. Eugene Barnes, Executive Director Metanoia Centers, Champaign, IL

The CIOP training curriculum includes the following topics:

• Power and its relationship to building community
• Civil Rights Movement: A model for change
• Institutional relationships
• Scriptural leadership qualities and characteristics
• Understanding community problems and issues
• Lessons of Nehemiah
• Money and fundraising
• Steps and stages of building community organization