The Story…
Building on What Came Before
DC Trainers Network isn't new—it's reborn.
For many years, trainers across the DMV gathered monthly for skillshares, sharpening their collective tools and learning from each other. It was rooted in our collective growth: collaborative, grounded, and focused on building real capacity in our communities.
But movements ebb and flow, and the network eventually went quiet.
The Spark to Revive
Then came November 2024.
The presidential election results sent a surge of energy through grassroots resistance across the DMV. New activists were stepping up. Experienced organizers were doubling down. And we kept hearing the same thing: We need better skills. We need better training. We need each other.
A few of us started asking: What would it look like to bring the DC Trainers Network back to life?
How We Work
The answer felt clear from the beginning: we'd do this the way DC has always done movement work.
Collaboratively, through consensus, and rooted in the institutions and culture that make this city home. We believe in no gatekeeping of knowledge or skills. Our trainings are always free or sliding scale, open, accessible, and public—though we ask for contributions from organizations with funds, because sustaining radical work requires resources.
We make decisions together. We hold space with intention. We center Black, Indigenous, People of Color communities because that's where the strongest organizing traditions in this region have always lived.
This Year, This Moment
Right now, we're focused on what our communities are asking for most.
Facilitation training—both 101 sessions for folks just getting started and advanced offerings for seasoned organizers. Political education on anti-racism, because personal transformation and political transformation are inseparable.
Every workshop we run is intimate by design. We're not trying to train hundreds of people at once. We're trying to build the kind of relationships and skills that create lasting change—the kind that happens when people really get to know each other, practice together, and commit to growing together.
The Network we’re building
The word "network" in our name is our north star.
We're working toward monthly gatherings where trainers share stories, surface needs, exchange strategies, and build deep relationships that make movements sustainable. We imagine branching out into new offerings as our network grows. We dream of a training ecosystem so strong, so connected, and so responsive that every organizer in the DMV has access to the skills they need to build the world we're fighting for.
Why This Matters
We're living in a moment that demands everything we've got.
The challenges facing our communities require organizers who can facilitate difficult conversations, build inclusive coalitions, and create spaces where real transformation becomes possible. DC Trainers Network exists because we believe those skills can be learned, practiced, and shared—and because movements are strongest when they're connected.
This is our story so far. We're still writing it, and we'd love for you to be part of what comes next.
Ready to join the story?
See our upcoming trainings or reach out to connect with us.