What is the Community Organizing Institute?

CCESL offers an annual community organizing institute to equip participants with tools to effectively bring about social change. Community organizing topics covered include: privilege and oppression, identities, self-interest, collective self-interest, power, one-to-one interviews, and planning and implementing a public action plan.

The institute features innovative, small-group activities as well as large-group discussion and a working dinner, during which participants can practice one-to-one skills.

The event kicks off with a keynote address, which is open to the greater Denver community.

All students in CCESL programs should plan to attend this institute. Students who have previously completed this institute are eligible to serve as student leaders/facilitators at the institute.

For more information, pleae contact Cara DiEnno at cara.dienno@du.edu, or at 303-871-2158.

Notes for students

We strongly encourage students to attend the annual DU Center for Multicultural Excellence's Diversity and Unity Retreat (Note: this institute is required for some CCESL student programs).

The retreat—which unites a diverse set of students to explore issues of identity and social systems, and to build campus alliances—is a great starting point for students to understand diversity on a deeper level before attending the community organizing institute.

Community Organizing Handbook

The CCESL staff has written a Community Organizing Handbook (PDF) that we use in the institute, civic engagement programs and courses.

This handbook can be used to develop public skills and organize people for change. We provide this online tool as a public resource.

If you have questions, or would like to print or distribute this handbook, please contact us at 303-871-3706, or at ccesl@du.edu.