I first started volunteering with Greenpeace in the Toronto area in late 2014 and one of the many things that I jumped on pretty quickly was the Toronto-based workshops that they sponsor and help organize through Tools for Change (TFC).

As described on the TFC website, “Tools for Change helps you develop skills to champion social, economic, and environmental justice.” And let me tell you, from my experiences, this is no exaggeration. With workshops ranging from “Campaign Planning 101” to “Graphic Design Fundamentals” to “Knowing your Legal Rights”, there are an array of workshops that cater to the younglings and veterans in the activist community.

For those who are skeptical, here are three reasons why you should take advantage of these local training opportunities:

1. They’re financially accessible

For members of any sponsoring organizations (Greenpeace, Ontario Public Interest Research Group Toronto, Earthroots) or students at George Brown, University of Toronto, or York University, these workshops are absolutely free! For others, the workshops are priced on a sliding scale based on your income, or if your organization is sending you, your organization’s income. Additionally, the dates and times are shared well in advance so you can plan your attendance. Usually they take place at venues that are wheelchair accessible and close to transit, on weekend afternoons or weekday evenings downtown and sometimes at York University to accommodate those that live in Northern Toronto.

2. They help you build important skills to win your campaigns and achieve your organization's goals

As hinted above, TFC offers an astonishing variety of amazing workshops to help you with your groups and campaigns. In addition to the ones already mentioned, past events have included:

  • Anti-Oppression

  • Setting up and Improving your Group Structure

  • Advanced Campaign Planning

  • Facilitation 101

  • How to Win Change at Toronto City Hall

  • Alliances and Coalition Building

  • Stencils and Screen Printing

  • Social Media for Maximum Impact

  • Avoiding Activist Burnout

  • How to Organize a Great Direct Action

  • Grassroots Financial Management

The individuals facilitating these trainings are experienced and work in organizations furthering economic, social and environmental justice. Trust me when I say they know what they are talking about – and if you don’t, they have little bios that you can read when registering for the event to know their credentials and experiences. The facilitators I have met are friendly, experienced people who help facilitate conversations with participants in the room to further the groups’ learning. They’re also usually more than happy to assist you after the workshop with any specific questions or conundrums you might be facing in your work. They also give out handouts and provide online resources for you to learn more about the topic.

3. Networking with like-minded people

Every time I go to a TFC workshop, I see many familiar faces and lots of new ones as well. Usually the first ten minutes of the workshop is spent introducing everyone in a creative and fun way. If there is no starting icebreakers, there are often group activities where you get to know each other. It feels great to be in room of like-minded activists, working towards similar social and environmental justice goals. It’s also very helpful and practical, as we share experiences across issues and campaigns and can learn from each other. It also helps to make connections with groups you don’t work with normally. 

There you have it – three reasons why you should attend these workshops. Whether you are new to the scene, or have been around for a long time, I guarantee you will learn something new. And if you're not in the Toronto-area, check out this blog by Tools for Change coordinator Natalie Caine, which links to many more amazing movement-based training programs.

To get a full list of current and past events, head over to the following link and check frequently as workshops continue to get added: www.toolsforchangeca.eventbrite.com/

Join their mailing list to hear Tools for Change news.

Additional information about TFC can be found at: http://www.toolsforchange.net/

Farah Motani is an active Greenpeace volunteer, coordinating outreach in the Greater Toronto Area, getting Greenpeace campaigns to more local community events.