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Who We Are

ABOUT US

Our Name: The Arc of Change

The Arc of Change is a type of narrative plot which represents a hero’s journey from who they are to who they are becoming. The spirit of our name is captured by Martin Luther King Jr's quote: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” It is symbolic of the transformational journey we embark on as we practice authentic leadership and become united communities that enable a more just society. We believe we write our own history as we choose to lead and enable others to do the same. Join us to Ignite the Arc.

Who We Are

We are a community of visionary leaders comprised of organizers, activists, educators and artists. We come from diverse backgrounds, are united by shared values, and believe in amplifying the voice of marginalized communities for collective action.

OUR FOUNDER

The Arc of Change was born of a desire to inspire a world in which we collectively embody our shared humanity.

 

In my years of leading trainings around the world, I’ve been consistently inspired by the indomitable strength, resilience, courage, and compassion in people’s hearts. I’ve learned our capacity to achieve change is limitless when we stand united. As someone who has experienced the challenges of growing up with a single parent in communities affected by structural racism, poverty, and violence, I feel called to share that which I’ve had the opportunity to learn — and to continue learning alongside others committed to doing meaningful work for justice.

 

I’m Dominican-American, raised in Boston, Honolulu and Indianapolis. Growing up, I was a happy kid fond of running fast and superheroes.

Abel Cano

  • Overview
    Our trainings are based on proven frameworks originally developed by professor Marshall Ganz at Harvard University in collaboration with a global community of changemakers. We create brave learning spaces to harness the power of both head and heart, and teach through experiential learning using a powerful 4-step pedagogy. We intentionally engage local and global communities to build meaningful relationships and campaigns to achieve real world change.
  • Public Narrative | 1-2 Days
    Public Narrative is a leadership practice rooted in community organizing. To lead is to “accept responsibility for enabling others to achieve shared purpose under conditions of uncertainty.” Narrative is how we communicate our values through stories, bringing alive the motivation that is a necessary precondition for changing the world. Because it engages the “head” and the “heart,” narrative can instruct and inspire - teaching us not only why we should act, but moving us to act. In this 1-2 day workshop, participants will learn to tell the story of why they are called to leadership (Story of Self), the values of the community within which they are embedded that calls us to collective leadership (Story of Us), and the challenges to those values that demand present action (Story of Now). The workshop will lead participants through an experiential learning process that requires active participation. Participants are intentionally paired in small groups where they learn to tell their own stories and coach others in telling theirs. Each participant will conclude the day having taken their first step to mastering this craft with their very own linked Public Narrative: Story of Self, Us, and Now.
  • Organizing: People, Power, Change | 2.5-3 Days"
    The practice of leadership is about accepting responsibility for enabling others to achieve shared purpose under conditions of uncertainty. This workshop focuses on an approach utilizing 6 core leadership practices that draw upon a rich history of community organizing, social movements, and campaigns. This framework is taught at the Harvard Kennedy School by Dr. Marshall Ganz, a celebrated civil rights organizer, and has been adapted in cultures and contexts launching grassroots efforts around the world. Participants are intentionally paired in small groups where they will learn together and explore possible campaigns within their own organization, community or cause. Each participant will learn the following 6 practices with the goal of returning home to apply their learnings: 1) Public Narrative: How to articulate a story of why they were called to lead, a story of those whom they hope to mobilize, and a story of action: Self, Us, and Now. 2) Relationship Building: How to build intentional relationships as the foundation for purposeful collective action. 3) Team Structure: How to structure teams with shared purpose, ground rules for working together, and roles for effective leadership. 4) Strategy: How to strategize by turning your constituency’s resources into the power they need to achieve concrete, measurable goals. 5) Action: How to translate strategy into measurable, motivational, and effective actions. 6) Coaching: How to coach a direct intervention in an individual or team’s work process to help them improve effectiveness and overcome challenges.
  • Training for Trainers | 1-5 Days
    We believe in the power of developing real leadership capacity within the teams and organizations we partner with. Our trainings and pedagogy are designed to enable students to become teachers. At our Training for Trainers (T4T), we move participants up the leadership skills ladder in Public Narrative and Community Organizing by teaching the craft of coaching, facilitation or upfront training. By developing a mastery of this craft, participants become more effective in their roles and are equipped with tools designed to unleash the leadership capacity of their team, organization, and broader community. Our Training for Trainers begins by allowing participants to experience the workshop themselves. We then dive into learning the practices of facilitation and coaching while providing expert feedback along the way. Following this immersive training, we may provide ongoing coaching to support leaders in applying these leadership practices in their own contexts. Public Narrative T4T | 1-2 Days Organizing: People, Power, Change T4T | 2-5 Days

Miya Cain

Anna Maria Melachrinou

Michael Alli

Andrea Ornelas

Anjali Rodrigues

COMMUNITY OF COACHES

Sarah ElRaheb

Kai Mateo

VyVy Trinh

Stephanie Aines

Jessica Perlo

What We Do

WHAT WE DO

Leadership Workshops

The Arc of Change is a Boston-based training initiative focused on harnessing the power of community organizing practices as a transformative craft for leadership and social impact.

Our trainings are based on proven frameworks originally developed by Professor Marshall Ganz at Harvard University in collaboration with a global community of changemakers. We create brave learning spaces to harness the power of both head and heart, and teach through experiential learning using a powerful 4-step pedagogy. We intentionally engage local and global communities to build meaningful relationships and campaigns to achieve real world change.

What We Believe

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Vision

The Arc of Change envisions a world in which organizers, activists, educators and artists are empowered through transformational leadership practices to build agency and organize collective action as a community of authentic changemakers.

We aim to uplift the voice of marginalized communities, promote a global consciousness of our shared humanity, and equip changemakers with transformational skills to meaningfully shift unjust power dynamics in the world.

Theory Of Change

We believe people are the source of our power. We achieve meaningful change by investing deeply in the leadership development of individuals and teams within universities, nonprofit organizations, and campaigns. Our aim is to empower an intersectional community of activists to enable collective action for social change.

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