The Direct Action & Research Training Center is currently accepting applications among folks interested in social and economic justice issues for their paid, four-month community organizing training program.

The DART Organizers Institute is a combined classroom and field training covering such topics as:

· Identifying and training local leaders
· Strategic planning and issue cutting
· Researching and targeting decision makers
· One-on-One relationship building
· Developing and training leaders to take successful Direct Action on issues
· Fund Raising for the long-haul

The DART Center, has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including:

· Education reform in low-performing public schools
· Fair immigration policies
· Police misconduct
· Living Wage campaigns & job training
· Affordable housing, etc.

The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15 weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training program that includes: a $6,500 living stipend, all transportation costs to the classroom orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the program, DART will work to place graduates into fulltime salaried positions.

Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto accept Executive Director and Associate Community Organizing positions throughout the country making between 27 - 34,000 in starting salaries. We continue to train the best of those working to build the power of low-moderate income communities to win victories on important issues in their community.

The program starts June 14, 2004 and runs through the end of September. Host organizations are located in several cities throughout Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. Applications are being accepted now. No experience necessary, only life experience, willingness to learn, and commitment to a career in organizing. People of color and Spanish speaking applicants are encouraged to apply.

Applications are being accepted now. To apply, applicants must send materials (resume and completed application form) to: Ben MacConnell, the Recruitment Director at: institute@thedartcenter.org. You can also call him with questions: (785) 841-2680. To download our applications or find out more about the DART center, check out our website: www.thedartcenter.org.