Summer Organizing Institute 2009

"I attended REC's Summer Organizing Institute in 2009 and it was truly inspiring! ...  I met a bunch of smart, fun students from other campuses, learned about the initiatives they were undertaking, and applied their ideas and tactics to my school's campaign.  The skills I learned at the Summer Organizing Institute have been integral to my organizing and I strongly recommend it for any student that also wants to create change on their campus." Mary Schellentrager, American University '10

About REC Summer Organizing Retreats (formerly Summer Organizing Institute)

How would you change the world with one million dollars? What about $10 million, $100 million, or $1 billion? REC can help you discover the immense potential your school's endowment holds - and then give you everything you need to make change happen on your campus!

Universities, as major institutional investors, are failing their communities by supporting the financial status quo in higher ed: maximizing profit over all social or environmental considerations; choosing high-risk, high-reward dealings; investing in highly complex financial instruments with little transparency; banking with Wall Street, instead of equally sound local community institutions; and choosing to not engage or influence the corporations in which they're investing.

REC has the tools you need to shift the status quo. We invite you to join other students from around the country for a week-long training retreat to develop your knowledge about responsible investment and share strategies from across the movement! Our summer program is perfect for someone new to the responsible investment movement in higher education, or for someone looking to develop a strong campaign plan for next year. There is no previous experience or knowledge required.

What will be covered?

We will be discussing a number of subjects relevant to today's student leaders, including:

• Confronting corporate power: corporations and universities
• How to understand your endowment and the responsible investment strategies that can help you achieve your goals
• How to be an effective student leader: recruiting, engaging, and organizing your campus
• Analyzing success stories: how responsible investment impacts sustainability and climate change, workers' rights, environmental justice issues such as hydraulic fracturing and mountaintop removal coal mining, corporate contributions and our political system, our local communities: poverty, sustainability, and town-gown relations, LGBT nondiscrimination, and much more.

Who should apply?

You should! No previous knowledge or experience in finance, organizing, or activism is required to join us for this program. The goal of this training is to provide students with all of the knowledge they would need to create change at their university from the ground up. As long as you have a passion for social justice and are prepared for an intensive and intimate experience, you have everything you need.

REC does not discriminate on the basis of race,class, color, gender, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.  We encourage people of marginalized backgrounds or groups to apply.

Northeast Summer Organizing Retreat

Where: Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center, Lakona Harbor, NJ. Within two hours of NYC and Philadelphia by car, and also fully accessible to both cities by public transit
When: Sunday evening -- Saturday morning, July 29 -- August 4, 2012
Cost: Sliding scale $0-$300
Deadline: Early registration: May 31, Regular: June 25 (earlier registrants are more likely to have access to funding)
More details to come -- email us with any questions.

Midwest Summer Organizing Retreat

Where: DeKoven Center, Racine, WI. 45 minutes from Milwaukee or 2 hours from Chicago by car; also accessible via public transit
When: Saturday evening -- Friday morning, August 18 -- 24, 2012
Cost: Sliding scale $0-$300
Deadline: Early registration: May 31, Regular: June 25 (earlier registrants are more likely to have access to funding)
More details to come -- email us with any questions.

Application and Cost

REC is committed to training as many emerging student leaders as possible, and we would never want lack of funds to prevent anyone from being able to attend.

Summer Organizing Retreats cost including food, housing, and staff time for the entire week:

$300 for one attendee
$420 for two attendees from the same school
$475 for three attendees from the same school

However, this an event that can be accessible for all, no matter what circumstances. Full and partial scholarships, as well as travel funding, are available. As in past years, some will be able to fully cover their costs, some will have their travel and training costs covered entirely by REC, and others will meet us in the middle. The best thing you can do to ensure funding is get your application in as soon as possible -- if you're reading this, it's not too late!

We are committed to making sure that all who wish to attend will be able to. Let us help you find funding! Check out our Development Director Annie's Fundraising Guide for Students (.doc) to get started on proven strategies to raise money for your summer plans. Email us with questions or for support with fundraising or on the application process.

Questions?

Email us at organize@endowmentethics.org and we'll answer all of your questions. We look forward to meeting you!

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